Lotus Europa S 2007 review

You've got to be kidding I thought as the low riding coupe crunched its way over yet another irregularity in the road surface.

The only thing soft about this car is the extra 5.5cm it concedes top and bottom of the doors that allows big boofheads like myself to squeeze in and out more easily.

Nah, soft is certainly not the term I'd apply to this road going rocket.

Softly, softly perhaps . . . because that's the approach newcomers need to adopt when slotting behind the wheel for the first time.

It's a whole new world down there and unfortunately Lotus probably doesn't command the respect it deserves from other drivers.

Yes, it turns heads and, yes, the Lotus badge is recognised for its British racing heritage, but beyond that the average driver has little or no respect for the car's capabilities.

Priced from $109,900, like the rest of the Lotus family, the Europa S sits small, compact and extremely low to the road, with limited vision to the rear and sides.

It's easy to feel vulnerable down there, even a little claustrophobic and the first steps are normally tentative ones.

After you get the hang of it, however, it's simply a case of hanging on tight to the tiny non-power assisted wheel as the turbocharged tyro punches from corner to corner, with the ease of a slot car.

Lotus freely admits the GM-powered Europa was designed principally as a road car (not for the track like other models) .

In fact, it boasts the highest level of equipment of any modern day Lotus.

But it makes no apology for the exceptional ride and handling which is still the principal insipiration behind the company's design philosphy.

In fact, it claims none of its perceived competitors come anywhere near the car in terms of handling, boasts Lotus boss John Stretton.

That includes Porsche's Cayman, Cayman S and the BMW Z4 M.

Europa S is powered by a 2.0-litre 147kW GM engine, the same engine in fact that powers Holden's turbocharged Astra.

But unlike the Toyota engine that powers the Lotus Exige that we drove recently, the GM engine retains its original engine management system.

Lotus opted for the GM unit because its higher torque output was better suited to the Europa, but it reveals that retaining the system was part of the deal.

Having said that, the 147kW engine is not limited in anyway which gives it a less linear torque curve.

With 147kW of power and 272Nm of torque on tap, the 995kg Europa can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 5.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 230km/h.

Modest figures perhaps, but there's nothing dull or boring about the way it drives or responds to the throttle.

Bridgestone tyres are fitted which don't provide quite as much grip but they deliver a quieter more refined ride.

Fuel economy meanwhile is rated at 9.3 litres/100km.

Although the Europa S will appeal mainly to men, Lotus recognises the importance women play in the purchase process.

Amd with Europa's concessions to comfort, it is hoping to kick a few more goals in this department.

The original Europa (I remember one of my teachers having one) was built between 1966 and 1974, with early models powered by a Renault engine.