Lotus Exige Sprint

Lotus Cars has taken one of the most recognisable and iconic Lotus colour schemes from the early 1970s and reintroduced it for the first time with the limited edition Exige Sprint.

Just 40 right hand drive Lotus Exige Sprints will go on sale in the UK and Ireland in a duo-tone paint scheme of Aspen White on the lower portion of the body and a choice of Solar Yellow or Persian Blue on the upper portion of the body. The two colours are separated by a gold stripe bearing the name Exige Sprint on the doors on either side of the car.

To celebrate the start of Lotus production at Hethel in 1967, just 40 cars will be built for the UK market and each one will have an individually numbered chassis year build plate covering1967 to 2007, except for 1982, the year of Colin Chapman's untimely and tragic death. Each car will also come together with a heritage pack containing a certificate signed by Lotus' Chief Executive Mike Kimberley and "The Lotus Book" written by William Taylor featuring in depth reviews of the models produced at Hethel.

The Exige Sprint honours the colour scheme of the legendary Elan Sprint, which entered production in early 1971, 37 years ago. The design was adapted from the red and gold and white colour scheme of the Team Lotus Formula One sponsors at the time: Gold Leaf Tobacco. Other colours were also introduced including the blue, gold and white and yellow, gold and white, both of which are honoured on the Lotus Exige Sprint.

More that just a colour scheme The Lotus Exige Sprint includes as standard, ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels, air conditioning, Sport Pack, Touring Pack and the newly available Performance Pack giving phenomenal acceleration of zero to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds (estimated), reaching 100 mph in just another 6 seconds (estimated) before topping out at 146 mph. The Sprint also features a unique interior trim with distinctive embroidery and exterior decals.

Lotus Exige Sprint

Even without the unique paint and trim features that the Exige Sprint benefits from, equipping a standard Exige to the same specification would cost a customer £44,050 (MSRP), so the £42,550 (MSRP) for the Exige Sprint provides superb value for performance.

Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive for Group Lotus plc said, "Back in 1970, I was working on the Elan Sprint with a team of talented engineers led by Tony Rudd. It was a car that at the time was virtually unbeatable on a quick country road dash. The Elan Sprint with its sophisticated and elegant colour scheme was my particular favourite of the Elan range and it is fantastic to see the colour schemes being reintroduced for this limited edition of just 40 UK cars. Of course, being more than just a colour scheme, we are offering the driver an unparalleled Exige driving experience in a car that will, in a few years time, cement itself into the Lotus legend".

The Lotus Elan Sprint: 1971 to 1973

The Lotus Elan Sprint was the last version of the quintessential 1960s sportscar. Using the 126 bhp Lotus "Big Valve" Twin Cam 1558cc engine and weighing just 1570lbs (714 kg) the Elan Sprint shot to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds -a great performance by today's standards and almost unheard of in 1971. The Elan sprint ended production in August 1973 after 1353 examples were built.

[Source: Lotus via World Car Fans]

Press Release: LOTUS EXIGE SPORT 240 - AUSTRALIAN DESIGN, F1 TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY DEBUT Special Edition Exige with extra power and F1-style traction control

Lotus Australia has announced the fastest, most-desirable and exclusively tuned Lotus Exige to ever go on sale in Australia, the Lotus Sport 240.

Conceived and designed by Lotus Cars Australia, the special edition Exige Sport 240 will make its world debut at the Australian International Motor Show in October where it will officially go on sale.

With power improved to 179kW, this will also mark the first production car in Australia fitted with driver-adjustable stand-alone traction control, similar to the systems currently used in Formula 1.

"Designed specifically for Australia, we are excited and proud to add this bespoke Exige to our existing range." said Jonathan Stretton, Sales and Marketing Manager of Lotus Cars Australia. "Cars like the Exige Sport 240 show our passion and commitment to the Australian market."

"This Exige Sport 240 will only be available in Australia. We have worked with the Lotus factory in the UK to select specific styling and performance parts based on what we know will improve performance, but also taking into account customer feedback and current trends in this market.

"The Exige Sport 240 is a car entirely comfortable on the road for everyday use. Take it to the track and it will be blisteringly quick and will outpace cars two or three times the price," Stretton added.

