The fact that he recorded this all on his own just shows how talented he is as a showman. If he didn't mention it I probably wouldn't have noticed it was all him.
It seems like it's the perfect sports car. Mid engine, 6-speed manual, light, not overpowered, looks amazing, with Lotus perfectly tuned suspension and steering. Dream car.
@@KhoiBoa Jay is a gentleman of, shall we say, larger than average size. He was amazed how much space there is in the Evora. He put the seat fully back, and had to move it at least 4"forward so that he could reach the pedals. Also, he liked the seats. He LIKED the car.
I don't know if Jay is the kind of guy that exercise regularly or not but I imagine that he would be doing yoga regularly for the sole purpose of being able to get in and out of sport/super cars.
Jay is a good guy. He also does it cuz he loves doing it. And he also doesn't want to just sit there like most old guys wasting away in a rocking chair.
Jay, I purchased a Evora GT, as my sole Daily car, and I am happy to say I put on 8K miles on it, within 4 months of owning it. Worth EVERY Penny I paid for it. Best car, and so far, really cheap to maintain.
Mine too. We don't do automatics in my family. My father bought his last car, a manual Saab 9-3 turbo, in 2000 when he was 76. Before he bought it, I asked him if he was going to buy an automatic. His response was "Why would I get an automatic? I'm not old enough to need an automatic." He was still driving his manual 9-3 turbo when he was 89.
@@roadie3124 my dad has a auto Mercedes and he always puts a water bottle in the cup holder and pretends it’s a manual, he just really wants a manual car.
I have this in an automatic and I love it. I grew up driving manuals and now days I prefer an auto. Personally I thought the clutch was a little heavy and long. The auto is faster and has more torque and you can feel the difference imo. The automatic isn't the most refined though unfortunately.
14:45 I love that little chuckle Jay has when he gets a little rush from driving. Suddenly he isn't a 70 year-old man but rather a 23 year-old kid experiencing something new for the first time. Enjoy those moments, Jay. You deserve them.
Yes! I just want to keep watching the road, reach over and feel for button #5 for my favorite radio station. Or turn a lever to make my car warmer or cooler. Touchscreens may allow you to do MORE things, but they don't do the BASIC functions as well as older cars. You have to look over to do anything, it's so annoying.
@@detomaso_6235 The iOS effect: you can do lots of things! But - you may only do one thing at a time - and we’re not going to give you a single clue how to change those last three or four annoying settings
@@hoonaticbloggs5402 I thought the same thing until I bought my 1973 Land Rover Series III. Every time I drive it, I get so many waves from random girls that I've never met before.
@@jwannnggg2095 I was looking at getting one. The ONLY REASON I got a Cayman S rather than an Evora (was looking Evora S, not GT, but same problem) was the problems surrounding clutch changes
@@sonicsabbath I've already done it at 60k miles on my 2011. Worth it. Every mile has been a joy and 1000's of them have been at the track, hence the new clutch lol.
@@viarnay Fair enough. But some people do care about there car. I personally dont have one by the way im just a passive spectator on the whole car world.
My dad recently purchased a 2018 Lotus Evora 400 back in October of last year (2018 is the last year they made the 400). He bought it used, but it was like new…one owner, an older guy in his 70’s who only had it for about 3 years, garage kept under a cover and only driven on weekends in perfect weather. It had just 10,400 on it when he got it and even now it only has 14,200 or so on it…he drives it a bit more often than the original owner but still drives it pretty sparingly. It’s a beautiful metallic white with black accents/rims/etc. it’s an absolutely incredible looking vehicle. It has the 3.5L Supercharged V-6 producing 400 HP (hence the name Evora 400) & 302 Lb. Ft. Tq. It weighs just slightly over 3,000 lbs. (which is very light for your average car yet pretty heavy for a Lotus…many of the previous models like the Elise and others weighed down around 2,000 lbs. or so…but you can’t even notice it when driving, it feels just as light, airy and responsive as an Elise with much more power). It’s 0-60 time is listed at 4.2 seconds (although both me and my dad have clocked it at a local drag strip with an extremely accurate clock at both 4.0 & 4.1 seconds multiple times. It has a top speed of 186 mph, and it gets there surprisingly quick for a smaller, lighter vehicle. The 2018 400 had a supercharger/inter cooler by edelbrock that has virtually zero lag…I mean NONE. It’s my favorite thing about the car actually, just how responsive that powerplant/supercharger is. It feels wayyy more like a V-8 than a 6-cylinder, even if it is supercharged…it sounds more like a 6-cylinder however, which isn’t a knock it sounds great it just sounds different than a typical V-8 would. The 400 comes with an exhaust modulator button that can switch the exhaust note between timid and much more aggressive. If you switch the exhaust to loud/sport mode and floor it from a stop the exhaust sounds almost like a Lamborghini instead of a V-6 Lotus. It’s the start/stop slow city driving where it sounds like a V-6, if your racing or gunning it it sounds incredible. This model came equipped with the 6-speed manual (6-speed automatic is available but the Torsen limited slip rear axle is only available with the manual and that is CRUCIAL to have on this vehicle). A mid-mounted engine in a smaller/lighter car with rear wheel drive/6-speed manual/Torsen launch/limited slip control and some solid horsepower/torque means for a great time though, it’s one of the funnest cars I’ve ever driven.
Driven the original Evora and the S model with the super charger. Both are such beauties and fun to drive but also practical. Went on a road trip in one for 5 days on Hwy 1. Truly a legendary car for our time.
