The problem with a temporary filler is it’s just that - temporary. After so many years of forcing drivers to perform human origami when entering and exiting the seats of an Elise or Exige, Lotus invented the ‘Touring’ version of the Elise dubbed Europa S in 2005.
Named after the longer low-riding Europa from 1964, it had already been proven as a good idea in practice, hauling the company out of the doldrums in the sixties when appeal for clubman types faded.
This second coming was a good idea in theory only, as it was heavily criticised for its obvious inadequacies - the larger entry/egress area and a few added internal luxuries are a bonus, but it is powered by an Opel/Vauxhall turbo two-liter four with only 200bhp at 5400rpm and 194 pound-foot at 4200rpm (a later SE spec offered 20 more horses).
Now that the Evora 2+2 is here, with a much sportier 3.5-liter engine with 276hp and 258 pound-foot of torque, the Europa S was bound to fade away. Apparently, dealers are stopping the orders, and only have a few left to fill.
And just quietly, many of the hardcore high-revving Lotus lovers won’t shed a tear.
Source: http://mercedesterrell.blogspot.com/2010/08/lotus-europa-gets-axe.html
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