UK mags savage Lotus Europa S
Newswheel staff :: 15 September 2006 :: Filed under Mid / rear engine sportscar, Lotus, Lotus Europa S, Europe & UK
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Thank heavens for good old AutoExpress
An Elise variant too far. That’s the overall impression from the first round of road tests of Lotus’s latest in UK print magazines. Indeed, it’s telling that weekly title Autocar doesn’t even give the Europa S pride of place on its cover. That’s got to be a first for a new Lotus model…
Usual print mag suspects Autocar, WhatCar and AutoExpress are among the first to be handed the keys to Lotus’s newest coupe. And the first two are in broad agreement – the Europa can’t cut it.
Effectively a rebodied Vauxhall VX220 / Opel Speedster powered by a GM-sourced 2.0-litre turbo-charged four, the Europa S is a slightly softer and more refined alternative to Lotus’s existing hardtop model, the Exige. So, what’s the problem? Well, as Autocar points out, if it’s a compromise between real-world refinement and driving thrills, both the Audi TT and Porsche Cayman do the job much better.
Partly that’s a consequence of what WhatCar reckons is excessive road and wind noise penetrating the cabin. But it’s also down to a confused overall dynamic package. According to Autocar, the Europa dishes up the usual Lotus handling agility and steering purity. But it also manages only a marginal improvement in terms of ride quality. Add a dose of turbo lag and a pronounced flywheel effect and you have a car that comes dangerous close to being a clunker. And despite the 5.6 second sprint to 60mph and 150mph, Autocar says the poor engine calibration means the Europa “never feels especially fast.”
What’s more, Autocar and WhatCar agree the cabin quality is pretty iffy – Autocar highlights dodgy plastics, while WhatCar can’t cope with the “comically” meandering stitching on the leather. And as we can confirm from a brief sampling at the Geneva auto show, the interior remains too cramped for two large adults to share it in real comfort.
But the most telling observation is a reminder from Autocar’s Chris Harris that the Europa is “begotten from a still-born plan to produce a Proton sports car, and that enough was spent on R&D to make Lotus’s parent company want a return on investment.”
The Europa is on sale now for £33,895.
P.S. Wondering what AutoExpress made of the Europa S? Well, if you’re familiar with the magazine’s unique brand of mindless optimism sunny disposition, you won’t be surprised to learn that it had nothing but kind words. According to AutoExpress, the Europa has “very little turbo lag,” is “quite refined” and definitely has “more compliancy in its ride” than the Elise. Go figure.
Linkage:
Autocar
AutoExpress
Whatcar
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