AFTER several previews including two local unveilings last year, Lotus has finally launched its new premium model, the Evora, in Australia. With a price reaching towards $190,000 when fully optioned, the Evora is the company’s first two-plus-two, mid-engined V6 and the most expensive car on the Lotus list. The Evora promises a combination of practicality with premium performance like no other Lotus in the range to justify its large asking price.

Lotus Excel SE
Released: 1989
Ended: 1991
Family Tree: EvoraTHE Excel did not really excel here, arriving for a brief, two-year sojourn officially in 1989, although this front-engine Lotus two-plus-two was introduced in the UK in 1982 then updated in 1986 and production stopped in the UK in 1992. The 2.2-litre, 16-valve four-cylinder Excel we saw for a short time developed 134kW of power at 6500rpm and 220Nm of torque at 5500rpm and was hooked up to a Toyota five-speed manual gearbox or optional four-speed ZF auto. The Excel wasn’t slow, with the manual version capable of a sub-seven-second 0-100km/h time.
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