I first became aware of Lotus in the late 1960s. A local Corvette club would hold a "rally" every week in the parking lot of a shopping center. They would set up pylons into a course, then race around one at a time to see who could complete the course in the least amount of time. At that time, I was Corvette crazy but couldn't afford one. I loved watching the drivers tear through the course with engines screaming and tires smoking. Well, one week a Lotus pulled up as the next entry to run the course. At that time Lotus automobiles were very tiny with a relatively tiny engine to match. (Based on photos I've seen since then, I think it was a "Lotus Europa"). There was no V8 rumble when it pulled up and the exhaust could not even be heard. It sounded more like a sewing machine than a car. The crowd (myself included) laughed when the car pulled up and kept laughing as the driver made his way through the course. It looked and sounded like it was standing still compared to the fire-breathing vettes... People (again, including myself) mocked the driver for daring to enter such a "wimpy" car into the rally. Well, the driver got the last laugh. His time was a full three seconds faster though the course than even the fastest Corvette there. The car really wasn't slow but just looked and sounded that way as it effortlessly made its way through the pylons. As Jay said, Lotus is all about getting gracefully around the corners, not about being flashing and noisy in the process. I've loved Lotuses (Lodi?) ever since.
This video touched my heart, since the lotus Evora is my favorite car of all time. I was not expecting him to make a video with it; however, I am more than excited that he did. It truly is an amazing car and it brings me joy to hear him talk about my favorite car.
Jay, man... you have a good eye for composition and framing. The fact that you set up these shots, the audio, and the angles yourself speaks volumes that you still got it! Love ya man!
I own this car (2020 Evora GT) and it's the 3rd Lotus I've bought new from the Lotus dealer since 1996. It handles like a go kart, it's so tight, smooth and accurate, an astonishing drive. It's close to the ground and it's the most powerful car I've driven. And you can buy one with a manual transmission. Try that with other mid-engine cars these days. Paddle-shifting automatic is offered as an option. Toyota had a Formula One team for many years. And they have had a racing program across different vehicle products for a few decades now. The V6 supercharged engine is bulletproof and you'll never need to worry about parts availability for it if you race the car. . .
@@joshuagibson2520 yea, they're getting (relatively) cheap too compared to the new evoras, while the new ones are better the Evora S is definitely still a great pickup for a fun head turning car
Haven't seen a JLG in a few months and I have one definitive takeaway; Jay is still one of the most likeable personalities in the business. Thanks for keeping at it even when you don't have to, we appreciate everything you do.
My fathers friend had a red Lotus Elese when I was a kid. I will never forget riding around in the passenger seat. From then on I've always really liked Lotus.
You mentioned oil loss. When I was a teenager (and I’m several years older than you) I worked in a gas station. A Jaguar club came through and every single car required a quart or more of oil along with the gasoline fill up. .
@@machupikachu1085 Size isn’t the go-kart thing. Go-karts are fast fast fast on road courses without long straights. A lot of track lap records are held by go karts.
"188 miles an hour! Do that and you are going to jail". Thankfully not here in Germany! Great video, thanks for putting in the effort to produce these quality videos on your own during the pandemic, really appreciated.
My uncle James passed away a few days ago he was a hot rod guy built several for others over the years but never for himself.He told me on his death bed he would never get to own one for himself.One day I hope to fulfill his dream for him.He was an amazing man.
Jay I always love watching your show and I am so pleased you promote the shift stick. I only had two choices growing up and learning to drive in 1975 (although at that time I was 14) . One was in my mothers Fiat 124 Sport 1600 twin overhead cam with 5 forward gears which in 1972 in New Zealand(when we bought it) was unheard of and which was a great car and had stick shift, and the other was Dad's 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud 2 v8 automatic. So I guess I got to learn both worlds when it came to gear changing. I remember one day a cop pulled me over in the Rolls. I was 15. That was the age you could get a licence in NZ and he asked me the following question.."Sir, is this your car? And I said no... it's our chauffeurs". LOL. I remember that very clearly. I was only kidding but he didn't know what to say and let me go. I had to sit on a cushion to see over the dash whenever I drove it until I got older. If I remember correctly, Dad was sending me off to grab another bottle of Gin from home to take back to him working on our boat which was out of the water for winter maintenance. He was a character. A surgeon with a great sense of humour.Try that one today! LOL. Oh I almost forgot... the Chief of Police was a patient of his. True story.
I know comparing this to my MR2 is dumb but my MK1 Supercharged makes me feel the same way as he talk about this car in the video. A mid engine supercharged platform with instantaneous torque and just enough HP for the chassis to be incredibly fun is really the perfect package! I'd love to drive one of these someday. Thanks for another fantastic video jay!
Honestly Jay, I'm sure its more work. But I love these 1 on 1 episodes. It's like I'm having a car discussion with you and it just feels more personal Though having the experts there is great too.
I just bought my Evora GT and I must say it handles better than most super cars I’ve been in! I took it down some windy canyon roads and the steering was super responsive even at high speeds
I had a 2011 Lotus Elise R, then a 2014 Lotus Evora NA and then a 2017 Lotus Evora 400....LOVED those cars, indeed driver car BUT I sold it to get a 2020 C8....LOVE the C8, super fast, super nice and EASY to drive...in 2 yrs I will sell my C8 and get a brand new discounted Lotus Evora GT.
