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Lotus Europa Coupe 2.0 S

For:
You'll find all the thrills you'd expect from a Lotus with an added dash of comfort and practicality.

Against:
Perhaps still too much of a specialist car for everyday use. The high list price pits the Europa against some extremely classy opposition



Performance

Underneath those slinky panels lies a 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that drives through a six-speed gearbox. Give it full throttle and you'll bullet to 60mph in just 5.6 secs and keep going all the way to 150mph.

Ride & handling

The unassisted steering is heavy at low speeds but as you up the ante the car becomes incredible agile, with phenomenal grip and minimal body roll through corners. So it's all the more amazing that it displays a rides quality that many a luxury car manufacturer would do well to emulate.

Refinement

The Vauxhall-sourced engine is located behind a glass screen and has a six-speed gearbox to reduce revs the engine which make it a fair bit quieter than the revvier Toyota sourced engine in the Elise. However, plenty of road and wind noise still find their way into the Europa's cabin.

Buying & owning

You'll buy a Europa with your heart not your head but bear in mind that for this sort of money you can buy some pretty exotic metal including an Audi TT or a BMW Z4 Coupe. Both are likely to hang on to more of their value than the Europa. Fuel returns of 30.4mpg are encouraging, but make the most of the performance and you'll need to fill up every 100 miles.

Quality & reliability

Although the Europa's interior is decked out in leather some of the stitching meanders around the cabin in almost comical fashion, while much of the trim and seals have a fit-where-they-touch quality. To their credit Lotus cars are well engineered with a sound mechanical reliability record.

Safety & security

Other than an immobiliser, the Europa is seriously lacking in security kit. Anti-lock brakes are standard fit and there are front airbags for the driver and passenger but there's no side airbags let alone curtains. That said the Europa's extremely strong chassis is built with race crash incidents in mind.

Behind the wheel

Unlike the Elise and Exige models you don't have to be a contortionist to get in and out of the Europa thanks to a higher roofline and a lower cut door sill. Although there's no steering wheel adjustment the driving position is first rate. The low ride height means you sometimes feel a bit vulnerable but despite the small windows all round visibility is good.

Space & practicality

You'll need to be on very close terms with your passenger, as every time you change gear you'll bang elbows and knees. Equally, when cruising you rest with one knee on the gear stick and the other on the doors sill. There is a boot that will accommodate a suitcase but your golf clubs will need to go on the passenger seat.

Equipment

Carpets are Lotus' idea of luxury but at least the Europa comes with more kit than any other model in the range. Leather trim is standard as is a radio/CD player a basic, albeit noisy air-conditioning to keep you cool and sat-nav to keep you from getting lost.

Running Costs

Town mpg

22

Out of Town mpg

39

Average mpg

30

Tank Capacity (gallons)

9.6

CO2 Rating (g/km)

220

Insurance Group

20

Typical Insurance Quote

£963

% Value Retained (3yrs/36,000mls)

N/A

Typical Contract Hire Rate (pcm)

£729

Pence Per Mile

0

Servicing Cost over 3yrs

£0

Servicing Intervals

9k

Manufacturers Warranty

2yr/UL + 2yr Paint + 2yr Breakdown

Performance & Measurements

Body type

Coupe

Number of Doors

2

Number of Seats

2

Engine (cc/type)

1998/4

Fuel Type

Unleaded

Max Power (bhp/rpm)

197/5400

Engine Position

M

Driven Wheels

Rear

Length (mm)

3900

Width (mm)

1714

Height (mm)

1120

Boot Space (min ltr)

N/A

Boot Space (max ltr)

154

Turning Circle (m)

N/A

Towing Weight(kg)

N/A

Kerb Weight (kg)

995

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