Lotus EvoraMay 2009

Lotus is returning to abandoned territory with the Evora, the British sports car maker's first 2+2 since the launch of the Excel in 1982, and its first completely new model since 1996.

Although its Elise-like looks are a world away from the Excel (which was retired in 1992), Lotus has a history when it comes to building four-up coupes. The Elite, Eclat and Excel of the 70s and 80s accounted for a big chunk of sales at the time, but by the time the Elise became a hit in 1996, Lotus had turned its back on these coupes altogether.

Lotus sports cars in recent years have been about simplicity and litheness - which has made us automatically associate the brand with Elise-based track day toys, weekend weapons with two seats only. Now Lotus wants to broaden its appeal again.

So the Evora is a bigger, more comfortable sports car than Lotus has produced for many years, with four seats - although the rear two are barely usable by adults - and a fully trimmed luxury cabin. It also has a new role: to attract fresh customers who wouldn't previously have considered a Lotus, luring them away from the likes of the Porsche Cayman

Indeed, an Evora costs about the same as a Cayman S, but Lotus only intends to sell a few hundred each year in the UK, meaning it will be rarer and 'more exclusive' than its German rival.

Fewer than 5% of components (mostly nuts and bolts) are shared between the Evora and Elise. The rest is fresh from the ground up, reflecting the fact that a new production line has been introduced at Lotus's Hethel factory to build it. And the Evora is just the start: more new models (including a supercar) will spin off its longer and wider platform.

Lotus has managed to cram two full-size front seats and a rear bench into the Evora shell. But ingeniously it's also found room to fit the 3.5-litre V6 engine in the middle of the car - making the Evora as well balanced through corners as an Elise.

Wonderfully set up, as we expect from Lotus, this is a staggeringly supple, poised car over almost any surface, with very high levels of mechanical grip. The steering - deliberately a hydraulic rather than electronic system - is more feelsome than any comparable sports car. The longer wheelbase and greater steering lock also mean it's not as tricky on a track as its Elise sibling.

More than that, Lotus has forged a relationship with one of the most reliable manufacturers in the business, Toyota, whose tweaked V6 engine powers the Evora, offering 276bhp and 258lb-ft torque in a package weighing just 1,380kg. That means the Evora can zip from zero to 60mph in 4.9 seconds, its highly aerodynamic shape allowing for a top speed of 162mph.

It's not as thumpingly quick on the road as some similarly priced forced induction coupes - there's definitely room for a supercharged version - but the acceleration figures are hard to argue with. It's also capable of more than 30mpg, thanks to its blend of lightness and modest power.

There are also the typical Lotus imperfections that you wouldn't find in other cars at this price. The pedals are offset to the left, with the brake too close to the throttle; the air conditioning isn't cold enough; the shiny leather on top of the dashboard reflects back on the windscreen and the Alpine multimedia system isn't much good. But these are minor gripes and not enough to spoil what is a very impressive package.

The Evora represents a new direction for Lotus, a big boost in quality and is an interesting and compelling alternative to everyone else's Porsche.