This car right here has replaced the Porsche 718 Cayman as my next sports car. The second I learned it had a Toyota V6 I was sold. Superior handling, quick, responsive. Everything you want a sports car to be at a very reasonable price! I also agree 100% with your statement regarding Ferrari and other exotic owners bragging about how few miles they have. Cool, so you didn’t drive it and enjoy it? I plan on putting some SERIOUS miles on my Evora when I get it!
Please don't apologise Jay. Your show is a Godsend for millions of folks, I'm just happy to be one of them. Top notch entertainment, no matter the format. So rare to learn real information online these days! Thank you sir.
I love Jay's coveralls. Really cool look for him. He's a national treasure. I feel like he's not as happy as usual. Like the pandemic is really dampening his spirits.
Lotus has a great community. Not many other car companies where you can go to a show and talk with the designers and engineers that worked on the cars.
Thank you for taking the time to review Evora GT- Yours is the best review on the Interweb- I just took delivery of a Fire Red GT, and I really like it- Like you said, I like it more and more every time I drive it, and after climbing in and out of an Elise for the past 15 years, the Evora feels like an SUV! Thanks also for this channel- You do a great service to car junkies, like myself-
Great job. Handling is more important that outright speed... especially in LA traffic. I love the fact that it's rare. Nothing better than the grin on Jay's face when he gives it some juice.
I've always loved Lotus. They're one of a very few companies that still offer a manual transmission. If I had the money I'd get one. It will be very exciting to see what the new Evia can do. Thank you.
And most of the manuals being built today, like dodge and cadillac, arent even involving and feel sloppy to me. Great to see a car that does manual right and not just for the sake of sales
Turbo bmws burn oil on purpose. At least that's what they tell you. Me: on my 3rd. 2011 335, 2015 x5m, 2014 328d. Never had issues with actual consumption just smell
Jay, Engineering, pure quality engineering. The team have inherited the ethos of performance handling around what is now a quality power train. Great video, thank you.
I love how Jay Leno respect old school sport cars. The Lotus Evora GT gives you the mix of old school performance lightweight, stiff suspension, very little bells and whistles
I'm a few days late to this but I'll add my 2 cents having put a few thousand miles behind the wheel of the 2020 Lotus Evora GT. I had the fortune of spending many hours behind the wheel of fully equipped version of this model thanks to a very generous friend and collectively we probably made it the highest mileage 2020 model in the US. (somewhere around 23k before it was sold). In that time we did a full cross country trip twice. It was never trailered anywhere and there was enough storage for the 2 of us for a full 2 weeks on the road + track gear, supplies, etc. I can't think of a more comfortable car to do this in. Leno hit the nail on the head with everything he said regarding the car. I wanted to add just a few minor points. The US market version has 3 cats on it (thanks California) and, whereas the button on the dash will open the exhaust a bit and it sounds great, removing the cat and muffler takes about 10 minutes from removal to buttoning everything back up and sounds very much the same but just provides that extra je ne sais quoi without adding even the least amount of drone or without making it too loud. I can't recommend this modification enough! Another point I wanted to add is regarding all those functional rock collecto- I mean air ducts. Seriously, if you put any kind of miles on this, whether you're driving hard or just cruising YOU WILL HAVE ROCKS COLLECT IN THEM. Not only in do they sit in the air ducts (they're a pain to get out and keep clean) but the tiny debris will also collect itself in many of the body panel gaps, will somehow worm their way into the aluminum underbody as well and any other place you could think of. It does a lot of collecting. The legroom is no joke. I'm 6 ft myself and can't fully repress the pedals when it's any more than halfway back. It's definitely built for very tall folks. 188 is a pretty hard top speed in the car. We were definitely able to hit that at one point but it's not going to do more. (And damn does it feel great getting to and sitting at that speed) This car really is ROCK solid. Would recommend for anyone that doesn't mind a lot of attention at a lower price (for the bracket of vehicle that it's in).
Jay is a cool guy, just loves cars. I talked to him up at Newcomb’s Ranch. I have no affiliation with Galpin, just want to give credit where it’s due. Very fun & relaxed. We took two of them out, chased each other up & down the canyon, just thrashed it. The road was a little dirty from the recent rain. Dust & dirt flying everywhere. I’m picking it up in a week. Can’t wait. Thanks Jay.
These sound so much better in person. I mean it sounds good on the exterior shots but believe me in person they are unbelievable. How they get a relatively mundane V6 to sound like an F1 car I don't know.
I didn’t tune in for the car, but the delivery . Jay you are an inspiration to a bloke that wants to make his own way. Keep on fighting a good fight my good man!! From Australia 🇦🇺
I think the show is better when he’s solo, it feels like he gets more in depth and nerdy with it, gotta love it
And it means he doesn’t need to slow down for the camera car.
Agreed...he's more in depth and lotsa soul ! ;-)
True, I do miss some of his fascinating guests though...
I agree and wonder how long he'll be keeping this up?
@@WarriorsPhoto
Well it’s not up to him. It’s when they relax restrictions.
The fact that he recorded this all on his own just shows how talented he is as a showman. If he didn't mention it I probably wouldn't have noticed it was all him.
Tsk, did you see the reflections off the glass when looking at the engine from inside? Amateur....!
@@tb-cg6vd Bait.
Lol he deffos showed Conan his showman skills.
@@StrictlyParanoia Not it’s a ... joke.
its 2021 you trust people too mutch..how old are you like 5...maybe he lie so he dont brake the law lol
It seems like it's the perfect sports car. Mid engine, 6-speed manual, light, not overpowered, looks amazing, with Lotus perfectly tuned suspension and steering. Dream car.
