2012 Lotus Evora IPS - First Drive

The Evora IPS has Lotus’ first automatic transmission since the Excel SA back in the 1980s, and as it’s likely to account for some 60 percent of Evora sales worldwide—with an even higher take rate in the U.S. and Asia—it’s a vital cash generator for the company.

Intelligent Precision Shift (IPS) might sound highly technical, but it’s simply an Aisin-supplied 6-speed torque convertor automatic with actuators and shift strategy developed by Lotus. It also adds 110 lb. to the Evora’s 3165-lb.curb weight, but at 5.3 sec. to 60 mph and a 155-mph top speed, it hasn’t eaten that greatly into the car’s performance. And, since the auto’s torque capacity of 295 lb.-ft. matches that of the more powerful Evora S engine, there’s reason to think that it could show up in that car too in the future.


There’s no central shifter; the driver simply selects P, R, N, S or D on the center console and then flips up and down through the ratios via the anodized black paddles attached to the steering wheel. In Drive, the paddles override gearchanges, but if there’s no action for 10 seconds it reverts back to full auto operation. Which is fine, but at times I found the gearbox hunting between 3rd and 4th, an annoying trait.

For that reason I preferred the Sport mode that offers sharper throttle response and the ability to rev right through to redline between shifts. At times the shifts feel a bit harsh, but Lotus explained that was deliberate as they didn’t want silky smooth changes slurring between the ratios: “We wanted the driver to feel the shifts. It is, after all, a performance car,” I was told.


The composed chassis and flowing steering remain among the best in class and aren’t really impaired by the auto, and with the new free-flow exhaust wailing away, the Evora starts to have that sporty aura it previously lacked.

Downsides are a cabin that’s woefully finished for a car of this price, poor digital instrumentation that’s difficult to read and a mind-bogglingly complex infotainment sat-nav screen—oh yes, and no storage nets or bins for sunglasses or cell phones.

Still, there are enough buyers who will prefer the auto to the manual and be prepared to pay the premium that will be asked. For the U.S., the IPS commands $2950 over the Evora 2+2’s base price of $65,500.