Lotus unveils new supercar — the Evora 400

7 March, 2015

Just over a month ago, Lotus Cars talked about the reveal of a new car at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show. This new model was stated to remain true to Lotus’s core pillars of lightness, performance, and driving purity. First impressions are promising.

The Lotus Evora 400 is the car in question, and is said to be faster and lighter than the previous model, promising a more engaging drive than the already exciting Evora S.

The supercharged 3.5-litre Toyota 2GR-FZE V6 engine is carried over, but has been completely re-engineered, now producing 400hp and 302lb·ft. The 0–100kph sprint is achieved in a brisk 4.2 seconds, and given the room the Evora 400 will run to a top speed of 300kph. These performance gains have allowed the Evora 400 to lap Lotus’s Hethel test track six seconds faster than the previous-generation Evora.

Compared to the previous model, the Evora 400 also weighs in at 22kg less, thanks to clever design work. A new aluminium chassis and redesigned composite body aid in achieving a weight reduction, lower coefficient of drag, and also allows for a brand-new interior — no doubt welcome news for owners of the previous model Evora.

NZ Classic Car magazine, November/December 2026 issue 408, on sale now

Star status for classic Porsche
A long search ends: finding the right car
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, the Porsche 911 heralded an iconic lineage of sports cars, known for their exceptional performance, remarkable racing reliability, and adaptability, second to none.
New Zealand Classic Car, in conjunction with Star Insure, recently conducted a photo competition to find 13 suitably impressive classics to grace the pages of the magazine’s 2027 calendar. A flood of entries showed that Kiwis recognise eye-catching designs and restorations. Many are handy with a camera, too, and have entered some outstanding results.
The choice was not straightforward, with multiple stunning entries, and Geoff Long’s immaculate 1990 Porsche 911 (964 Factory designation) took top honours. Fortunately, Geoff had Ethan Hanlon handy to take the accompanying photos while working in his office.
“I’ve got a young employee who is doing work experience in my office at the moment, and he’s a very avid photographer. So, I said, I’ll buy you breakfast and then why don’t we go and take some photos. He found the right spot, and he spent over an hour photographing.”
Originally sold new in Japan, hence the right-hand drive, the Porsche was resident there for four years before being exported to New Zealand, as Geoff recalls.
“I bought it two-and-a-half years ago, but I looked for it for over two years, because it’s just the colour scheme, interior and exterior I was after. The service file that came with it is extensive; I mean, it’s been beautifully looked after, which is what I wanted to continue, as it does get driven. It doesn’t sit in the garage.”

Classics on the green

Many pretenders vie for the title, but the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance gets my vote as the biggest thing since sliced bread.
The 71st edition of the world’s pre-eminent and best-known concours event featured 28 classes, judged by a 180-strong jury, which also chose the recipients of 26 special awards.
The size of the event, the number of visitors, and, most mind-numbingly, the sheer number of amazing cars, is almost overwhelming. There are so many quality cars to gaze upon, and so many people gazing at those cars, that it is almost impossible to cover everything.
Notable among the many attractions were the centenary celebrations of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an elegant Talbot-Lago Grand Sport, Hermann Graber’s Swiss-bodied cabriolets and coupés, the jewels of Otto Vu Italian V8s, early Alfa Romeos, Lincoln and its centenary, and cars with unorthodox propulsion systems.