New Lotus Evora GT4 Concept unwrapped at the Shanghai Motor Show ~ station of gear

Luke Wilkinson 2019-04-16 03:00

Track-only Lotus Evora GT4 Concept makes Shanghai debut, with a host of FIA-compliant safety kit and 170mph top speed

The Lotus Evora GT4 Concept has been unveiled at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show, featuring a suite of performance-focused chassis upgrades, a race-tuned V6 engine, carbon fibre cladding and an FIA-compliant safety system. Following its homologation approval, the British firm will race the Evora GT4 Concept from 2020.

It’s based on the same lightweight aluminium chassis as the road-going Evora, albeit with uprated disc brakes, adjustable dampers, lightened suspension arms and tubular anti-roll bars. To further benefit structural rigidity, as well as assist with crash safety, the GT4 Concept is also fitted with an eight-point, FIA-approved roll-cage.

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The Evora GT4 Concept is powered by a tuned version of the same Toyota-derived supercharged 3.5-litre V6 from the road-going Evora. It produces 443bhp and 510Nm of torque, which is fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission and a Torsen limited slip differential, allowing a top speed of 170mph.

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Following the Lotus philosophy of “adding lightness,” the front and rear bumpers, roof, engine cover, rear quarter panels, diffuser and rear wing are all made from carbon fibre. The door glass has been replaced with plastic, the traditional lead-acid battery has been substituted for a lithium-ion unit and the wheels are forged from lightweight aluminium.

As a result, the Evora GT4 Concept tips the scales at just 1,200kg (without the driver), giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 370bhp per tonne. This means it is 97kg lighter and has 44bhp per tonne more than the road-going Evora GT410 Sport on which it’s based.

Finally, to comply with FIA racing regulations, the Evora GT4 Concept features a comprehensive list of safety equipment, including a six-point harness, an FIA-approved racing seat, a fire-extinguisher system, an electrical kill-switch and a 120-litre fuel tank with a rollover sensor and pressure relief valve.

What are your thoughts on the new Lotus Evora GT4 Concept. Let us know in the comments section below…

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New Lotus Evora GT4 Concept unwrapped at the Shanghai Motor Show - pictures

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