Lotus reveals faster, lighter Evora GT430

Update, July 21: The new GT430 is yet to be confirmed for this marketplace. Undeterred, Lotus Australia has requested "at least one". There is "the option for more [units] pending expressions of interest and [local] demand," the company says.

At this stage no local pricing has been finalised. Prospective purchasers will be required to place a $25,000 non-refundable deposit to secure one of the limited edition cars. Only 60 will be built for worldwide consumption.

Lotus has unveiled an even faster and lighter version of its Evora 400.

The new model, called the Evora GT430, is being heralded by the low-volume British sports car specialist as its most powerful road-going model ever.

Powered by an evolution of the Evora 400's Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre V6, the new GT430 produces an additional 22kW/30Nm.

This raises total output to 316kW/440Nm.

Weighing in at just 1258kg (dry), Lotus claims the most powerful ever Evora will hit 60mph (97km/h) in just 3.7 seconds and top out at 305km/h – 0.5 seconds quicker against the clock and 5km/h faster than the Evora 400.

Perhaps more impressive, Lotus claims the Evora GT430's real performance gain isn't felt in a straight line, but rather by faster race circuit lap times.

Playing a role there is a serious re-working of the aero package after Lotus sent the Evora back to the wind tunnel.

The GT430 comes with all-new front and rear carbon-fibre bumpers which, along with a new front splitter, air blades and wheel arch flares, plus that massive carbon-fibre rear wing, result in the GT430 generating up to 250kg of downforce at speed.

Those substantial aero revisions include more efficient air management under and around the car by using that new splitter to separate and speed up air under the car. Two new enlarged front ducts, assisted by air blades, help vent air from the front wheel arches reducing lift.

At the rear, large ducts help air vent as quickly from the rear wheel arches, boosting downforce, while the huge high-mount rear wing, borrowed from motorsport, does the rest.

And the result?

Thanks to the new aero package, Lotus claims the GT430 is as quick around its Hethel test track as a 3-Eleven - the race car with number plates it developed specifically for track use.

As well as the big aero, the key to unlocking those lap times is the GT430's chassis upgrades.

The GT430 runs 10mm wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, plus new adjustable Ohlins dampers and ultra lightweight Eibach springs which provide an increase in spring rate.

Finally, to maximise the added power generated by the blown V6, the little Lotus has shed some more kilos.

Now claimed to weigh 26kg lighter than the already featherweight Evora Sport 410, the new suspension system is said to reduce mass by 10kg alone, while a full titanium exhaust cuts another 10kg, the new panels deliver a further 2.5kg reduction and new rear discs save 2kg.

The weight-savings also includes a new paper thin undertray which cuts 1.5kg, a polycarbonate rear window and an under bonnet fluid fill system (-2.5kg) - all-up Lotus claim more than 35kg has been shaved.

Unfortunately, those extra weight savings are somewhat offset by heavier wider wheels (19s on the front, 20s at the rear) and tyres, plus that huge rear wing (which isn't fitted to the standard car).

Inside the GT430, it's mostly business as usual, although the stripped-back Evora 400 interior now has the option of Sparco seats with carbon-fibre shells, plus, at no-cost, an Alcantara-wrapped dashboard, door panels and steering wheel.

Like previous Evora models, the GT430 comes with a variable traction control system which, in this model, also allows five pre-set traction levels that range from 1-12 per cent slip in 'Race/Off' mode.

Commenting on his company's latest creation, Lotus' CEO Mr Jean-Marc Gales said: “Yes, it is hugely powerful but, the GT430 is not about brutal performance. It’s an intricate balance of power, finesse and road holding, no matter the speed, and is a true track-and-back sports car, supremely focused and immensely fast.”

Now on sale in Europe, Lotus claims it will make just 60 Evora GT430s, each priced at around £112,500 ($A183,500). It's not known yet if the limited-run Evora GT430 will make the journey Down Under.