Tuned with more power, bigger brakes, body mods, two bespoke colours, interior changes and limited edition badging, the Exige Sport 240 will be the most exclusive Exige to hit Australian Lotus showrooms.

Just six of the Exige Sport 240 will be initially available in launch colours of Blaze Orange or Sapphire Black, each with a special edition interior plaque.

The Blaze Orange model will feature black highlights, including front splitter, rear wing endplates, wheels and a rear beaver panel infill around the rear lights.

The Sapphire Black model will feature a Chrome Orange front splitter and rear wing endplates.

Both models will feature lightweight Lotus Sport forged five-spoke OZ alloy wheels. The Blaze Orange car has wheels finished in black with the Sapphire Black using silver. This is the first time this wheel design has featured on an Australian model.

Also for the first time in Australia, the signature Exige roof scoop will extend forward from the engine compartment to the top of the windscreen to supply an increased volume of air to the intercooler, whilst also giving the car more visual presence.

Special Exige Sport 240 badging will mark the exclusive model's exterior.

As the name suggests, power output is 240hp, or 179kW, a 10 percent improvement over the Exige S. Torque also increases from 215Nm to 230Nm. Upgraded fuel injectors and a new ECU allow the supercharged engine to reach greater heights.

The engine is a 1.8-litre supercharged intercooled four-cylinder. Features include twin-overhead camshafts, 16 valves and VVTL-i variable cam timing and lift, along with a distinct, characteristic supercharger whine.

A six-speed close-ratio C64 gearbox is standard and has been upgraded with a heavy duty clutch kit including a strengthened clutch and pressure plate.

Putting this extra power to the ground will be assured through mechanical and electronic traction aids. A torque-sensing limited-slip differential is standard on the Exige Sport 240, the first time it has been offered as factory equipment on a Lotus in Australia.

The Sport 240 will also be fitted with Lotus Sport adjustable traction control. Developed from the Lotus Sport UK GT3 motorsport program, the advanced electronic system utilises a driver-adjustable control knob to dial-in one of 18 preset levels of traction control intervention. This allows for the ultimate in driver control in any road condition, wet or dry.

This system also utilises electronic launch-control where the driver can dial in the desired revs, floor the throttle and it will hold at the determined point until the clutch is released for perfect starts every time.

Performance figures are equally impressive with 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds, 0-160km/h in 9.9 seconds and an estimated top speed of 249km/h.

Lotus is already known for its outstanding stopping power, and the Exige Sport 240 is even more effective with AP four-piston callipers on the front with 308mm two-piece front vented discs and braided hoses. On the rear, new Brembo single-piston callipers work on 288mm rotors. Pagid brake pads are fitted all around.

The suspension uses one-way adjustable dampers with adjustable ride height and an adjustable front sway bar to suit those wanting to tune the car to their own driving style.

Maintaining its track focus, the Sport 240 is fitted with grippy R compound Yokohama A048 LTS tyres, 195/50x16 front, 225/45x17 rear. It also benefits from a BS4 T45 steel roll-over hoop and struts.

The Exige Sport 240's interior hasn't been forgotten and includes the elements of a Touring Plus pack. With this comes air-conditioning and sound insulation amongst other enhancements throughout the cabin. Exige Sport 240 sports seats (finished in black leather) with a harness bar complement the purposeful nature of the car. The seats display an orange Exige logo and, along with the door trims and centre console, also have orange stitching. The black floor mats also feature an orange Exige logo.

Even the air-conditioning system is designed for performance. Weighing just 15kg for the entire system, the air-con uses an advanced clutch that automatically turns the compressor off when it senses full throttle to preserve maximum performance.

The special edition Lotus Exige Sport 240 is priced at $149,990 plus dealer delivery and statutory government charges. It will debut and go on sale at the Australian International Motor Show, from October 11.

The Sport 240 is released in what is the most successful year for Lotus Australia. According to Stretton: "Year-to-date, Lotus Australia has more than doubled its 2006 retail sales. In 2007 we are likely to exceed the highest sales ever in Australia by 20 percent. Adopting a more focused strategy in Australia is serving us well and the introduction of the Exige Sport 240 further emphasises the importance and relevance of Australia for Lotus Cars."

