The Lotus Evora has arrived in the US - finally!

It was a mere 6 ½ months ago that the very first Lotus Evora was sold to Matthew Melling in Twickenham, UK and now Mr. Melling will have to share that distinction with the owner of the very first Lotus Evora sold in North America. Bruce Rice, an Austin-area resident, accepted the keys to his brand new 2010 Lotus Evora sports car earlier today from Lotus of Austin, which is planning to celebrate its first delivery of the Evora by hosting a party inside the dealership tomorrow at 5pm.

The Lotus Evora is the first Lotus since the Elise debuted in 1995 and is the first mid-engine 4-seater performance car. The car hosts a 3.5 liter V6 engine that brings 276hp and 252lbs of torque to the table. A carbon grey Evora is listed on Lotus of Austin’s website and has an MSRP of $87,250. Although we have no idea how much Mr. Rice paid for the distinction of owning the first Evora in North America, for that price, we would have preferred a Nissan GT-R Premium->ke1592 which offers more horsepower and torque for the same amount of money. Then again, to each his own.

Check out the press release after the jump.

Press Release

The first Lotus Evora delivery in North America took place today at John Eagle European's Lotus of Austin when dealer principal Sonny Morgan handed Austin-area resident Bruce Rice the keys to a brand new 2010 Lotus Evora 2+2 sports car. Lotus of Austin will host a party to commemorate the first delivery tomorrow at 5 p.m. inside the dealership. Lotus of Austin offers the full range of Lotus sports cars, including the Evora, Elise and Exige.

"Delivering the first Evora in North America was an exciting moment for John Eagle European and the Lotus brand," said Morgan. "The Evora is one of the most advanced new sports cars available in the world, and the very first customer model is on the road today right here in Austin."

The Evora is the world's only mid-engine, four-seat sports car. Powered by a Lotus-tuned 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 276 hp, and weighing less than 3,000 pounds, the Evora offers breathtaking performance. Only a few thousand Evoras will be built worldwide each year, so the car will exude an exclusivity that matches its performance and stylish good looks.

In addition to its excellent performance and exemplary handling, the Evora offers a refined ownership experience. Highlights include a contemporary, hand-crafted and elegantly trimmed cabin, as well as an equipment list with such high-tech features as an advanced touch-screen multi-media system incorporating a state-of-the-art Alpine satellite navigation and audio system. The new Evora is not only suited to carve up the hill country roads, but can also serve as an everyday driver.

In 2009, Lotus of Austin was the No. 1 ranked Lotus dealership in Texas, and third in the United States. Lotus is one of the flagship marques offered by John Eagle European, which also sells Aston Martin and Bentley automobiles inside its plush showroom located at 12989 Research Boulevard in Austin.