In 2014, following a disastrous year financially, Lotus embarked on a new quest to save itself from extinction with Jean-Marc Gales at the helm. One of the first products to relaunch the brand was the Evora 400, essentially a revised, lighter, and more powerful version of the sports car first introduced in 2009. The Evora 400 also marked Lotus' return to the U.S. after withdrawing from the market following the previous Evora failing to comply with safety standards. For 2017, the British firm introduced the special-edition Evora 410, which features additional carbon-fiber body parts and lighter drivetrain components.

It's been less than six months since the Evora 410 made its public debut, and Lotus is now offering another upgrade for the base model. Dubbed Carbon Pack, this new bundle adds a number of components already fitted to the Evora Sport 410 as standard, making the 400 lighter than what you get from the factory. Exhaust and battery upgrades are also available, shaving even more pounds of the Evora's already lightweight design.

"The Lotus Evora 400 is already the lightest car in its segment, with super car performance, benchmark handling and the purity of the driving experience expected of a Lotus. We are now giving customers an opportunity to drive an even lighter and more responsive car," said Lotus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales.

What's more, alongside the Carbon Pack, Lotus also announced that the Evora 400 is getting new convenience features. But more about that, as well as everything you need to know about the new options bundle, in our detailed review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Lotus Evora 400 With Carbon Pack.

2016 Lotus Evora 400 Carbon Pack

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Lotus Evora 400 Carbon Pack
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 400
  • Torque: 302
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

What makes the Lotus Evora 400 With Carbon Pack special

The Evora 400 Carbon Pack is some sort of middle ground between the standard 400 and the Sport 410. Specifically, the optional Carbon Pack replaces the standard front splitter, roof panel, rear wing center section, rear diffuser finisher, front access panel, and mirror caps with carbon-fiber elements. The bundle is very similar to what customers get with the Evora Sport 410, minus the quarter panels and the race-inspired tailgate.

These lightweight body parts cut mass by 5 kg (11 pounds), while also providing a contrasting carbon finish with all available exterior colors. Unfortunately, due to the lack of the Sport 410's louvered tailgate, the 400 Carbon Pack doesn't benefit from the extra 15-percent of downforce with no increase in drag.

The package doesn't change anything on the inside, but the Evora now benefits from a cup holder and oddment tray. It might not sound like much compared to regular sedans, but this is a big thing coming from Lotus. Fitted as standard to U.S. and Canadian models, the cup holder is offered as an option for the European and Asian markets. Lotus stresses on the fact that the cup holder weighs only 120 grams (0.26 pounds) and has an almost negligible effect on the overall weight of the car. Needless to say, Lotus seems willing to finally bend to market demands.

There are no changes under the hood, where the Toyota-sourced, 3.5-liter V-6 engine pumps the standard 400 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque. On the other hand, Lotus offers an optional titanium sports exhaust and lithium-ion battery, which can save an additional 10 kg (22 pounds) each. When both options are selected, the Evora 400 Carbon Pack becomes 25 kg (55 pounds) lighter than the standard model, tipping the scales at 1,370 kg (3,020 pounds). For reference, the Evora 410 weighs 1,325 kg (2,921 pounds). Lotus had nothing to say about performance, but it's likely that the 0-to-60 mph sprint remains unchanged. Specifically, the sports car needs 4.2 seconds to hit the benchmark with the manual transmission and 4.1 ticks with the automatic gearbox. Top speed is rated at 186 mph.

The optional Carbon Pack costs £6,500 in the U.K., €9,000 in Germany, and $10,000 in the United States. The Evora 400 starts from $89,900 on this side of the pond, meaning that the Carbon Pack version will cost $99,900 before options. The titanium sports exhaust costs $8,000 (£5,500 in the U.K. and €7,000 in Germany), while the lithium-ion battery adds another $1,690 (£1,350 in the U.K. and €1,890 in Germany. Add these options too and the Evora 400 Carbon Pack will fetch $109,790.

Lotus Evora 400

Read our full review on the Lotus Evora 400 here.