Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

In gear

Text Lisa Curtiss
Image Rex Features

Small and sassy is the theme this month as two eco mini marvels are unveiled, plus a super-sporty Citroën

The race is on

New DS3 Racing limited edition set to be snapped up

A hot new limited edition sports DS3 has just been unleashed, ready to reach showrooms later this year – but you’ll have to register your interest fast, as only 1,000 will be made. Developed by Citroën Racing, the winning team behind five World Rally Championship manufacturer’s titles, the exclusive DS3 Racing model has been super-tuned and features specialist motorsport components to produce 30% more power and 15% more torque than the standard car. Stiffer suspension, wider tracks, a lowered body, refined steering and breaking and some striking design touches are sure to appeal to hot hatch lovers Europe-wide – including Citroën Racing’s six-time WRC champion driver Sébastien Loeb, who will no doubt be the among the very first to own a DS3.

City slicker of the future

Honda’s space-age urban motor

Looking like something out of a sci-fi movie, Honda’s kooky 3R-C concept proved one of the greatest draws at last month’s Geneva Motor Show. According to the Japanese manufacturer, it’s the future of urban motoring. Electric powered, the 3R-C ticks all the boxes green-wise by providing zero-emission commuting – though you can’t help wondering where your shopping would go. There’s no official word on production plans yet, but judging by the Geneva visitors’ enthusiasm, the future might not be too far away.

Small wonder

Peugeot’s new electric car may be mini, but it packs a visual punch

Bold, bijou and rather bonkers, Peugeot’s electric BB1 has just been given the green light for production. At just 2.5m long, this most minuscule of motors can (incredibly) seat four people and looks just perfect for pootling around town. It will be fully equipped with all the latest gadgetry and connectivity, too, and with scope for personalisation it’ll be sure to turn heads wherever it goes.

Cars and stars

Celebs head to Monaco Grand Prix

Movie stars, playboys and the world’s glitterati in general will be descending on Monaco in a few weeks for the shamelessly starry Monaco Grand Prix (13 to 16 May). To join the beautiful people, why not fly to Marseille with Brussels Airlines? You can then make like a celeb and hire a convertible to drive to Monaco along the beautiful Riviera coast.

April diary

Dates to look out for this month

2-4 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur
4-7 WRC, Jordan Rally
9-11 SBK World Championship, Valencia; Le Mans Series, Circuit Paul Ricard, France
16-18 F1 Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
18-20 WRC Rally of Turkey
23-25 SBK World Championship, Assen, Netherlands
23-25 Miglia Touring, Brescia, Italy

TESTDRIVE LOTUS EVORA

Chris Peck finds that the new Evora bridges the gap between the enthusiast’s plaything and a motor to commute in

In the past, if you wanted to drive a Lotus you needed a good chiropractor – to reset your spine thanks to a firm ride – and lessons in contortionism just to get in and out. Thankfully, this has changed with the release of the Evora, currently the only ‘2’ sports car in production (meaning there’s just enough room in the back for children, or a couple of Smurfs).

A narrower door sill than current Lotuses makes ingress and egress simple, so there’ll be no embarrassment for the next supermodel you take for a spin. The subtle, brushed-aluminium dash is a nod to the performance capabilities and racing heritage of the marque, but also houses modern luxuries – including air-conditioning and an Alpine multimedia/sat-nav system, which make this car as happy on the commute as it is on a twisting mountain pass.

The Evora won’t shatter your spine if you meet an unexpected pothole, but this doesn’t mean it can’t keep up with its competitors on corners. With a sharp, focused and precise turn-in, it really does handle like it’s on rails. What’s more, as it’s a mid-engined car – the engine is sandwiched behind the rear seats and in front of the rear wheels – there’s a more balanced weight distribution (39% front and 61% rear), which adds to the incredibly direct steering. This also means there’s room for more than a toothbrush at the front and rear of the car next time you make a cross-continental trip.

The Toyota-sourced, and Lotus tinkered-with, 3.5L V6 is smooth, powerful and refined, and makes easy work of both long-haul motorway driving and twisty corners. Seamless power delivery means that when you want to push ahead past the nearest Porsche, the Evora isn’t going to turn into a savage monster and push you into the nearest ditch.

This is the car that Lotus has been looking for to bring the company back into competition with the big guns from Germany and Italy. And with a starting price of €61,800 it’s a phenomenal package that mixes grand-touring dynamics with the very best sports car capabilities.

Info

Lotus Evora 2

Price
from €61,809
Engine
3.5L V6, 276bhp at 6,400rpm
Transmission
6-speed manual
0-100km/h
5.1 secs
Top speed
260 km/h
CO2 emissions
205g/km
MPG
8.7L/100km (combined)

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