Lotus has revealed it has yet another Evora up its sleeve, further expanding the sports car’s range, but this time again well into supercar territory. The GT430 Sport, based on the GT430 launched earlier, is actually a less expansive than the latter.
Despite this, it’s the faster of the two thanks to there simply being less aerodynamic accoutrements furnished over its body to encumber it at high speed, allowing it reach a top speed of 315km/h, officially the highest of any production road-going Lotus. At top whack, the Sport still does generate 100kg of downforce, allowing it to remain very stable, though this is much less than the 250kg made by the GT430.
Much of the carbon-fibre and titanium components are indeed carried over from the GT430, but the Sport makes due without some 10kg’s worth of aero bits, aiding its power-to-weight ratio as well with a dry weight of 1,248kg, yielding 257kW/tonne.
So while the Evora GT430 might pip it around a more technical circuit, the Sport will (should?) take the win in a drag race since it’s basically the most powerful Lotus relative to its weight, minus the additional downforce generating elements to hold it back in a straight line.
Like the it’s based on, the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 returns here, augmented by a charge cooling system that allows it to be tuned to 320kW and 440Nm. Two transmission choices are available, a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic which demands an extra 10Nm of torque at peak, probably to accommodate the increase in drivetrain power loss.
At lower speeds, there’s not much between the GT430 and the less expensive Sport as the aero advantage doesn’t come into play until we arrive at properly criminal velocities. Thus, both cars reach 100km/h in 3.6 seconds through aid of that new auto box that’s scheduled for widespread availability in early 2018.
In addition to the reduced weight, extra torque, and quicker-shifting transmission option, the GT430 Sport receives Ohlins TTX two-way adjustable dampers, a Torsen-type limited slip differential, AP Racing brake callipers, carbon race seats, and an interior awash in Alcantara and perforated leather - otherwise identical to the GT430’s cabin.
For now, these renders will have to suffice, though we do wish Lotus had included some pictures of the actual car in the real world.
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