S

The 1966 Europa was the first mid-engined machine built by Lotus and one of the earliest of its kind in the world. Lotus produced some 8500 units of Europa during the next 10 years, making it one of the most successful Lotuses ever made. Perhaps because of such success, Lotus reapplies the name to its latest GT car. 

Sharing the same profile and windscreen with Elise, Europa S is clearly yet another derivative from that Lotus core model. However, Europa S is engineered to be softer, more comfortable and easier to drive to attract another kind of customers. It has a 30mm stretch in wheelbase to give more interior room. It has lower door sills and higher roof to make access slightly easier. Its cabin has more standard equipment (air con, twin airbags, power windows, central locking, a cheap sat nav and, well, carpets). It has slightly more boot space (up from 112 to 154 liters) thanks to a longer rear overhang. Its suspensions are set softer to provide supple ride.

Moreover, it has the peaky Toyota engine replaced by Opel's 2.0-liter 16V turbocharged engine, with 200 horsepower and very useful 200 lbft of torque on tap to ease driving effort. Now you may realize that Europa S is actually a repackaged version of the now-defunct Opel Speedster / Vauxhall VX220 !

143 mph top speed, 0-60 in 5.6 seconds and 0-100 in 13.8 seconds are good numbers for a GT car costing £33,000, or equivalent to the base Porsche Boxster. On the down side, the low-revving character of the Opel engine (it reaches peak power at only 5400rpm), its uninspiring exhaust note and its slow throttle response are disgraceful for a GT car. Lotus should have given it a world-class V6, but sadly, it did not want to make the necessary investment.

Predictably, the handling is softer than Elise but still remarkable by class standard. This is a mid-engined machine with very low center of gravity and low inertia, thanks to the lightweight aluminum chassis and composite body. It carries 135 kg more than Elise but still under 1 ton. That eases the load to the 225-section rear tires and 288mm diameter ventilated disc brakes thus return remarkable roadholding and braking. The steering continues to be light and feelsome. Compare with Elise, its handling has lost some sharpness and precision, but by touring car standard it is by all means admirable.
 

The ride quality is also supple enough to work as an everyday GT. Nevertheless, the Europa S is by no means a comfortable or refined car. Its composite body on frame structure generates a lot more NVH than a rigid steel monocoque. Its bare cabin lacks sound insulation. Its dashboard and switchgears are made of nasty cheap plastics. Its steering wheel is fixed. Adjustment to the thin seats is limited. The door sills are still too high to get in and out easily… and there are no rear seats. It is difficult to imagine how it can compete with Porsche Boxster / Cayman, Audi TT and Nissan 350Z as a touring car. No wonder its sales target is just 500 units a year.

 3 years ago we were happy with Opel Speedster Turbo. Today the same ingredients can no longer satisfy us, especially when the price has been increased from £26,000 to £33,000 and the car has been rebadged to Lotus. If you want the ultimate driving thrill at this price, Elise S is always the first choice. If you also take comfort and usability seriously, then choose Porsche Cayman or Audi TT instead. Europa S can satisfy neither requirements, nor it is a good compromise between the two sides. Lotus has not produced a car so disappointing for many years.

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