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View Full Version : Autocar crown Evora "Britain's Best Driver’s Car 2009"


Martin
08-12-2009, 12:40 PM
http://www.autocar.co.uk/contentImages//NonCar/1089910238670356x236.jpg

Lotus Press Release
August 11 2009


The Lotus Evora shows its pedigree fending off tough competition from the world’s best driver’s cars to become Autocar favourite.


Autocar crown Evora "Britain's Best Driver’s Car 2009"


The Lotus Evora shows its pedigree fending off tough competition from the world’s best driver’s cars to become Autocar favourite.

The competition included rigorous road and track assessment, using the stunning roads around the South Downs and the fantastic high speed corners at the Goodwood race circuit. The feature included driver’s cars from Aston Martin, Nissan, Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini and Jaguar.

Chas Hallet, Autocar Editor said about the Evora, “The best here. Brilliant on the track. Nimble, delicate and forgiving. Even better on the road.”

Autocar magazine in summing up the competition added, “Decisions don’t come much more clear cut than this, with nine out of 10 judges placing the Evora first. This contest is about finding a car that is not only technically capable, but also thrilling and engaging wherever you drive it, and the Lotus nails those criteria”.


The unique mid-engined 2+2 Lotus Evora combines a super stiff extruded and bonded Aluminium chassis with decades of vehicle dynamics knowledge employed to tune its race car derived double wishbone suspension. The result is a great driver’s car that offers exceptionally high levels of ultimate grip, with performance and braking to match.

Roger Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director said, "The dynamic ability and driving experience of the Evora were the foundation of the engineering process and we are delighted that Autocar has recognised this by giving the Evora this accolade. The Evora offers the great Lotus driving experience in a very comfortable, practical, refined and efficient package, and with only 205 g/km of CO2 it shows that the Evora is a supercar for the 21st century."

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars commented, "We are really pleased to win this title as it not only demonstrates the engineering expertise and brilliant manufacturing at Lotus, but also asserts our position in this very exclusive and competitive sector. There is huge global demand for the Evora and to cope with this high demand we are taking on over 150 manufacturing staff, which is roughly a 30% increase."


Image is from www.Autocar.co.uk

For more images and article from Autocar, please visit:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/242429/#

Brian Skeoch
08-12-2009, 02:11 PM
cool.

WayneB
08-12-2009, 02:14 PM
Great news:)

The fact Luke Bennett anounced that Lotus are taking on an extra 150 staff to cope with the demand is very encouraging.

Autocross7
08-12-2009, 08:01 PM
Thumbs up! :thumbup: Wish I was in a position to get one...

Cameron

proracer
08-12-2009, 11:26 PM
Great Job Lotus!!!!!:thumbup:

Jim

mario
08-13-2009, 09:37 AM
Great news!........the hope is that Evora is a huge success for Lotus.

Mark Blanchard
08-13-2009, 08:45 PM
Bought the mag yesterday. Makes some great reading. The Evora could get better press if it tried.

Autocross7
08-13-2009, 09:09 PM
Bought the mag yesterday. Makes some great reading. The Evora could get better press if it tried.

As I have stated before, Lotus seems to have some idea that there does not need to be any real marketing for this car...? I don't get it personally. Only the hard core fans will see it for what it is. They really need to get beyond the boy racer image they currently have in the USA IMO. A single episode of Top Gear is not enough.


Cameron

GregWO
08-14-2009, 02:16 AM
I agree, Cameron. Lotus really needs to push the advertising in USA. Most people haven't even heard of Lotus! I saw an ad for the Evora in the latest issue of Grassroot Motorsports. Was a great ad that I'm going to frame, but the average reader of GRM already knows of Lotus and its cars. DUH!!!! Come on Lotus marketing people! Get a clue! You need to advertise in mags like Hotrod, Car and Driver, Newsweek, Popular Sience, USA today, Cosmo, the popular mags not the niche ones! I can't watch TV without seeing a slew of Ford, Chrysler, and GM ads!!!!!!! Commercial space isn't that dang expensive! WTF LOTUS! You have a winning vehicle and you need to capitalize on it!

