Lotus Evora GT430 hits Australia

SIMPLY Sports Cars (SSC) has uncovered its latest offerings from Lotus and KTM at the launch of its newest retail outlet in South Melbourne this week.

The Lotus and KTM distributor opened the doors to its new facility on City Road that will operate in conjunction with the existing Melbourne Lotus dealership, owned by Zagame Automotive Group, in Swan Street Richmond.

The biggest reveal was for the Lotus GT430 that sports a huge rear wing and is claimed to be the most powerful Evora ever.

SSC has secured four examples of the hardcore Evora from a global production build of just 60 units, and the company’s chief operating officer Richard Gibbs confirmed to GoAuto that two have already been snapped up.

The lofty price is also new territory for Lotus, with the Evora GT430 coming in at $259,990, excluding on-road costs, while the GT430 Sport, which has a few less goodies, starts at $239,990. They will be sold alongside the existing Evora 400 that is priced from $189,990 for the manual and $199,990 for the auto.

Under the bonnet is an updated version of the ubiquitous 3.5-litre supercharged V6 pumping out 321kW/440Nm in both the manual GT430 and GT430 Sport, while the auto delivers 450Nm.

Lotus says new body panels with exposed carbon weave sections help generate up to 250kg of downforce through its upgraded aerodynamics.

At the front there are larger apertures, a carbon-fibre front splitter and air blades and louvres on the top of the wheelarches, while at the rear the Evora GT430 has a large rear diffuser, aero ducts behind each wheel and the massive carbon-fibre rear wing.

The GT430 weighs 1299kg and the GT430 Sport is 1289kg, which is about 100kg lighter than the Evora 400 and they can race from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds – 0.4s quicker than the 400.

Both the GT430 Sport and GT430 feature a Torsen type limited slip diff on manual versions, tyre pressure monitoring, a lightweight lithium-ion battery, variable traction control, a titanium exhaust, more carbon on the roof and tailgate, ultra lightweight black or silver forged aluminium wheels and Lotus-tuned Ohlins two-way adjustable dampers.

The GT430 Sport misses out on the rear wing, the wheelarch vents and front splitter as well as the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres with 245/35 R19 at the front and 295/30 R20 at the rear.

Inside, there is more visible-weave, carbon composite components, including on the carbon race seats, carbon door sills and the new lightweight carbon instrument binnacle cover, while the steering wheel, dashboard, door panels, transmission tunnel and centre console are all trimmed in black Alcantara and perforated leather with stitching.

SSC also confirmed pricing for the Exige Cup 430 that is priced from $199,990, about $45,000 more than the Exige 380.

Just 10 units will be available in Australia and SSC says it already has five on pre-order.

The hardcore Exige uses the 3.5-litre supercharged V6, delivers 320kW/440Nm and can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds, enough for Lotus to name it the “most extreme Exige ever conceived”.

Meanwhile, SSC also wheeled out a new GT version of the wild KTM X-Bow that adds a windscreen to the hardcore road-legal sportscar and is priced from $189,990, which is $20,000 more than the regular X-Bow R.