Lotus Evora vs Corvette Z06
The UK and the US share a lot of similarities, and have a pretty close friendship when it comes to international relations, but one of several arenas where the friendship is disregarded and the gloves come off? Motorsports. From the Ford GT40 at Le Mans to Dan Wheldon winning the Indianapolis 500, these two countries have something of a rivalry when it comes to cars. So we thought that we should examine two rivals from opposite sides of the Atlantic, and see which one comes out on top. The pairing: the Lotus Evora and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Both fill a similar niche – speed, fun, and great driving, but which is better? Let’s find out.
The Lotus Evora comes with a 3.5L V6, that lets it reach 162 mph (178 in the Evora S model), and go from stationary to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. By comparison the Corvette comes with a huge 6.2L V8, which generates 650bhp in comparison to the Evora, which generates 276bhp in its vanilla state, and 345bhp when supercharged. This huge engine lets the Corvette reach speeds far beyond the Evora’s wildest dreams, with a top speed of 185 mph, and a 0-60 time of just 3 seconds. However, there’s more to cars than just speed – let’s see how they drive.
Lotus have a reputation for being sticklers when it comes to design, and it shows in the Evora. The car is wonderfully controllable, thanks to a mixture of incredible engineering and great steering. It’s also extremely agile, allowing you to make turns at the drop of a hat, and the ride is far more decent than a small sports car’s has any right to be.
The Corvette, on the other hand, is all about one thing – speed. Press down on the accelerator, and you’re forced back into your seat, as you pull away like an F-22 taking off, jetting towards the horizon. You won’t even have time to take a breath before you hit 60, as your mind starts questioning reality “Am I really at 60 mph already?” and by the time you’ve processed that thought, you’re well on your way to 120. The Vette also has a good ride, taking shocks and carrying on unfazed.
Inside, the Evora is sadly hampered by sports car conventions. The interior is a little cramped, and seems like it was made with utility in mind. The driver has a good seating position however, sat low to the ground behind a good set of pedals, but accoutrements are kept to a minimum, and the instruments aren’t as well-designed as they could be. In the Corvette, a good selection of quality materials are available, as well as a configurable display, a head-up display, and a nice mix of analogue and digital instruments, and a great driving position.
It’s time to wave the Stars and Stripes, because in this clash, the US does indeed come out on top. The Lotus is a fine car, pure driving fun, but in comparison to the Vette, its lower speeds and smaller interior mean that the Chevy takes the crown. Pricing on the Corvette is also great, compared to the Lotus. This American machine retails with a base price of $78,995, compared to the Evora’s $77,115. $1880 for an extra 23mph, and far better acceleration? The Corvette offers comparable performance to a Lamborghini Gallardo, and better on all fronts than a Maserati GranTurismo. In short, the Corvette lives up to its name, giving the same kind of thrill its ancestors did nearly 50 years ago.