WayneB
08-14-2009, 12:35 PM
I just don't think Lotus have the money available to fund a large advertising campaign for the Evora.

They probably have less money in the whole R+D on the car than Ford has allocated to advertising the Fusion.

Myself, I am quite happy that Lotus is an "underground/underdog" car company with products that are pretty much only known by more knowledgable car enthusiasts, the thought of passing hundreds of them on the road every day kinda turns me off.:(

Autocross7
08-14-2009, 02:05 PM
I agree that the low prodution is a good thing. That is part of why I like Lotus so much. However, I think there needs to be a addition of mistique added that Lamborghini and even the Esprit have had in the past. A couple of super model posters would not hurt the image...

Cameron

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t132/Autocross7/Diablo.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t132/Autocross7/hiddinglotus.jpg

WayneB
08-14-2009, 03:57 PM
Like this Cameron?:-)
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/9455/images/05LotusEvora.jpg

Heres one I nicked from Lotus Esprit Turbo .com:lol:
http://www.lotusespritturbo.com/Lotus_Evora_2009.jpg

Autocross7
08-14-2009, 04:03 PM
Exactly... but on bill boards!


Cameron

WayneB
08-14-2009, 04:10 PM
Heres a Lotus ad from 50 years ago.:)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/Eliteposter-1.jpg?t=1250266119

Autocross7
08-14-2009, 05:40 PM
Heres a Lotus ad from 50 years ago.:)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/Eliteposter-1.jpg?t=1250266119

It does now... I have it sen it work! LMAO!!!


Cameron

Brian Skeoch
08-14-2009, 07:24 PM
man, thats great advertisement from that long ago.. I love it.

WayneB
08-14-2009, 07:27 PM
Heres another neat ad for the Elite from waaaaay back .:)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/Elite-1.jpg?t=1250277909

GregWO
08-15-2009, 02:28 AM
Low production numbers do help keep the car as a niche and not common, but if they advertised at least it would be more than "Lotus who", "is that made by (enter US car company)"...

Lamborghini is a well known name but those aren't seen everyday.... just my 2c.

clockwork
08-15-2009, 08:56 AM
I hope it was just media talk,150 new workers would make a significant difference to the family feel of the workforce and would also be unsustainable in the longer term,I think they are already missing MJK and have wheeled someone out with their foot firmly in their mouth,they need to concentrate on build quality,their day out at the `Ring showed up a problem,what caused it? is it fixed ? When Mr Morgan was advised to increase production by employing more people he said he would not do it as he could not offer people jobs if he could not guarantee their long term future,with a waiting list it protected the firm from market fluctuations and as a "family"firm they continue to survive.

Autocross7
08-15-2009, 03:12 PM
Lamborghini is a well known name but those aren't seen everyday.... just my 2c.

My point exactly. and because you don't see them everyday, and they are a house hold name, the mystique around them is great.

Cameron

WayneB
08-15-2009, 08:37 PM
I guess everyone has already forgotton Lotuses advertising campaign for the Evora, "Faceless People".

http://www.nickburcher.com/2008/07/faceless-people-lotus-viral-marketing.html

http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2008/07/faceless-people.jpg

Mark Blanchard
08-15-2009, 08:40 PM
There's a nice glossy ad in Autocar magazine for the Evora.

WayneB
08-16-2009, 07:39 PM
I read an article on the Evora in this months Motorsport magazine.

They liked the handling, but made a point of mentioning you might want to ignore the fit and finish.:(

It was the same Evora that was in the other thread about Lotus cars at the Nurburgring AU 09 AHZ, If you look closely, you can see the passenger door sticks out a bit at the top front .
http://lotusenthusiast.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ring3.jpg

Martin
08-20-2009, 12:57 AM
It us under full load at least. And I mean 3 wheels kind of full load.