Why �less stuff, more fun� should be the ultimate automotive mantra
Less is more. If you don�t believe the principle that removing the unnecessary to fully appreciate the fundamental, then you need to drive a Lotus.
In this modern over-complicated, gadget-filled world, it�s a joyous and wonderful thing to drive a car that is so bereft of the superfluous crap and foolishness that defines so much of the current automotive world. There is no outside temperature gauges, no warning buzzers to tell you they are grey skies above, or a meter to inform you that your shoe sole has only 20mm of tread left.
If there is car that�s tailor made for me it�s be the Lotus Europa SE. My week with it gave me some of the most fun I�ve ever had with four wheels. Yes, the �80 grand Porsche 911 I drove a few months ago was a technical tour de force and massively impressive, but the Lotus was more FUN. The kind of fun that you get on a motorbike or with your clothes off.
The Lotus has the basic necessities like a heater, electric windows, aircon, two seats, and a steering wheel, but if you want to show off gadgets to your mates this is not the one. But really none of this matters to anyone who really understands what pure driving is all about. If you�ve ever wondered what a racing car feels like to drive, then this is a car to satisfy your curiosity.
The moment you see the tiny, low slung Lotus and open the small doors you know that this is going to be something different from the regular hatchback experience. It�s something of a contortionist�s act to get in and out and tall, large people would find it ultra hard work. But once you�re in, the thin leather clad seats are pretty comfortable
And above 5mph the small steering wheel, lacking power assistance, feel great.
The joy of the Europa SE is the ability to feel exactly what is happening to the tyres through the steering wheel. It�s a very light car, so it handles and grips the road like a track car and in the right gear, and with the right RPM the 2 litre turbocharged engine propels the Lotus with the kind of velocity that evokes images of being at the wheel of Lewis Hamilton�s F1 car.
The Europa SE has just enough comfort to make longer journey�s bearable, but don�t expect this to be up to Audi TT or Merc SLK standards. It much more hardcore but so much more rewarding when the mood and road conditions allow. Suspension is supple enough apart from the terrible potholed roads in many parts of the Capital
The only fly in the ointment is the gear change which is too clunky for a car so beautiful to drive and with this level of handling finesse. It was the only thing I could constructively find to fault and it�s one area that Lotus need to spend more time on trying to improve.
For a firm that doesn�t have the huge development budgets or staff like Porsche or BMW
the Lotus probably doesn�t have the right to be as good as it is. But on a sunny Sunday afternoon on a twisty A road, I wonder if the most expensive German or Italian sports cars would be as much fun or as satisfying to drive. Traction control? You don�t need it.
Complicated over-assisted electronic steering systems? No thanks.
Lotus create simply exciting, great handling cars, that make real drivers want to drive quickly on real twisty roads. If I ever come into a wad of cash for a second car it won�t be a Ferrari or Porsche that will grace my gravelled driveway, but a simply lovely Lotus.
TECHNO, TECHNO, TECHNO
Engine:1998 cc turbo charged engine, 4 cylinders in line, water-cooled with double overhead camshafts. 4 valves per cylinder, multi-point sequential system fuel injection and electronic ignition. Re-mapped ECU to suit.
Performance: Maximum speed 146 mph. 0-60 mph 4.9 seconds
Max Power: 222 bhp
Vehicle weight: 995Kg (�The same torque-to-weight figure as a Ferrari F430� reckons Autocar magazine.) Even a �little� Mini weighs more at 1215kg.
Fuel consumption: Sorry didn�t pay much attention as was having so much fun. But I�d guess around 24 mpg
Cost: Around �32K
Pose factor: Lotus are only making 500 Europas so you will be in exclusive company. Look�s good in the flesh. Gets lots of attention as you see so few on the road.
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