LESS than six months after it was rolled into the showrooms, the first completely new model from Lotus in 13 years has already achieved smash-hit success.
Drop-dead gorgeous styling, a remarkable blend of performance with comfort and the availability of a 2+2 configuration have made the Evora a tempting alternative proposition in the sports car market.
Complete with a luxury cabin, the model is helping the famous Norfolk manufacturer through the recession and looks set to be its most popular product in 2010 with more than 400 expected UK buyers.
Even though customers have to pay a steep premium of £2,375 for two child-size rear seats, a sub-£50,000 entry price makes the swish composite-bodied sports model on an aluminium frame appear high value compared with the benchmark Porsche 911.
More significantly, its bigger bodywork and plush interior are also helping win new friends for Lotus with women drivers.
'The feedback we're getting from the showrooms is encouraging. Ladies like this car because getting in and out is much easier than they expect and they are finding it thoroughly practical transport for daily use.
'For the first time, we've provided a sports model that is just as home on the school run or shopping trips as it is when pushed to the limit,' says UK general sales manager Chris Arnold.
New from the ground up, the Evora shares only its rear lights and bonnet badge with other models. Currently, the production line set up for the car alongside the Elise and Exige models is delivering 25 examples per week and is due to reach maximum volume of 40 units by Spring.
With doors wide enough to allow access to the tiny rear seats, the Evora might prove troublesome in supermarket parking bays and limited storage provision and the absence of a glovebox mean there's little room for oddments.
But gripes like these pale into insignificance in a mid-engined car that looks like it's speeding when it is standing still and is built to thrill its driver even at crawling pace.
Poised and with surprisingly supple suspension to soak up surface irregularities, it has front seats that feel like tailored suits, incredibly high levels of grip and navigates bends as if on rails.
Ample power to achieve the 0-62mph sprint in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 162mph comes from a 3.5-litre Toyota V6 engine. Mounted transversely in lightweight composite bodywork, it combines zippy performance with impressive average fuel economy to make light work of long Continental hauls.
But it's a pity that a boot capacity of just 160 litres means you'd be restricted on the amount of luggage you could take.