ECotY (Evo Car of the Year)

[WimC]

11 November 2009

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Lotus Scoops EVO Car of the Year
Double

The Lotus Evora takes the title of ‘EVO Car of the Year 2009’,
with the Lotus 2-Eleven winning the prestigious ‘EVO Track
Car of the Year 2009’ competition.

For the ‘EVO Car of the Year 2009’ test EVO Magazine took a fleet of the
world’s most desirable driving machines to the sensational roads of the Isle of
Skye in Scotland, to evaluate the cars over a three day and 1000 mile test
route.

The Lotus Evora, along with cars from manufacturers including Lamborghini,
Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin were put through their paces on the
challenging and technical roads by the EVO team.

In the Car of the Year test, the group of 13 cars were whittled down to the top
5 and then scored out of 100, with the Lotus Evora beating all other entrants
with an impressive score of 96.0.

John Barker, Motoring Editor said of the Evora "It's a magical thing across the
ground, deft like an Elise, with exceptional poise and feel. What was telling for
me was that, getting into it after any of the other finalists, it was even better
than I remembered: a bit smoother, a bit quicker and even sweeter
dynamically, too. It's a beguiling car."

David Vivian, Contributing Editor, commented, "A quite brilliant car and worthy
winner."

The ‘EVO Track Car of the Year 2009’ event swapped the dramatic scenery
and challenging gradients for the more familiar, but fast and demanding West
Circuit at the Bedford Autodrome.

The Lotus 2-Eleven along with eleven other cars competed for the title of ‘EVO
Track Car of the Year 2009’. The test group contained some of the most
exciting track cars on sale today, including hot hatches, track focused
supercars and exotic track machines.

In the Track Car of the Year competition the cars were each timed around the
West Circuit and compared subjectively to find a winner. On the way to
winning the competition the 2-Eleven posted the second fastest time and
closely matched the criteria set by the judges of providing entertainment, being
rewarding and a challenge to drive.

Roger Green, Track Test Editor, when commenting on the 2-Eleven said
"Every single judge described (the 2-Eleven) as 'superb' in their assessment
notes."

Henry Catchpole, Road Test Editor, stated that "It’s fabulous. It takes the
habitability, finish and dimensions of the road car and adds the dynamics and
awesome gearbox of a race car."



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Luke Bennett, Operations Director of Lotus Cars Limited said that "I am
delighted that the Evora took the title of “EVO Car of the Year 2009” and it is
made even better that at the same time the 2-Eleven has won the Track Car of
the Year competition. The Evora and 2-Eleven offer very different ownership
propositions; however both have the same Lotus DNA and each reward the
driver with a great Lotus driving experience.”

Luke went on to say "It is a great endorsement for Lotus cars that the most
refined car in the product line up is picking up awards at the same time as the
most extreme car in the range, illustrating the great wealth of engineering and
manufacturing expertise at Lotus."

Lotus Evora: 205 g/km CO2

32.5 mpg (8.7 litres / 100 km) -Combined Cycle
22.8 mpg (12.4 litres / 100 km) -Urban Cycle
43.5 mpg (6.5 litres / 100 km) -Extra Urban Cycle
ENDS

NOTES

For more details about EVO Magazine’s, Car of the Year and Track Car of the
Year feature check out EVO Magazine issue no. 138 and www.evo.co.uk.

About the Lotus Evora

The Evora enters the sports car market as the world’s only production midengined
2+2, and provides a tremendously rewarding driving experience; the
mid-engined layout gives exceptional agility and the Lotus engineered
suspension ensures incredible ride, handling, and steering performance.
Powered by a Lotus-tuned 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 PS/ 206 kW / 276
hp @ 6400 rpm, and weighing 1382 kg, the Evora delivers an exhilarating
experience true to the Lotus DNA characteristics.
With the zero to 60 mph sprint taking 4.9 seconds (100 km/h in just 5.1
seconds) a top speed of 162 mph (261 km/h) and an Official European
Combined Cycle fuel economy of 32.5 mpg (8.7 litres / 100 km) and emissions
of 205 g/km CO2 the Evora stays true to the ethos of performance through light
weight. The other economy figures are Official European Urban Cycle of 22.8
mpg (12.4 litres / 100 km) and 43.5 mpg (6.5 litres / 100 km) for the Official
European Extra Urban Cycle.

About Lotus

The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Limited, which
has two operating divisions -Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus
Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive engineering
consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Global facilities include those in Michigan
(USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in Germany and Japan.
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services
to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering
service from initial concept and project design through development and
integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide market and customer
requirements to full production. This includes third party 'niche vehicle'
engineering and manufacture worldwide.
Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports cars for sale
in 37 countries. These include the iconic Lotus Elise, Exige, Europa and Lotus’



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latest model, the Evora. Lotus is a global high-tech company, expanding
rapidly and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its
Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric
vehicles and renewable fuels.

For more information about Lotus please contact:

PR Department; Group Lotus plc,
Potash Lane, Hethel, Norfolk, UK, NR14 8EZ
Tel: +44(0)1953 608264;


pr@lotuscars.co.uk