Lotus has taken the wraps off the Evora GT4 Concept at the Shanghai Auto Show, showcasing the most hardcore version of the model, complete with the Anglo-Sino (Union Jack and Five-starred Red Flag) livery.
The car utilises the same anodised, lightweight aluminium, extruded, epoxy bonded and rivetted high-stiffness chassis as the road car, but equipped with carbon-fibre body panels. The glass windows are now made of plexiglass as well. Despite the addition of enhanced structural and motorsport safety systems, this Lotus racer weighs 1,200 kg (subject to ballast), while reaching a top speed of 274 km/h.
It also features advanced aerodynamics for improved downforce and high-speed stability, with a competition-biased balance. It employs the same front clam layout as the Evora GT430 road car, but is slightly modified to allow for the cooling requirements of a race car. This includes removable canards and in-mouth brake ducts, as well as louvres positioned on top of each front wheel arch to reduce pressure above the wheel.
The car’s rear also uses the same setup as the road car, with sculpted ducts behind each wheel to vent airflow as quickly as possible from the wheel arches. However, here it gets a composite, four-vein diffuser and an adjustable, carbon-fibre, flat-plan motorsport wing. Other notable additions include centre lock wheels.
Besides that, the GT4 Concept employs an eight-point T45 roll cage, a six-point FIA HANS approved harnesses and HANS compliant seat, FIA compliant electrical kill switch and fire extinguisher. The car’s instrument panel has also been upgraded to a six-inch TFT colour screen for vital data logging.
For performance, the car uses the same aluminium 3.5 litre V6 engine with Harrop supercharger, delivering 456 PS and 510 Nm of torque. No 0-100 km/h timing here, though it’s worth noting that the car boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 375 hp per tonne. It also gets a bespoke motorsport exhaust system with FIA approved catalytic converter.
Power is channeled to the rear wheels through a sequential six-speed motorsports transmission, with semi-dry sump, force feed lubrication and external cooler. There’s also a beefier AP Racing Cerametallic twin plate clutch to manage power delivery, motorsports ECU, as well as a Numatics paddle shift system and Torsen-type limited slip differential.
Braking power is managed by huge 380 mm rotors up front and 355 mm units for the rear, complete with four-piston callipers and motorsport compound brake pads. A Bosch M5 motorsport ABS is deployed too, whilst the suspension setup comprises a Lotus-tuned, two-way adjustable dampers with forged aluminium, high lateral stiffness double wishbones, and tubular front and rear anti-roll bars.
Factory drivers Cui Yue (29-years old) and Gaoxiang Fan (25-years old) will be tasked with demonstrating the car’s potential, and they will do so through the newly established Lotus Driving Academy in China. The facility will see drive events be held for team and members of the public, which include driver training sessions and hot lap experiences.
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