Untitled

icGTR

TOTUS EVORA
NISSAN GT.R
Right: Evora and
GT R have little in
common, bur both
cars are huge y
appealing in their
own way. Which you
choose depends how
you lil

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sccure, so effortless. \bu know vou're travelling
quickll', but you're rareh' 211x1s of just how
quickl,v unril \,'ou look at the speedo at which
point vou'll realise you're going 20mph faster
than I'ou thought and slam on the anchors.
Upon reaching the Highlands I detoured
around the eastern side ofLoch Loniond along
a road callcd the Drike's Pass. Qrite r',,hy the
Dulc uould \\anr ro l)ass älong a rord r'hi. righr
and lurnpy is bevond me, but it was a fitting
test for the GT-R. lt felt big and confined,
never truh. able to 1i11 its lungs and stretch its
legs, and vcr it \\'-enr about its business rvithout
so much as a joule of l,asted energ\r, not a
millimetre of unu,anted movement - a legacl'
ofthe body conrrol and a ride utich, although
thumpinglv hard, never jars. It l,as an a\vesome
performance, a cruel, deliberate dissection of a
r:oad that should have got the better ofit.
That was a \\?rm-up. Toda,v the GT-R is
making mincemeat of the three cars in our
nrain group test. Dri\.ing it vou f'eel like a cat
to,ving with a bunch of mice - vou can let them
run offa bit and then reel them back in ar )our
leisure. Speed isn't everylhilg, though, and this
stunning abilitv has led to accusations that the
Nissan is devastatingl), effectir-e rather rhan
deeply invoh'ing. Wrong - it's both.
But despite its capabilities the GT-R doesn't
tamper rrith the lat-s of phr.sics - it does feel
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1'rsn1'y aficr the Lotus and has to work harder
to retain control. The Evora flows, dances,
glides and slr'eeps along these roads. The G I -R
stomps. It's never clums\', but it's ahvavs angrt,,
bellol.ing along, forcing its personality on ),.ou,
ahvavs the dominant parmer.
The Er,-ora is far more laid-back, happ,v to
dance to )/our tune, more accessible because
,vou can push harder rvithout the speeds
becorning so ridiculous. It has the purer
steering the rnore communicative chassis
and delivers r rich, satisfying, räcrile, rhreedimensional
driving experience. It also has
the better:, lower driving posirion and a more
adventurous, interestin g cabin.
I har-e more confidence in the Nissan, though
- mostlv because it conr.evs the impression that
it's better than ,vou are, but the natural front*
engined balance is also more rnanageable.'ll-re
\valr it digs itselfinto the surface as yo11 n,r,
the pot'er dou-n on the erit is reassuring and
l'hen it does lose grip (the rcar is rather playful
and the run-flat Dunlops do not like standir.rg
l,ater) catching it is instinctive, immediate.
Ultimatell' the G'FR feels like it has been
built for specd, the Evora for feel. Each reveals
the other's strengths and wcaknesses: what the
Errora gir,es vou the GT-R can't and vice versa.
For most of us, though, most of the tine, the
Lotus rewards more.
Bore x stroke 95.5 x 88.4mm
Cylinder heod Aluminium alloy, dohc per bank,4v
Fuel and ignition Electronic engine management,
ronsmission Six-speeddual-clutchtransmission,
ATTESA ET-S four-wheel drive. rear
Front suspension Double wishbones, coil springs,
Reor suspension l'4ulti-link, coil springs, DampTronic
Ventilated and cross-drilled discs.
380mm front and rear,ABS, BA, EBD,
Wheels
Tyres
evo RATTNG*****
9.5 x 20in front, 10.5 x 20in rean
255140 ZR20 tront,285/35 ZR20 rean
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