Editing Models - Evora (section)

==Pre-launch==

Known as Project Eagle during its development, the Evora is Lotus's first ever mid-engined 2+2, although the default configuration is actually the "+0", with the rear seats an optional extra.

[[Image:Evora-cad.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Lotus Evora CAD shot showing the 2+2 layout]]

In the run up to its launch, Lotus carried out a promotion campaign promising "True Character in a Faceless World", which included people with blank face masks appearing at Wimbledon, the Henley regatta and Elton John's white tie and tiara ball.<ref>[http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Lotus-Concepts/233717/ Autocar: Lotus' faceless ad campaign]</ref>

[[Image:Evora-faceless.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Lotus 'Faceless People' spectating at Wimbledon]]

This promotion led to the website http://www.facelesspeople.com, which featured nothing but a countdown to the cars launch and a link back to the Group Lotus website. Since the launch this site has been removed and is no longer available.

The unveiling of the Evora on the 22nd of July at the 2008 British International Motor Show<ref>[http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/225417/lotus_evora.html Evo - Lotus Evora breaks cover]</ref> marked Lotus's first all-new car since the Elise in 1995. Although Lotus had produced models such as the Exige, Series 2 Elise and Europa in the interim period these were still fundamentally based on the original Elise platform.

As with the 'Federal' Elise the Lotus Evora was designed with international sales in mind, in particular the lucrative US market. This was deemed vital to help Lotus reach a wider audience of more affluent buyers, with the Evora looking to compete against a far wider range of cars than the Elise's niche appeal.

Parallels could certainly be drawn between the Evora launch and that of the original Elite and Esprit, with Lotus looking to produce cars that would push up market and could command higher pricing and, hopefully, profit margins...

[[Image:Lotus-Evora-1.jpg|center|thumb|400px|The Lotus Evora at the 2008 British International Motor Show]]

At the launch Lotus were bullish, talking of how the car had been developed in just 18 months<sup>Citation needed</sup>, and of projected sales figures of around 2,000 cars per year worldwide.