Only for people with small build. Way too small.
Porsche 718 Spyder
Also has an engine that can go last 400k-500k miles. Probably even more.
@@KhoiBoa Jay is a gentleman of, shall we say, larger than average size. He was amazed how much space there is in the Evora. He put the seat fully back, and had to move it at least 4"forward so that he could reach the pedals. Also, he liked the seats. He LIKED the car.
@@KhoiBoa my sons are 6’5” and are fine with a helmet. Very large inside.
I have a Lotus Evora and it's my daily driver. I can't live without this car, it's reliable and exciting to drive every time I get into it.
How did you manage that? What do you do for money? If you don't mind me asking
@@codyallen2838 few examples - IT, manager in IT, data science etc...
How's the comfort level, compared to something like Porsche?
@@Anthony-kj3xw it is extremely comfortable. The suspension is not stiff at all yet it hugs the road incredibly well
@@danielbijan 👍
All people: "I need a SUV because it's easy to get in and out"
Jay Leno at 70-years old: *Get into a Lotus like he is just out of high school*
I don't know if Jay is the kind of guy that exercise regularly or not but I imagine that he would be doing yoga regularly for the sole purpose of being able to get in and out of sport/super cars.
"just out of high school" you are exagerating ... a lot ...
Jay is just used getting in and out of weird positions at this point.
Jay: “I thought it was more important that we have new product (episodes) every week”
Thanks Jay! - Everyone
Have my like!
Let's hope he never goes to spotify.
@@joshuagibson2520 Hell no, he wont do that.
@@jody024 I was just being silly. I don't think he would. Just razzin all the people mad about Rogan going to spotify.
I truly look forward to these videos every week. I know the “Pandemic Edition” is probably a lot more work. No words can say how much I appreciate it.
Honestly in many ways I prefer the pandemic edition episodes. Kinda feels like Jay is there with you and is explaining one certain car to you
But WHY do these pandemic editions have Jay wearing blue overalls? Where is the denim!
I agree. Jay in overalls just talking to me 😊👍👍
The show does feel different and I agree with you about that. How long will he keep this up? :(
@@ldnwholesale8552 I agree, Jay bring the denim back!
I love the new coveralls!
Jay leno is the man. He doesn't have to do these by himself, but he does. He does that for us.
True jay doesn't do it for money he has plenty this is just for the love of sharing cars
I agree with you. Jay is the man!
Jay is a good guy. He also does it cuz he loves doing it. And he also doesn't want to just sit there like most old guys wasting away in a rocking chair.
Jay, I purchased a Evora GT, as my sole Daily car, and I am happy to say I put on 8K miles on it, within 4 months of owning it.
Worth EVERY Penny I paid for it. Best car, and so far, really cheap to maintain.
"I know you can get this in automatic, but it seems like such a waste." A man after my own heart.
Mine too. We don't do automatics in my family. My father bought his last car, a manual Saab 9-3 turbo, in 2000 when he was 76. Before he bought it, I asked him if he was going to buy an automatic. His response was "Why would I get an automatic? I'm not old enough to need an automatic." He was still driving his manual 9-3 turbo when he was 89.
@@roadie3124 my dad has a auto Mercedes and he always puts a water bottle in the cup holder and pretends it’s a manual, he just really wants a manual car.
I have this in an automatic and I love it. I grew up driving manuals and now days I prefer an auto. Personally I thought the clutch was a little heavy and long. The auto is faster and has more torque and you can feel the difference imo. The automatic isn't the most refined though unfortunately.
Great review for straight roads! Lotus are made for tight twisting roads, and expect this is a rarity in the US?
14:45 I love that little chuckle Jay has when he gets a little rush from driving. Suddenly he isn't a 70 year-old man but rather a 23 year-old kid experiencing something new for the first time. Enjoy those moments, Jay. You deserve them.
And he goes "Oh yeah !" The man is truly having fun.
In a world where screens are taking over, it's refreshing to see a car that just uses good 'ol buttons and switches.
Yes! I just want to keep watching the road, reach over and feel for button #5 for my favorite radio station. Or turn a lever to make my car warmer or cooler. Touchscreens may allow you to do MORE things, but they don't do the BASIC functions as well as older cars. You have to look over to do anything, it's so annoying.
@@Power_Glove Maybe, but the people who are looking to buy a car like this pay extra for the drivability, not screens.
Only because it's so old they didn't do screens then.
@@detomaso_6235
The iOS effect: you can do lots of things! But
- you may only do one thing at a time
- and we’re not going to give you a single clue how to change those last three or four annoying settings
@@grahamstefaan
You clearly don’t get it
I'm still single. Already looking for a 55 Buick right now.
lol. Good luck!
Brother, you’re doomed.
@@Pete-z6e Do you mean that he's doomed because '55 Buicks can not be found, or because they do the job and he will find someone?
Girls don’t care about cars.
@@hoonaticbloggs5402 I thought the same thing until I bought my 1973 Land Rover Series III. Every time I drive it, I get so many waves from random girls that I've never met before.
100k miles and not even flinch. Thats what I like to hear. I want to drive my cars.
Except when you change the clutch..... It is a full clam-off job, and is EXPENSIVE because of labor hours
Do you have a Evora gt?
