IAA 2011: Lotus Evora GTE

There’s lots to see at the Lotus stand, from MY2012 Evora (much better interior) to new Elise S with a 220hp supercharged engine to replace the one killed off in Europe by emissions regs.

The big news is the Evora GTE though. This is Lotus getting serious. The brand has the credibility to sell cars in the GT3 RS bracket of track-focused supercars. And in the Evora GTE it now has the car.

Think double the price of a regular Evora for starters, this car starting out as a limited edition for China but evolving through a Pebble Beach concept into the 444hp, carbon-bodied weapon. It’s not ‘marketing’ carbon either, the Evora GTE weighing 231lb less than a regular Evora. A new rear wing, updated for Frankfurt, is bigger and more visually arresting than that previewed before the show too. Can Lotus mix it in this company? On this showing the answer would be yes.