Slated to debut in Geneva

The 2016 Lotus Evora has been spied for the first time.

Set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the facelifted model has a front bumper, a revised grille and larger air intakes with LED daytime running lights. The rear end largely carries over but there's a new rear wing and an aggressive rear diffuser.

Interior changes appear relatively limited as there's circular air vents, a three-spoke steering wheel and a familiar instrument cluster.

Engine options will likely carryover with minor modifications for improved performance. There's no word on specifics but the entry-level model currently has a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 276 bhp (205 kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. It enables the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds before hitting a top speed of 163 mph (262 km/h).

Lotus is currently preparing for the launch of its refreshed Evora, expected to debut next month in the Geneva Motor Show.

Our latest spy photos show a heavily camouflaged Evora being in the final steps of development. The facelifted Evora is expected to feature minor styling changes in order to give the mid-engine Cayman rival a stronger, more athletic presence. The front and rear bumpers will receive most of these changes.

As for the interior, the dash layout is expected to remain as is, with the usual improvements to the build quality, materials and trim options to complete the aesthetic side of the refreshed model.

According to official sources, the most significant changes are happening under the skin. The Evora will gain 15 per cent more power and less weight in order to compete more effectively with the other sports cars of the market. The current model is powered by a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6, producing 280hp in the base model and 350hp in the supercharged Evora S model.

Lotus wants desperately to improve its sales and so far the plan shows promising signs. The launch of the automatic Exige S in combination with a more characterful Evora in its line-up may bring the customer volume Hethel desires. And for those who want something even spicier, Lotus has promised a “surprise” reveal in Geneva as well, so stay tuned.

You won't mistake it for anything else, but Lotus' Evora wants to make a splash in Geneva after going under the knife and visiting the gym where it lost a few pounds and gained some muscle.

Lotus calls it the Evora 400 after it tweaked the sports car's supercharged and charge-cooled mid-mounted 3.5-liter V6 engine to deliver 400hp and 410Nm of torque, an increase of 45hp and 10Nm respectively over the current Evora S.

With this newly found power, the Evora 400 is 0.3 seconds faster than the Evora S in the 0-60mph sprint at 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.2 sec), and an impressive 6 seconds faster at the brand's test track in Hethel, Norfolk. It also tops out at 186mph (300km/h).

According to Lotus, "over two thirds of the Lotus Evora 400 is new", and that includes the more intricate/fussy styling of the front and rear ends of the car, the redesigned cabin, the extruded aluminum chassis tub, the updated manual and automatic transmissions – the former gets a standard Torsen-type limited slip differential (LSD), new brakes and wheels. In keeping with the brand's tradition, the Evora 400 shed 22kg or about 49 pounds in the process.

"The Evora 400 is the fastest road-going Lotus that we have ever produced, possessing performance that can only be matched by cars costing significantly more," said Lotus Cars boss Jean-Marc Gales. "It delivers supercar looks allied to supercar performance."

The new Evora 400 will enter production for European markets in the summer with deliveries to commence in August this year, while North American markets will get the car as a 2016 model year presentation this fall.

Hits 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds

Following last month’s online reveal, the Lotus Evora 400 has made its public debut this week at the 85th Geneva Motor Show.

Troubled British marque Lotus is trying to spice up the Evora with a more powerful version equipped with a V6 3.5-liter supercharged engine developing 400 bhp (298 kW) and 410 Nm (302 lb-ft). They say it’s the most powerful production model ever but back in 2011 they launched an Evora GTE Limited Edition which had 438 bhp (327 kW). They probably didn’t take this version into consideration because it was available in a limited series that was also commercialized in China.

Getting back to the Evora 400, it runs the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in 4.2 seconds and tops out at 186 mph (300 km/h). The engine’s power is channeled to the wheels through either an updated 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed automatic transmission. Lotus has also made some revisions to the aluminum chassis and they were able to shave off 22 kg (48 lbs).

Other upgrades implemented in the Evora 400 include larger brakes, a limited slip differential (when equipped with the manual gearbox) and a retuned suspension. Inside it gets new seats, forged magnesium steering wheel, new center console as well as a revised instrument cluster and better materials.

It will go on sale initially in Europe this August while North America will get it later on as a 2016MY.