Whining behind your ears is a turbocharged two-litre GM unit (think VX220 Turbo) that generates 200bhp in a car that still weighs in under the tonne. This means claimed figures of 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds and 0-100mph in just under 14 seconds. Quick, yes, but the Europa's real speed is point-to-point. The Lotus will hammer through back roads like little else on the market and carve great swathes out of journeys by cruising in three figures on the motorway. For a focused few that could make this all the car they'll ever need, but there are still some stark ownership realities here.
Lotus is talking up the car's ride, keen as they are to stress its balance of comfort over handling. And while it is better than an Elise and finds a manageable middle ground between body control and usability, it's still pretty harsh, especially for a daily commute. So is the lack of cushioning in the seats and the overbearing communication of the controls. For a cross-country sprinter you'd expect all that feedback and bone-shaking drivetrain, but for dayto- day transport you want to be as far removed from crude mechanical truths as possible.
Inside, where there needs to be significant improvements for GT status, things are uncertain. It's bigger than the Elise but it's still pretty cosy, and more awkward to enter and exit than any twoseat sports car we can think of. There's the odd token concession to practicality, but if we tell you there's a five-inch deep pocket under the door sill you'd be lucky to squeeze your fingers into, you realise everything at Lotus is relative - in the Elise the only pockets are in your trousers. But credit where it's due. The boot is 40 litres larger than in an Elise, something that does make the Europa a more realistic proposition for big miles. Extra width in the cabin reduces awkward driver/passenger intimacy, too,
Cheap plastics on the dash, a certain sense of fragility, and the same singlepiece instrument binnacle as you get in the Elise. The leather trim looks classy, particularly stitched white on typically unforgiving sports seats. Go for the optional Luxury Touring Pack and it makes the interior a little bit more inviting.
It's a hard charging sportscar - they don't do safety. So expect just ABS with servo assisted brakes plus driver and passenger airbags.
Not a car if you're on a budget. Low fuel economy (don't believe the 30mpg Lotus quote) mixed with expensive, specialised and frequent servicing equals big costs.
Costing £163;33k, that's big money. Take the Audi TT and BMW Z4 Coupe; both practical and performance-orientated, both with excellent six-cylinders, superb refinement and a mighty build quality - both cost less. Drive them all side by side and there's no way that adds up.
Lotus wants to increase its market share with a car that you can use every day. This means easier access, greater practicality and an increase in 'softness'. But it's still comparatively impractical, fairly difficult to access and entirely too harsh to lure anyone from their TTs.
