Lotus Evora

The cabin of the 2024 Lotus Evora GT gets a nice mix of stitched, supple leather, Alcantara, and substantial-feeling plastic. The car gets Sparco carbon-fibre front seats as standard. The dashboard isn't cutting edge but gets a carbon-fibre binnacle on the top. It's reflections on the windshield is sometimes annoying. The dashboard is dominated by a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It's connected to a multi-speaker Alpine audio system. The display is crisp. There aren't many options to personalize the interior. The standard equipment like the floor mats, air-conditioning, and audio system aren't impressive. The back seats are optional and boot space increases or decreases likewise. The information cluster is a great mix of an analog tachometer and speedometer, with small digital displays on both sides.

The 2024 Lotus Evora Grand Touring (GT) wears a face that's aggressively happy. The sharp bi-xenon headlight casings have a shark-like appearance. The gaping grille on the front fascia looks like a smiling mouth with sharp teeth. There's a subtle chin spoiler that completes the look. At the back, there's a louvered window that sits ahead of a subtle duckbill spoiler. The central exhaust system gets a meaty diffuser. It's framed by vents on both sides of the rear bumper. The car runs on 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels. The 2024 Lotus Evora GT is also available in the Extended Carbon Pack trim that not only forges a sportier look but also reduces weight by a claimed 49 pounds. The optional yellow brake calipers and the black-pain wheels complement the car's dark green bodywork.

Unlike other carbon-roof exotic cars, getting into the 2024 Lotus Evora GT isn't difficult. Though the car sits low, the space between the driver's seat and the door is pretty minimal. The composite body has a large opening. The Sparco seats get a carbon-fibre back, have great bolstering, are easy to slide into, and are greatly comfortable. There are a number of switchgear and buttons that are easy to operate. Fitting in the optional rear seat is really a challenge. Only small children can sit on them with minimal legroom and headroom. The cabin has a few storage compartments. The suspension is thoughtfully tuned and doesn't ride unnecessarily hard.      

The 2024 Lotus Evora GT is equipped with a supercharged, six-cylinder, 3.5-litre petrol engine that produces 416 PS/430 Nm. The motor is mated to a six-speed manual. The delightfully retro-hydraulic steering wheel makes its presence felt and snugly in the hand. This isn't a car for casual driving, but handling is surprisingly easy, and the low ground clearance erases body roll. The engine isn't the most powerful in the class. The four driving modes can be switched by a simple flick. Even in the absence of a track or a well-metaled road, the 2024 Lotus Evora GT gives the joy of driving.   

The 2024 Lotus Evora GT gets a backup camera with less-than-impressive video quality. There's no lane departure warning. The driver-assist features and security equipment are pretty basic. Large bumps and potholes on highways will definitely unsettle the riders. The car gets two-piece vented and cross-drilled disc brakes on all four corners for instant braking. 

At a starting price of AED 399,000, the 2024 Lotus Evora GT is an expensive short-wheelbase, mid-engine sports car. It isn't the best in class and lacks a number of driver-assist features and cabin equipment. But it's a joy to drive the Evora GT.