The Lotus Evora may be the most luxurious Lotus to emerge from the British firm in recent years, but it still makes for a good race car -- a fact proven by the new Type 124 Evora endurance racer.
According to Lotus, few major changes were necessary to create the Type 124. The race model uses the stock Evora chassis, and retains a high percentage of the production car's suspension. Lotus reportedly changed only the dampers and anti-roll bars, which are now four-way adjustable units.
As with all race cars, the stock brakes and tires are eschewed with parts honed for track duty. The Evora Type 124 uses AP Racing 6-piston calipers in both front and back, and rides on Pirelli racing slicks.
In order to make the car completely FIA compliant, Lotus added a full roll cage, a fire extinguisher system, and a six-point restraint harness. Thanks to stripping virtually everything else from the interior and using a number of carbon fiber body panels, the Type 124 weighs 440 pounds less than the stock car (approximately 2640 pounds).
The engine hasn't changed -- it's still a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V-6 -- but its power has. Lotus says in Type 124, the six-cylinder can produce as much as 400 hp. Lotus replaced the standard six-speed sequential gearbox with a normal six-speed manual transmission.
The Evora Type 124 will make its debut at the 2010 ADAC Nrburgring 24 Hours in May, and will continue competing at a number of various endurance races through 2011 as part of a factory supported program.