Brand new Lotus Evora 2020 Automatic

The Evora's handling characteristics are so good that it could more than make up for any powertrain weakness. But once again, Lotus does not disappoint. Sure, the Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 is the same basic lump you'll find under the hood of an old Camry, but it's heavily massaged for use in the Evora, and has an Edelbrock supercharger bolted on, because hell yeah it does. The end result: 416 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, all of which is sent to the rear wheels. That's a relative crap-ton of power for a car that weighs 3,100 pounds, and the engine is mounted in the middle of the chassis, closer to the rear axle, for perfect weight distribution.

While Lotus offers the Evora GT with two transmissions, only one of them is worth your attention. This car is best experienced with the six-speed manual -- the mechanical-feeling clutch is high on feedback but not so heavy that it turns into a chore when you get stuck in traffic. Combine it with one of the best gearboxes available today and this only raises the driver involvement quotient. Inside, the sport bucket seats are manually adjustable, but can easily accommodate larger/taller drivers. The Evora's focus on being a driver's car is clear from the fact that the steering wheel and gear shifter are the nicest touch points inside the entire cabin. Still, there's enough suede and leather covering the rest of the interior.