@@jwannnggg2095 I was looking at getting one. The ONLY REASON I got a Cayman S rather than an Evora (was looking Evora S, not GT, but same problem) was the problems surrounding clutch changes
@@sonicsabbath I've already done it at 60k miles on my 2011. Worth it. Every mile has been a joy and 1000's of them have been at the track, hence the new clutch lol.
Sounds like my Clio Cup haha
We live in an era where pickup trucks go for $60,000+, so $100k for this Lotus is not that expensive really.
Hell, some pickups go for 70 and 80 thousand LOL
yeah its kinda sad the fact the trucks are that expensive
Those trucks are better than a crap Vauxhall in the UK or other boring vehicles.
@@Jordonater I dont want a car that tell me jokes, I just want to move
@@viarnay Fair enough. But some people do care about there car. I personally dont have one by the way im just a passive spectator on the whole car world.
Please don’t apologize Jay, I think we prefer the personal feel of these episodes.
I seek them out - much more entertaining.
“I like what it doesn’t have.”
- applauds slowly - 👏
I kind of prefer these "Lockdown editions" of Jay Leno's Garage. One man talking about his cars. No BS. Just engineering and enthusiasm.
Less is more. Just like the Lotus philosophy.
The filming is fine, the content is fine, the lockdown activity around the world is flat criminal and the biggest bunch of deception ever perpetrated.
@@exothermal.sprocket That has Nothing to do with this video.
@@Roy_Godiksen I sense your emotional stability has shaken.
@@exothermal.sprocket Your senses, like your common sense, is way off.
My dad recently purchased a 2018 Lotus Evora 400 back in October of last year (2018 is the last year they made the 400). He bought it used, but it was like new…one owner, an older guy in his 70’s who only had it for about 3 years, garage kept under a cover and only driven on weekends in perfect weather. It had just 10,400 on it when he got it and even now it only has 14,200 or so on it…he drives it a bit more often than the original owner but still drives it pretty sparingly. It’s a beautiful metallic white with black accents/rims/etc. it’s an absolutely incredible looking vehicle. It has the 3.5L Supercharged V-6 producing 400 HP (hence the name Evora 400) & 302 Lb. Ft. Tq. It weighs just slightly over 3,000 lbs. (which is very light for your average car yet pretty heavy for a Lotus…many of the previous models like the Elise and others weighed down around 2,000 lbs. or so…but you can’t even notice it when driving, it feels just as light, airy and responsive as an Elise with much more power). It’s 0-60 time is listed at 4.2 seconds (although both me and my dad have clocked it at a local drag strip with an extremely accurate clock at both 4.0 & 4.1 seconds multiple times. It has a top speed of 186 mph, and it gets there surprisingly quick for a smaller, lighter vehicle. The 2018 400 had a supercharger/inter cooler by edelbrock that has virtually zero lag…I mean NONE. It’s my favorite thing about the car actually, just how responsive that powerplant/supercharger is. It feels wayyy more like a V-8 than a 6-cylinder, even if it is supercharged…it sounds more like a 6-cylinder however, which isn’t a knock it sounds great it just sounds different than a typical V-8 would. The 400 comes with an exhaust modulator button that can switch the exhaust note between timid and much more aggressive. If you switch the exhaust to loud/sport mode and floor it from a stop the exhaust sounds almost like a Lamborghini instead of a V-6 Lotus. It’s the start/stop slow city driving where it sounds like a V-6, if your racing or gunning it it sounds incredible. This model came equipped with the 6-speed manual (6-speed automatic is available but the Torsen limited slip rear axle is only available with the manual and that is CRUCIAL to have on this vehicle). A mid-mounted engine in a smaller/lighter car with rear wheel drive/6-speed manual/Torsen launch/limited slip control and some solid horsepower/torque means for a great time though, it’s one of the funnest cars I’ve ever driven.
Driven the original Evora and the S model with the super charger. Both are such beauties and fun to drive but also practical. Went on a road trip in one for 5 days on Hwy 1. Truly a legendary car for our time.
I first became aware of Lotus in the late 1960s. A local Corvette club would hold a "rally" every week in the parking lot of a shopping center. They would set up pylons into a course, then race around one at a time to see who could complete the course in the least amount of time. At that time, I was Corvette crazy but couldn't afford one. I loved watching the drivers tear through the course with engines screaming and tires smoking.
Well, one week a Lotus pulled up as the next entry to run the course. At that time Lotus automobiles were very tiny with a relatively tiny engine to match. (Based on photos I've seen since then, I think it was a "Lotus Europa"). There was no V8 rumble when it pulled up and the exhaust could not even be heard. It sounded more like a sewing machine than a car.
The crowd (myself included) laughed when the car pulled up and kept laughing as the driver made his way through the course. It looked and sounded like it was standing still compared to the fire-breathing vettes... People (again, including myself) mocked the driver for daring to enter such a "wimpy" car into the rally.
Well, the driver got the last laugh. His time was a full three seconds faster though the course than even the fastest Corvette there. The car really wasn't slow but just looked and sounded that way as it effortlessly made its way through the pylons. As Jay said, Lotus is all about getting gracefully around the corners, not about being flashing and noisy in the process. I've loved Lotuses (Lodi?) ever since.
We can live with "just" you Jay. you do a great job. Thank You. 👍👍
I wholeheartedly agree. Videos with Mr.Leno only are better and you get the feeling of being more involved and also personal attention.
@@dane.1847 spot on. 👍👍
As a Norfolk bred lad, I love a Lotus...any Lotus...