Lotus has lots up its sleeve here in Geneva. Last night, the company released info on the plug-in hybrid concept it's showing off. The green dealie is the product of a partnership between it and parent, Malaysia's Proton. But for sheer sexification, you can't do much better than its other, more sporting display-case bait. That is, the Exige GT3 concept road car. A product of Lotus Sport, Lotus's performance arm, the GT3 is a prototypical offshoot of the company's GT3 racing efforts. And it's not a bad idea to attract attention to your racing program by building a roadgoing model that uses many of its counterpart's, er, parts. That includes the powertrain, a supercharged 271-hp version of the Exige's 1.8-liter Toyota-sourced firebrand, with twin oil coolers. The GT3 also gets 10" rear wheels with 255 width tires. Zero to sixty happens in under four seconds and V-max is reached at 160 mph. Uprated brakes and a new aero kit complete the package. No word on production yet, but who could possibly bet against something like that? – Mike Spinelli

Press Release (vitals):

Engine

The supercharged and intercooled 1796 cc engine in the Lotus GT3 has a maximum power output of 275 PS (271 bhp / 203 kw) at 8000 rpm and a torque figure of approximately 258 Nm (190 lb/ft) at 7000 rpm. This significant amount of extra power and torque now available together with the VVTL-i variable cam system ensures that there is a smooth and linear surge of power from low engine speeds all the way to the maximum 8000 rpm. The Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require the use of the engine's oil) is run from the crankshaft and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation. Four high capacity injectors and an up rated fuel pump add additional fuel under hard acceleration or high speed driving.

An Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit) is included in the whole package as an oil reservoir back-up for extreme track use ensuring that, under those conditions, the engine oil pressure remains constant.

Twin oil coolers complete the powertrain package.

Transmission

A sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfer the engine power and torque to the lightweight aluminium C64 six-speed gearbox - with the same perfectly spaced ratios as the Exige S. An open type limited slip differential is fitted as standard. The Lotus switchable traction control system (LTCS) works through the engine, reducing power to maintain traction; it is active above 8 kph (5 mph) and reacts much more quickly than many brake-based systems.

Chassis Structure

Lotus designed lightweight structure of epoxy bonded aluminium alloy extrusions with crash structure, extruded aluminium door beams, integral steel seat-belt support structure and lightweight galvanized steel rear sub frame incorporating a structural shear panel.

Body

GT3 derived one-piece front clamshell and wide track rear clamshell with full length roof scoop design taken from the Cup Exige 255. New full width rear wing with integral end plates mounting to rear clam. Race style full width front splitter; standard Exige door and body sides retained. Multi element rear diffuser with carbon option.

Wheels & Tyres

5-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels (front 7Jx16 and rear 10Jx17) are shod with Lotus Sport specific Yokohama A048 R LTS tyres (front 195/50 R16 and rear 255/40 R17), designed to maximise grip and achieve the ride and handling targets set by Lotus.

Brakes

The brake system includes 308 mm diameter 2 piece aluminium belled cross drilled and ventilated front discs and 288 mm diameter cross-drilled and ventilated rear discs. AP Racing two-piece radially mounted 4 piston calipers at the front and Brembo single sliding piston at the rear. Pagid RS14 sports brake pads all round. High grade silicone brake fluid; stainless steel braided brake hoses. In addition, the proven Lotus track tuned servo-assisted fourchannel ABS system enhances braking performance and minimises stopping distance without taking over from the skill of the driver.

Suspension

Fully independent suspension utilising unequal length wishbones; hlins 2-way adjustable dampers with coil over springs and Lotus Sport adjustable front anti-roll bar. A rear double shear track control arm brace is provided to cope with the expected kerb abuse during heavy track day driving.

Performance

0-60: 3.9 seconds (estimated)

0-100km/h: 4.0 seconds (estimated)

0-100mph (0-160km/h): 9.8 seconds (estimated)

Maximum Speed 160 mph (257 km/h) - electronically limited

Max Power 275 PS (275 bhp / 203 kw) at 8000 rpm

Max Torque 258 Nm (190 lb/ft) at 7000 rpm (electronically limited)

Related:
Lotus Launches Sport Exige GT3 Racer [internal]

