The upcoming Lotus Evora promises extreme fun for up to four, but back seat passengers will be left out of the equation when it comes to the Evora convertible. Whereas the Evora coupe will offer 2+2 seating, the Evora convertible will only offer seating for two.
Lotus plans to keep the Evora hype going by adding new features to the car each year – including a paddle-shift gearbox and a high-performance supercharged variant – culminating in a roadster model in 2012. However, to make room for the convertible top, Lotus engineers had to do away with the Evora’s rear seat.
“It’s not going to be easy to fit the roof in,” Steve Crijns, the Evora’s exterior designer, told Autocar. “It will have to go in front of the engine, where the rear seats are now. The rest of the car has been designed with the cabrio in mind; the doors, for instance, are styled so that they can accommodate the system without any changes.”
Crijns also revealed the Evora will do with a soft top rather than a retractable hardtop. The decision to use a more conventional soft top will not only save on engineering time but will also keep the car’s weight down.
However, since few cars in the Evora’s segment offer rear seats – such as the Porsche Boxster/Cayman – we doubt many people will throw up to big of a fuss over the Evora convertible’s two-seat setup.
05/08, 5:16 PM
posted by:
Ring-Taxi
There you go, add lightness!
05/08, 6:52 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Agreed.. all the added weight and complexity of retractible hardtops would be completely against Lotus’ core values.. good for you! Guess we shouldn’t expect a Lotus sedan or SUV anytime soon.. and that’s a good thing!
05/08, 8:08 PM
posted by:
atoms
it would probably be a sign of the world ending when lotus makes an SUV
05/08, 8:26 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
that’s why the upcoming Mini SUV seems to ludicrous to me…just doesn’t fit the brand image of small sporty upscale cars with a focus on handling…
i’m not a huge believer in the “hard top convertibles add too much weight” excuse since mazda did it with the miata and added about 80 lbs only…and mazda did it without taking trunk volume…but then again, this lotus scenario a trickier thing to engineer since it’s a mid-engine car and they have to cram a top between the passenger compartment and the motor…i guess the mazda guys had an easier problem to solve there…
i still like how the elise looks better ;P
05/08, 8:27 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
Sitting in the backseat of a convertible not kewl. Ask Kennedy.
05/08, 9:02 PM
posted by:
Das Stig
Finally someone decided to use their brain. I can’t imagine how hideous the Evora could’ve been if it had rear seats and a convertible form. This is good news, lightness is the key. Although, with all the strengthening materials, the weight shouldn’t be reduced by much, but it’s still the way to go. Props Lotus.
05/09, 12:27 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Smart move. Who buys a Lotus convertible to take the family for a sunday drive? The losers who do that will buy that POS Lexus IS (aka Solara) convertible
05/09, 2:30 PM
posted by:
Borat
Mutant, Kennedys and cars usually don’t mix very well. Google Uncle Ed’s driving record
05/09, 2:31 PM
posted by:
Borat
For those who bitched about rear seats of this car: rejoice, they are gone in topless incarnation.
05/09, 2:37 PM
posted by:
status
Mutant@DCX i just spit coke all over my computer monitor. thanks.
05/10, 2:55 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
I’m filing this story in the “Why would I ever care” catagory. I mean. I’m never gonna buy this, nor reccomend it to anyone. Ever. If I need a topless 50+ Sports car, I’ll take an Audi A5 and never think about this car. Kinda repetitive with the Elise if it’s a two seater though.