Car pictures of the week
The Lotus Emira is finally here, so we kicked off our ultimate test with a roadtrip to Monaco as seen in the new issue
It’s not every day, or indeed every decade, that we’re given the chance to experience a truly new Lotus, but this is one of those times because the era of the Emira has arrived. In this week’s gallery, we’re bringing you some of the images that were left on the cutting room floor from the current issue (299), in the first stage of our ultimate 3000-mile test when Henry Catchpole and snapper Dean Smith headed straight from the factory to Monaco.
The glamorous destination was chosen to join the historic Grand Prix being held on the iconic F1 circuit. But aside from referencing Lotus’s motorsport heritage, it was also a baptism of fire for the Emira and its claim to be a modern sports car, with none of the compromises in tech or comfort that were always a consideration with Lotus products before.
The pair had all the highlights to hit on the drive down, Mont Ventoux, the Route Napoleon, the Col de Vence and then Monaco itself. During the journey, the Emira quickly revealed some of its biggest advances, namely a huge uplift in refinement and driver ergonomics plus really top-notch digital interfaces.
In stark contrast to the often hastily constructed interiors of Lotus models past, the new Emira is a revelation, and came with the advantage of having no trouble swallowing its two 6ft-plus occupants, their luggage and camera gear.
But how does the new Emira translate the handling and engagement traits of its predecessors? You’ll have to grab the new issue here to find out, but for now you can enjoy Dean Smith’s brilliant pictures in the only place you’ll find them.
Car pictures of the week: archive
Below are some of our favourite images from previous editions of evo car pictures of the week. Click on the pictures for the full galleries.
Gallery 1
Click below to see all the images of our first car pictures of the week gallery, here featuring the indomitable Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 and the stunning Porsche 911 re-imagined by Singer.
Gallery 2
Here we dig further back into the evo archives where we pull out some iconic images of the Ford GT slightly out of context in the European Alps, a TVR Sagaris in central London, the Audi RS2 as well as one of our most iconic twin tests between the Ferrari 599 GTO and Lexus LF-A.
Gallery 3
The previous-generation Bentley Continental GT seemed to get better with age, a notion mirrored by the Jaguar E-type when in modern ‘lightweight’ form. Both of these British icons, as well as the Aston Martin Vantage GT12 feature in gallery three.
Gallery 4
Fans might have cried fowl when Ferrari decided to turbocharge the Ferrari 488, but it’s not like Ferrari don’t have a history with turbocharged V8 engines. Here the 488 co-stars alongside the stunning F40, while elsewhere in this gallery we take a Porsche Cayman GTS to Japan for a stunning mountain blast.
Gallery 5
Italian twelve-cylinder supercars seem to be the main agenda in the fourth evo car pictures of the week gallery, here featuring four V12 Lambos and the stunning 599 SA Aperta limited edition alongside its 550 Barchetta predecessor.
Gallery 6
GT3s and GT-Rs are just the beginning for gallery number six, with the Noble M600, Aston Martin One-77 and a couple of McLaren flagships filling out our most amazing gallery yet.
Gallery 7
A gallery of new and old, here the McLaren 720S cemented its place as a truly great supercar alongside a daring night shoot with an Audi R8 LMX, pitch a Nissan GT-R and Audi Quattro against each other on Welsh mountain roads and drive the original 'Hakosuka' GT-R.
Gallery 8
Ford's RS200 in a moody dark garage is just one of many amazing shoots in our 8th gallery, click on the image for the full gallery
Gallery 9
Click on the image below for our ninth car pictures of the week gallery, including this hardcore lot!
Gallery 10
Our tenth gallery turned it up another notch, including the wettest shoot in history (apparently).
Gallery 11
The best hardcore Ferrari supercars and more feature in our 11th car pictures of the week gallery.