It's so sad that they discontinued the Elise, Exige and Evora :(
I also love them, even if I do live in Suffolk !
Is the flower grown there too...
as a Michigander, I love seeing our plates on all these cars. Well.. love is a strong word. But shoutout to the mitten
Ayyye it's a Norfolk massif! Us Norfolk boys gotta stay together
💥I just bought this very car today on Bring A Trailer, September 3rd, 2022 just because of Jay Leno !!💯
This video touched my heart, since the lotus Evora is my favorite car of all time. I was not expecting him to make a video with it; however, I am more than excited that he did. It truly is an amazing car and it brings me joy to hear him talk about my favorite car.
A man, a car, a few cams...lockdown highlights....Pandemic Edition goes into history as one of the things that helped us thru
Yes, that. At least when I watch Jay talking about cars I don't feel like I'm wasting my time.
Jay, thanks for keeping up the videos during the “lockdown”. Really appreciate it!
I second that!
@@saginawdan ditto
Jay, has a instant click reputation
Most def. A stand up legend, did the Tonight Show like a legend. Has a few cool cars 😆
Well I had to choose between Hoonigan or this. I watched Hoonigan first. Sorry not sorry
@@Akkbar21 a few?
True. It doesnt matter the car. You know it's going to be an interesting segment regardless.
Instant LIKE
Jay, man... you have a good eye for composition and framing. The fact that you set up these shots, the audio, and the angles yourself speaks volumes that you still got it!
Love ya man!
I own this car (2020 Evora GT) and it's the 3rd Lotus I've bought new from the Lotus dealer since 1996. It handles like a go kart, it's so tight, smooth and accurate, an astonishing drive. It's close to the ground and it's the most powerful car I've driven.
And you can buy one with a manual transmission. Try that with other mid-engine cars these days. Paddle-shifting automatic is offered as an option.
Toyota had a Formula One team for many years. And they have had a racing program across different vehicle products for a few decades now. The V6 supercharged engine is bulletproof and you'll never need to worry about parts availability for it if you race the car.
.
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I love these unscripted versions of the show. Jay is more relaxed. He really speaks from the heart.
Had the original Evora 2+2 then upgraded to the S in the early 2010s. One of the greatest motoring experiences of life.
Lucky you.
Is the S a turbo model, or?
@@joshuagibson2520 its the older supercharged model, before the 400 facelift
@@zachdebuhr6347 awseom. I was hoping so. Not much of a turbo fan.
@@joshuagibson2520 yea, they're getting (relatively) cheap too compared to the new evoras, while the new ones are better the Evora S is definitely still a great pickup for a fun head turning car
I find it more relaxing and open when it's just Jay there talking about the cars. These "pandemic editions" are desirable. : )
I agree 🙂
@@MrRomiBajwa ditto
Haven't seen a JLG in a few months and I have one definitive takeaway; Jay is still one of the most likeable personalities in the business. Thanks for keeping at it even when you don't have to, we appreciate everything you do.
My fathers friend had a red Lotus Elese when I was a kid. I will never forget riding around in the passenger seat. From then on I've always really liked Lotus.
This car doesn’t have a single bad angle. Thanks for your dedication Jay!
You mentioned oil loss. When I was a teenager (and I’m several years older than you) I worked in a gas station. A Jaguar club came through and every single car required a quart or more of oil along with the gasoline fill up.
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My dad had an '07 Elise. Fell in love with Lotus then. As a 6'5" lad, I love how big they are on the inside. I wish I could afford an Evora GT...
I test drove an Elise. Cool car, but dayam are they small! When they say "It drives like a go kart" this car is what they are talking about.
@@machupikachu1085
Size isn’t the go-kart thing. Go-karts are fast fast fast on road courses without long straights. A lot of track lap records are held by go karts.
"188 miles an hour! Do that and you are going to jail". Thankfully not here in Germany!
Great video, thanks for putting in the effort to produce these quality videos on your own during the pandemic, really appreciated.
My uncle James passed away a few days ago he was a hot rod guy built several for others over the years but never for himself.He told me on his death bed he would never get to own one for himself.One day I hope to fulfill his dream for him.He was an amazing man.
God bless him. Sorry for your loss. I hope you can realize his dream for yourself.
@@OnPointFirearms Thanks brother
Thank you Jay for EVERYTHING!!
I was at a track day at Silverstone late last year and one of these was on track... It was soooooo fast! Nothing could get near it, I want one 😄
With Jays vast amount of car experience, a recommendation from him really means something.
Jay I always love watching your show and I am so pleased you promote the shift stick. I only had two choices growing up and learning to drive in 1975 (although at that time I was 14) . One was in my mothers Fiat 124 Sport 1600 twin overhead cam with 5 forward gears which in 1972 in New Zealand(when we bought it) was unheard of and which was a great car and had stick shift, and the other was Dad's 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud 2 v8 automatic. So I guess I got to learn both worlds when it came to gear changing. I remember one day a cop pulled me over in the Rolls. I was 15. That was the age you could get a licence in NZ and he asked me the following question.."Sir, is this your car? And I said no... it's our chauffeurs". LOL. I remember that very clearly. I was only kidding but he didn't know what to say and let me go. I had to sit on a cushion to see over the dash whenever I drove it until I got older. If I remember correctly, Dad was sending me off to grab another bottle of Gin from home to take back to him working on our boat which was out of the water for winter maintenance. He was a character. A surgeon with a great sense of humour.Try that one today! LOL. Oh I almost forgot... the Chief of Police was a patient of his. True story.
