Lotus is marking 50 years since the founding of its famous factory with a limited Hethel Edition of its benchmark Evora 400.
The Hethel Edition Evora 400 is the first in a series of special products and events marking this important milestone in the company’s history, when, in 1966, founder Colin Chapman moved Lotus to the purpose-built facility in Hethel, Norfolk.
As well as marking 50 years in Norfolk, the Hethel Edition allows Lotus fans to enjoy some of the company’s iconic colour schemes. Buyers can choose between Essex Blue, Motorsport Black, and Racing Green when ordering the Hethel Edition 400, with either black or red leather or Alcantara interior trim available depending on bodywork colour. Every Hethel Edition 400 comes with lightweight silver forged aluminium wheels, and contrasting brake callipers, while bespoke graphics complete the car’s distinctive look.
Developed through Lotus’ Lightweight Laboratory concept, the Evora 400 is 42 kg lighter than its predecessor, thanks to a host of weight-saving measures. As a result, it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds and delivers a maximum speed of 300 km/h. The Evora 400 is capable of lapping the Norfolk site’s challenging test track in just 1 minute 31 seconds.
Over two thirds of the Lotus Evora 400 has been revised, including its supercharged and charge-cooled, mid-mounted, 3.5-litre V6 engine, which produces 400 hp and 410 Nm of torque. This complements a revised aluminium chassis, which offers increased torsional rigidity and reduced weight.
However, the Evora 400 doesn’t just rely on its lightweight engineering to deliver remarkable performance. The car’s efficient composite body, flat-floor, sizable rear diffuser and three-element rear wing have all boosted airflow management, drastically improving aerodynamics and effectively doubling downforce.
The Lotus Evora 400 enjoys a high specification as standard, including 370 mm composite two-piece brake discs from AP Racing, a Limited Slip Differential (LSD), automatic air-conditioning and infotainment system with satellite navigation. Cost options include automatic transmission and cruise control.
A number of manual gearbox enhancements have greatly improved shift quality, delivering swift and precise gear changes. The Torsen-type LSD is fitted as standard with the manual, to give better traction when exiting fast corners. The automatic option has also been improved, with a reprogrammed gearbox ECU for faster changes, while gear selection is via lightweight aluminium paddles mounted to the steering wheel.
The car also features Lotus’ Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) which, selected via a dashboard switch, provides ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings. Proportionally increasing throttle response, lowering traction slip thresholds and removing understeer recognition, it allows a greater degree of driver indulgence before the system intervenes.
As befitting a hand-built car, the Evora’s interior uses the highest quality materials, including Alcantra and leather, while the driver orientated layout provides ergonomically optimised controls. Passenger space is improved, with greater legroom and wider rear seats, and the chassis revisions have increased the size of the door aperture, making it easy to enter and exit the Evora.
The Lotus Evora 400 Hethel Edition retails at £75,500 in U.K. (RM439,154), €100,500 in Germany (RM460,650), €101,350 in France (RM464,546) and €105,400 in Italy (RM483,110).
