Lotus Evora vs Porsche 911 Carrera 02/04/2011
In the world of luxury coupes, the Lotus brand is often forgotten about. While many characterize these vehicles as "exotic" or "supercars," they're actually priced to compete against some of the more common luxury brands.
Take the Lotus Evora, for example. This car comes in at $73,500, nearly $4,000 cheaper than the similarly styled Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe. We pitted them head-to-head to see which one offered coupe fans more for their money.
It's worth noting that the Evora only comes with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty, which is a bit on the low end and one full year less than the 911's 4 year/50,000 mile pledge.
Lotus vehicles are famous for their low weight and nimble handling, but this often leaves them a bit underpowered. While the Evora's 258 lb-ft of torque closely approaches the 911's 288 lb-ft, its 276 horsepower is a significant downgrade from the Porsche's 345 hp.
The interior is a bit of a toss-up. Music fans will definitely prefer the Lotus, as it comes with a great premium sound system and iPod integration, two things that the 911 can't match. However, the Porsche has a number of nice touches, such as dual climate control and power seats.
We prefer the Lotus for its comparable power and features, but much cheaper price tag - not to mention its rarity and head-turning capabilities.