UK Motor Show part 2

Lotus’s all-new Evora was one of the undeniable stars of the show. Developed from scratch in just 21 months, this mid-engined 2+2 is aimed squarely at the heavy hitters of the sports car market. Lotus wants to move upmarket, and knows full well that design, detail and packaging are all essential elements; the company’s global reputation for handling ability and dynamic excellence is a given. Wallpaper spoke to Lotus’s Chief Designer Russell Carr, Design Manager Steve Crijns - responsible for the Evora’s svelte bodywork - and Senior Designer Anthony Bushell, the man charged with the new car’s interior.

Is the Evora all about clever packaging?
RC: Yes, it’s all down to the choice of layout. It’s a little bit longer than our other cars, but the ‘coke bottle’ shape really foreshortens the wheelbase - which is also a bit longer than you’d normally have for a sports car. The ‘crossover graphic’ where the roof meets the rear screen is a very big help in getting the cabin to look small - you don’t read the height. The cutaway sills ‘pull’ the wheels away from the bodywork, while the plus 2 capability feels like a bonus.

How do you make a car feel more premium and upmarket?
SC: The Evora has a sophisticated form language. For this size of car, swoops and spoilers just wouldn’t work. This car has a dignity - it’s not a mid-life crisis car. You have to find the right balance between something that’s just right and not over the top. AB: Inside, we’ve got a premium form language going on, the stitching and materials. There’s a raw honesty about the materials.
RC: Using leather is very classical, but the form language is very dynamic. There are etched metal switches like a hi-fi - we're very proud of them.
AB: The rear cabin is also trimmed in darker materials - it's like a surprise that it's there.

Is the use of a term like ‘coke bottle’ meant to evoke an earlier era in car design?
SC: The 60s and 70s was my favourite era for car design, but this is very modern. We’d love our cars to be at Goodwood in 20 years time, so we’re always designing with an eye to the future.
RC: There’s a strong DNA link with our current cars as well. You can always tell it’s a Lotus.