I know comparing this to my MR2 is dumb but my MK1 Supercharged makes me feel the same way as he talk about this car in the video. A mid engine supercharged platform with instantaneous torque and just enough HP for the chassis to be incredibly fun is really the perfect package! I'd love to drive one of these someday. Thanks for another fantastic video jay!
Honestly Jay, I'm sure its more work. But I love these 1 on 1 episodes. It's like I'm having a car discussion with you and it just feels more personal Though having the experts there is great too.
Thanks Jay! I've had mine for about a year and a half. I absolutely love it - and I'm coming from both Elise and original Elan ownership.
Would love to see Lotus back in F1.
Kimi drove a Lotus
And I’d love to see Lotus turn a profit making cars 😂
Wow, a super car that has it all. Looks, speed , simple and reliable. That's hard to find. Love the car.
I just bought my Evora GT and I must say it handles better than most super cars I’ve been in! I took it down some windy canyon roads and the steering was super responsive even at high speeds
Lotus are ceasing production on the Elise and Exige after this year. What a fantastic and iconic run it has been.
The only car the wife and myself can agree upon. Love it. Getting it.
I had a 2011 Lotus Elise R, then a 2014 Lotus Evora NA and then a 2017 Lotus Evora 400....LOVED those cars, indeed driver car BUT I sold it to get a 2020 C8....LOVE the C8, super fast, super nice and EASY to drive...in 2 yrs I will sell my C8 and get a brand new discounted Lotus Evora GT.
Jay, I actually prefer the pandemic editions. Just you and the car!
This car right here has replaced the Porsche 718 Cayman as my next sports car. The second I learned it had a Toyota V6 I was sold. Superior handling, quick, responsive. Everything you want a sports car to be at a very reasonable price! I also agree 100% with your statement regarding Ferrari and other exotic owners bragging about how few miles they have. Cool, so you didn’t drive it and enjoy it? I plan on putting some SERIOUS miles on my Evora when I get it!
Well said!
Please don't apologise Jay. Your show is a Godsend for millions of folks, I'm just happy to be one of them. Top notch entertainment, no matter the format. So rare to learn real information online these days! Thank you sir.
Its amazing to see the content that can be made using an old man and a camera. Really appreciate the effort!
An old man? Have some respect.
You think May shot this himself? Lol
@@supercooled Who's May? You think you're watching Grand Tour? Drive Tribe, maybe? LOL!
Loved the smile on Jay's face when he got on the gas in the 14-15 minute time interval. Cool.
I love Jay's coveralls. Really cool look for him. He's a national treasure. I feel like he's not as happy as usual. Like the pandemic is really dampening his spirits.
He seems very concerned on the video and production quality, but I think it's way better and feels more organic this way.
The pandemic is dampening many spirits (certainly mine). And here we go again with Delta. Stay strong and watch Jay's content ... trust me, it helps.
Lotus has a great community. Not many other car companies where you can go to a show and talk with the designers and engineers that worked on the cars.
Thank you for taking the time to review Evora GT- Yours is the best review on the Interweb- I just took delivery of a Fire Red GT, and I really like it- Like you said, I like it more and more every time I drive it, and after climbing in and out of an Elise for the past 15 years, the Evora feels like an SUV! Thanks also for this channel- You do a great service to car junkies, like myself-
An inspired monologue from a true car guy.
Love lotus; love Leno.
Keep doing your thing, sir.
“Will it do a burnout?” Leno, J. (2013).
I miss those days...
500 miles without problems!
Wow, I'm sold!
500 miles without burning oil
And not babied! I've heard the Tesla stock is dropping.
13:30 - "You going 188 in the streets, you're going to jail. I'm sorry." The nonchalant way Jay said that cracked me up. :-)
The speedo in my Ford Focus goes up to 180mph. As if the car would not top out around 130 because of the computer control limiter lol
Lotus has always appreciated its Norfolk roots, and Norfolk has always been proud of Lotus and its heritage.
"I love that long pull in third gear"
15:06 the sun visor: "I, for one, do not."
Okay?
If you watch it carefully he failed to clip the visor back into place. Shortly after he's fixed it.
That was bothering me too lol lol
Jay after the pandemic is over you should do these style of episodes (without any guests) once a month. It feels way more personal and enjoyable.
Thanks for all that you do Jay for the car world. I didn't know anything about steam cars until I watched your channel. You're the OG of car guys.
I've always been a Lotus fan. As Colin Chapman would say, "Just add lightness."
Great job. Handling is more important that outright speed... especially in LA traffic. I love the fact that it's rare. Nothing better than the grin on Jay's face when he gives it some juice.
From Colin Chapmans days til today: a great lightweight sports and race car history. Thanks Jay.
I've always loved Lotus. They're one of a very few companies that still offer a manual transmission. If I had the money I'd get one. It will be very exciting to see what the new Evia can do. Thank you.
And most of the manuals being built today, like dodge and cadillac, arent even involving and feel sloppy to me. Great to see a car that does manual right and not just for the sake of sales
They have 3 other new models coming out soon. Next is going to be an NSX rival
Just lock out shift points on an auto
"Puff of blue smoke; Those days are all gone" Me and my BMW would beg to differ.
Me and my oil sucking MINI too!
Break,My,Wallet. BMW. worse German cars ever. Ask the Germans.I work for em.They taught me that.
