Lotus Evora attracts celebrity pre-orders

Until the Evora came along in the middle of this year, Lotus hadn't introduced a truly new car to its ranks since the Elise/Exige arose 13 years ago, instead contenting itself with special, high-performance editions. Now the Evora is out, and as a 2+2 promises more practicality and accommodation than its more track-bred siblings, and celebrities the world over are flocking to its sleek lines.

Already on the list are Jay Leno, Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, London Mayor Boris Johnson, musician Jay Kay, Richard Hammond and James May, Beyoncé, Dave Grohl, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey and Patrick Dempsey - to name just a few.

The low-slung Evora may offer more cargo room and easier ingress/egress than the Elise or Exige, but it's still bred with Lotus performance in mind. The 3.5L V6 generates 276hp (206kW), and the bonded aluminum frame provides light-yet-stiff construction for sharp handling.

Los Angeles recently played host to the Evora, marking its U.S. debut, and it will soon be headed to the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show for its Australian - and southern hemisphere - debut. The organizers of the show, set for February, expect the Evora itself to be the star of the show.

"This car will be one of the undisputed star attractions and it is also the first major star to be confirmed. We're sure that amongst the field of high performance and exotic supercars, the Lotus will be a standout," said Russ Tyrie, director of the Melbourne show.