The 2010 Lotus Evora

 

The Alfa Romeo 4C's Main Competitor

          

 

     Have you ever wanted a small sports car but wanted a British one instead of an Italian one like the Alfa Romeo 4C? If so there is a small sports car from Lotus called the Evora and it has similar looks and performance.

     The Evora is a transverse mid-engine sports car with rear-wheel drive. It is equipped with a not so British but Japanese Toyota 3.5 liter 2GR-FE naturally aspirated V6 or a Toyota 3.5 liter 2GR-FZE turbocharged V6. The first engine delivers 276 hp. Top speed is 162 mph. Naught to sixty takes 4.9 seconds. The maximum horsepower from the second engine is 345 hp. Petrolheads should get that if they want raw powwweeeerrrrrrrrr. The engine is coupled to either a 6-speed manual or automatic by Japanese company Aisin.  

     The Evora uses Lotus-tuned hydraulically assisted power steering. The chassis is a modular lightweight bonded aluminum structure. The suspensions used are a forged aluminium double wishbone, Bilstein high-performance gas dampers, and Eibach coaxial coil springs.

     The cost of a Lotus Evora in the United States ranges from $69,965 to $81,465. There is no monthly payment.        

  

 

 

The 1971 De Tomaso Pantera

 

My Favorite Old Sports Car

 

 

 

     Ever wanted a good old Italian sports car but didn't want a Lamborghini or a Ferrari because they might be a little too common. If so there is a third option in the form of the 1971 De Tomaso Pantera.

     The Pantera is a sports car with a RMR layout and rear-wheel drive. It's equipped with a not so Italian Ford 351 Cleveland V8 that produces a rather poor 330 hp. However later stock dinos would have a power output of 380 hp. The new 1972 Pantera would be reequipped with a new 4 Bolt Main Cleveland engine. This helped the new Pantera meet U.S. emissions standards. You may think this was a win but it wasn't. The 1972 Pantera L was limited to an appalling 248 hp to keep the feds happy. Unfortunately I don't know the top speed of the original Pantera, but I do know that it got to sixty mph in 5.5 seconds which is decent.  

     The Pantera uses power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes and rack and pinion steering. However the most interesting feature of the Pantera was when you opened the doors. Whenever you opened the doors a buzzing sound would sound. The ZF transaxle used in the De Tomaso Mangusta is also used in the Pantera.  

     The cost for an original 1971 Pantera today can range to $19,750 which is sort of cheap.