Lotus Europa S : EU INTEGRATION

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The Europa S brings a more accessible Lotus to a wider audience. In theory at least. Andy Enright Reports

The Lotus Europa S must have one of the easiest briefs possible. Take the basic premise of the Lotus Elise and make it a little more accessible. Give people who aren't double-jointed the opportunity to get in and out, give it a roof and a modicum of luggage space and keep the rest of the Elise's good bits. If that simple tick list can be mastered and if US type approval is also achieved, profitability will surely follow.

Think of the Europa S as the Elise for grown ups and you won't be too far off the mark. It targets cars like the Audi TT, the Nissan 350Z, the Porsche Cayman and the BMW Z4 coupe and aims to offer the unparalleled fun factor of the Elise with a few more creature comforts. That's not to say that Lotus have gone soft. One of the design criteria was that the car mustn't weigh more than 1,000 kilograms and indeed, it squeaks just under that figure. By way of reference, a Mini Cooper weighs 1,125kg and a Nissan 350Z 1,545. Given that it has a brawny 200bhp turbocharged engine to hustle it along, the Europa S isn't going to be shy of performance. It uses a version of the four-cylinder Vauxhall engine seen in the VX220 Turbo. It's a more satisfying `everyday' engine than the rev-happy Toyota units fitted to the Elise and Exige models, offering the sort of low-end torque that made the VX220 Turbo such a devastating cross country car. Lotus claim that 90 per cent of the car's 194 lb/ft torque figure is available from as little as 2,000rpm. This will give the Europa S a more muscular feel than the Exige and Elise, in keeping with the demands of prospective owners. A whole slew of fevered speculation concerned what powerplant would sit amidships in the Europa S but Lotus have made a wise choice with this tried and tested Vauxhall unit. If you want slightly more power, a 225PS version of this engine is offered in the flagship Europa SE model - for a £5,000 premium over the S model's £27,995 list price. The Europa chassis is very similar to the Elise tub with cut down sills to make entry and exit easier. What rigidity is lost in this fashion is probably gathered back with the addition of a rigid fixed roof. It's hard to believe the wheelbase is the same as an Elise, as the Europa S looks a far bigger car. It is four inches longer overall and the higher roofline gives it a little more road presence than the diminutive Elise and Exige models.

"The Europa S stacks up against some very accomplished rivals"

The styling work has been carried out by Russell Carr, the man behind the current Elise and Exige shapes, so there's a degree of styling continuity between the models. The side scoop, the exposed fuel filler cap and the basic stance are all recognisably Lotus but some of the rest of the detailing shows how far the company's styling direction has progressed in recent years, with some slightly fussier finishes that will doubtless divide opinion. It's perhaps a little less aggressive than you'd expect in a market packed with testosterone-fuelled rivals, but it's nevertheless a composed piece of penmanship. Although the chassis shares plenty of commonality, Lotus are at pains to stress that the Europa S isn't merely an Elise derivative, even giving it its unique chassis number, Type 121, as opposed to the Type 111 that company insiders call the Elise underpinnings. A clearer distinction can be seen in the focus for the Europa S, the Norfolk company adopting the tagline `business class by Lotus'. Although it's entirely feasible that this car may get the nod from amenable fleet managers due to its low emissions, decent resale value and respectable fuel economy, it's never going to be serious corporate fare. The interior shares a fair bit of Elise DNA, which means that true business class buyers expecting satellite navigation, multiple cupholders and all the toys may well find a shortage of buttons to prang while they wait for Simpkins from field sales to effect a close. A leather interior option is offered and as long as you don't expect a whole host of electronic goodies, the Europa S shouldn't disappoint. This is a Lotus after all, so you should be aware that the car's raison d'etre is the way it drives, not how many buttons it can display on the fascia. With a decently sized boot, the Europa S also possesses a modicum of practicality. With a power to weight ratio of just over 200bhp per tonne, the Europa S will serve up proper Lotus style zip, getting to 60mph in around 5.5 seconds and breaking the ton in around 14 seconds. A top speed of just over 140mph will be quick enough for most. With a lightweight body and respectable aerodynamics, the Europa S will also go far further on a gallon of fuel than any of its equivalently quick rival coupes. It'll need to be good to see off the Porsche Cayman and the Nissan 350Z, two coupes that set the gold standard when it comes to handling prowess, but Lotus seem quietly confident that the Europa S will redefine the rules of the game. It hasn't always been apparent what game that would be. Industry watchers will recall that the original plan was to build the car in parent company Proton's factory in Malaysia, offering it for far less than the current mooted price, but internal politics nixed that scheme. The Europa S is being built alongside the Elise and Exige at Hethel in Norfolk, with a target production figure of almost 500 units per year. The problem is that, even with the reduced £28,000 list price, buyers have a lot of other tempting alternatives and those numbers are proving hard to attain. Which is a pity since for a few thousand less, this car would look very desirable indeed.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Lotus Europa S
PRICE: £27,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 220g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 140mph / 0-60mph 5.5s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 22.1mpg / (extra urban) 38.9mpg / (combined) 30.4mpg
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 3900/1714/1120