''endless money pits''
@@fidelcatsro6948 😄
Turbo bmws burn oil on purpose. At least that's what they tell you. Me: on my 3rd. 2011 335, 2015 x5m, 2014 328d. Never had issues with actual consumption just smell
This Lotus is absolutely gorgeous.
The back of it is pretty nice too however, I think the front is really really beautiful.
"This is a practical car." I love ya, Jay.
AMEN on that eyes off the road thing. i dont want to toggle thru a graphic to adjust my fan on ac flow.
I know right. What happened to tactile options like buttons or knobs? We had it figured out over 70 years ago!
Jay if you didn't tell us that your crew isn't with you we wouldn't even have noticed. Quality content, as always.
I like the pandemic editions. It feels more personal and relaxed, more like a conversation or storytime.
Have driven these and they are fantastic - just epic to drive. Light weight, fantastic handling and rifle bolt gear change.
Jay, Engineering, pure quality engineering. The team have inherited the ethos of performance handling around what is now a quality power train. Great video, thank you.
Jay keeps on surprising me with his exquisite taste.
It's cool that he still makes the effort to do the videos on his own.
Hes always been a hustler
I love how the sun visor moves every time he accelerates.
Looks like it's not snapped back to its place
Supercar quality
I too enjoy Jay's solo work. It is more about the car ... which is good for us car guys.
I love how Jay Leno respect old school sport cars. The Lotus Evora GT gives you the mix of old school performance lightweight, stiff suspension, very little bells and whistles
The suspension is not as stiff as you think, which is a good thing.
Thanks Jay, nice machine. Thank you for persevering with the vids, all us in lockdown really appreciate the effort.
The fact that Jay goes through the trouble of recording these videos for us is amazing, and very appreciated, we all know the man doesn't have too
He does it because he loves doing it. We are just a bonus for him.
11:48 Jay without a crew, still getting 3rd person B-Roll on a highway
Well I guess you can have crew outside if you don't interact with them...
I'm a few days late to this but I'll add my 2 cents having put a few thousand miles behind the wheel of the 2020 Lotus Evora GT.
I had the fortune of spending many hours behind the wheel of fully equipped version of this model thanks to a very generous friend and collectively we probably made it the highest mileage 2020 model in the US. (somewhere around 23k before it was sold).
In that time we did a full cross country trip twice. It was never trailered anywhere and there was enough storage for the 2 of us for a full 2 weeks on the road + track gear, supplies, etc. I can't think of a more comfortable car to do this in. Leno hit the nail on the head with everything he said regarding the car. I wanted to add just a few minor points.
The US market version has 3 cats on it (thanks California) and, whereas the button on the dash will open the exhaust a bit and it sounds great, removing the cat and muffler takes about 10 minutes from removal to buttoning everything back up and sounds very much the same but just provides that extra je ne sais quoi without adding even the least amount of drone or without making it too loud. I can't recommend this modification enough!
Another point I wanted to add is regarding all those functional rock collecto- I mean air ducts. Seriously, if you put any kind of miles on this, whether you're driving hard or just cruising YOU WILL HAVE ROCKS COLLECT IN THEM. Not only in do they sit in the air ducts (they're a pain to get out and keep clean) but the tiny debris will also collect itself in many of the body panel gaps, will somehow worm their way into the aluminum underbody as well and any other place you could think of. It does a lot of collecting.
The legroom is no joke. I'm 6 ft myself and can't fully repress the pedals when it's any more than halfway back. It's definitely built for very tall folks.
188 is a pretty hard top speed in the car. We were definitely able to hit that at one point but it's not going to do more. (And damn does it feel great getting to and sitting at that speed)
This car really is ROCK solid. Would recommend for anyone that doesn't mind a lot of attention at a lower price (for the bracket of vehicle that it's in).
Jay Leno was born to do car related content like this. I can just tell he's so passionate about it
Lovin this Lotus! Always liked them anyway. Immediately fell in love when I saw one for first time in Pretty Woman. Awesome!
That looks like the perfect car for weekend trips to the grocery store.
Huh?
You mean grocery store way up in the canyons right?
Sorry honey I forgot the milk 😁
Am I crazy for thinking these pandemic shows are amongst Jays BEST WORK!? EVER...including the tonight show!?
The 2GR engine when properly set up sounds AMAZING.
Jay is a cool guy, just loves cars. I talked to him up at Newcomb’s Ranch. I have no affiliation with Galpin, just want to give credit where it’s due. Very fun & relaxed. We took two of them out, chased each other up & down the canyon, just thrashed it. The road was a little dirty from the recent rain. Dust & dirt flying everywhere. I’m picking it up in a week. Can’t wait. Thanks Jay.
These sound so much better in person. I mean it sounds good on the exterior shots but believe me in person they are unbelievable. How they get a relatively mundane V6 to sound like an F1 car I don't know.
Rare to find a new super car with a true manual transmission. Love that!
Sorry, but "super cars" don't get smoked by family SUVs!!
@@gustinn3509 family SUVs can smoke a car that does 0-60 in 3.8s? You're out to lunch.
@@EvoraGT430
You must live in Dubai to have “family” cars that can do that then… sure if you spend 100k plus you can find those rides…
Love the tone on that exhaust. Beautiful car!
I didn’t tune in for the car, but the delivery .
Jay you are an inspiration to a bloke that wants to make his own way.
Keep on fighting a good fight my good man!! From Australia 🇦🇺
Picking up my 2020 Lotus GT next week & can't wait!