Auto News 5

The Lotus Elise and fixed-roof Exige define sports car purity, but with the recently unveiled new Evora, due here late this year, Lotus will live a bit larger. The Evora retains the brand's trademark aluminum tub structure and mid-engine layout, but the former is stretched to squeeze in an (optional) pair of kid-sized rear seats while the latter switches from four- to six-cylinder Toyota power. Adapted from the Camry, the 3.5-liter V-6 puts out 276 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque, enough to zip the luxe Lotus from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds (the company claims) on the way to a top speed of 160 mph. This despite the Evora's 2976 pounds, a full 50 percent more than the featherweight Elise. Of course, the Elise, with its bare-aluminum interior, makes zero concessions to comfort, whereas the Evora promises to be a veritable Maybach by comparison. It sports such unimaginable luxuries as navigation, an optional paddleshift automatic transmission, power steering, and - gasp! - cupholders. Not only that, but Lotus promises that entering and exiting the Evora will be "a less athletic undertaking," thanks to narrower sills, wider-opening doors, and a taller roof, all of which perhaps explains the brand's sudden embrace by the Hollywood glitterati, who have signed up for early test drives. Either that, or they think it's a hybrid.

I have a hard time with SUVs. I can understand drivers who appreciate a high seating position, although it gives no advantage when everyone else drives tall vehicles, too. I can understand wanting to give the impression that you're ready to tackle the Serengeti, not just the drive to the grocery store. Signifying that you might be something more than you actually are seems to be important to many people. I understand that experience with rough-riding, truck-based SUVs made many people flee to car-based crossovers that provide the same signs of tough capability without the concomitant discomfort. What I can't understand is the widespread willingness to push a tall, square-cornered box through the air at the cost of unnecessary fuel bills when an aerodynamic vehicle would do the same job more efficiently. But there clearly is a market for small luxury SUVs, and Mercedes-Benz thinks it needs an entrant, thus the GLK.

When my buddy Dave proposed that I join him and a couple other friends in an enduro kart race, I was ambivalent. Karting seems goofy. We're talking about grown adults donning race suits and helmets and squeezing themselves into a plastic seat attached to a lawn-mower engine and four tires that look like Stuart Little's space-saver spare. Karting shouldn't require a helmet; it should require a fez. Karts are to cars what ukuleles are to guitars. Also, I resent any sport that mandates spelling as if the dictionary were edited by Kool & the Gang.

This diesel R-class makes a lot of sense, but the EPA numbers seem very low. I had to go to fueleconomy.gov to verify that they were correct. I easily saw 30+ mpg indicated on my commute home and an average of 24 mpg after a lot of spirited driving and running around town. The new EPA ratings seem to be giving diesel vehicles the short end of the stick.

I've always been a huge fan of the Lotus 7 replicas, and it's great to finally have one of the best examples in the office. Caterhams have a huge cult following and a blast in this R400 shows why. Once you squeeze into the tight seat and try to fit your shoes into the pedal box (racing shoes are your only option), the car is actually quite comfortable. The ultra-light weight helps give the R400 amazing ride quality even over rough Michigan roads. The clutch is very aggressive and the engine likes revs when you are pulling away from a dead stop. The combination of a very high power-to-weight ratio and short gearing gives the R400 incredible acceleration. Caterham quotes a 0-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds and that doesn't seem overly optimistic. The unboosted brakes work well, but you have to be careful trying to fit your feet on both the clutch and the brake pedal at the same time. The steering is quick and accurate but not nervous.