A season or a few ago, Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson sought out what he termed a "great American car." One of the contenders to the throne was the high-po but not-quite-Shelby Roush Ford Mustang. To verify how worthwhile the modified 'stang truly was, Jezza dropped Danny McKeever into the FoMoCo driver's seat. And in the other corner — a plastic toaster from Norfolk piloted by the Stig — that's right, it's the Lotus Exige S. So who wins in the battle of the "mosquito" versus the "'merican eagle?" – Ray Wert

Related:
Classic Top Gear: Richard Hammond on the Ford Escort RS1800; Bold Moves Before "Bold Moves": Jeremy Clarkson On The Ford Mustang [internal]

Created by the folks at Sweden's unfortunately-named Street Xtreme magazine, this Vauxhall VX220/Opel Speedster apparently features a "grunty" 2.2L engine, and makes some pretty damn good noise while cutting a sinister swath. Its project name is "Bastard," which coincidentally, was Lemmy Kilmister's post-post Rockin' Vicars band's original moniker. Better known as Mot rhead, the group's classic "Ace of Spades" contributed the soundtrack to the ridiculously awesome "Clarkson in an Exige vs. Apache" segment on Top Gear a couple of years back, thus bringing the Elise-VX220/Speedster-Lemmy connection full circle. Somebody cue the Hawkwind, please. [Thanks to Claes for the tip.] – Davey G. Johnson

Related:
Next Opel Speedster to Be Based on Saturn Sky [Internal]

The lightness-loving beings at Lotus revealed their latest US model, a club racer based on the Exige coupe. The Lotus Sport Exige Cup is a track-day-only model, with a boost to 252-hp via a Roots-type, Eaton M62 supercharger and some hacks to the Lotus engine management system. The company says the 1,800-lb sled can get from zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds (and to 100 mph in 9.8 seconds), and has a top speed of 160 mph. Not street legal, the Sport Exige Cup is a turnkey racer, with SCCA-compliant roll cage, FIA approved Recaro / Lotus sport seats, six-point driver's harness and Yokohama slicks. A 70-liter fuel cell is a $3095 option, as is limited-slip diff ($1,595), traction control ($495) and — sin of sins — air conditioning, at $2495. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

MY2007 Lotus Sport Exige Cup -adrenaline boosting fun from the latest Lotus track car - USA Specification

Los Angeles, CA (November 30 2006) - Lotus Cars USA, the subsidiary of Lotus Cars in North America, today unveiled the MY2007 Lotus Sport Exige Cup. Unveiled at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, the 252 hp, supercharged and intercooled sportscar is a completely out-of-the-box track car with a specification designed to prepare the budding driver for the grid at some of the finest and most challenging circuits in North America.

Weight has been kept to an ultra low 1800 pounds and the phenomenal power to weight ratio has been further enhanced by increasing the power output from 243 hp to 252 hp. Weight saving (or adding lightness!) has been achieved through the effective use of lightweight materials and through the eradication of all non-essential components such roof trim, carpets,front mudflaps, central locking and bulkhead trim. Of course just having fantastic power to weight doesn't make a car a high performer on the track, so the Lotus Sport Exige Cup has a list of standard equipment that includes track only slick tires, uprated 4-piston front brakes, adjustable dampers and adjustable anti-sway bar, the latest SCCA-compliant roll cage, FIA approved Lotus Sport branded driver's seat with six-point driver harness (there is no passenger seat) and a lightweight rear screen (instead of glass). The options are even more race focused with a FIA approved 70 litre fuel cell, air-jack system and level two stainless steel exhaust with de-cat pipe, a plate type limited slip differential and Star Shield.

The Lotus Sport Exige Cup is one of the quickest cars around a circuit. Key to this incredible performance is the aerodynamic package, which produces over 90 pounds of downforce at 100 mph increasing grip and ultimately safety at higher speeds. With a top speed of close to 160 mph and a zero to 100 mph slingshot in just less than 9.8 seconds (the 60 mph sprint takes just under 3.9 seconds), the MY2007 Lotus Sport Exige Cup is the perfect partner to a serious track day enthusiast. Even the most exotic supercars would gle to keep up! At a MSRP of just $84,990, plus options, delivery and taxes, customer will have to queue on a first ordered, first delivered basis.

Further details about the Lotus Sport Exige Cup:

Engine
The supercharged and intercooled engine in the Lotus Sport Exige Cup has a maximum power output of 252 hp at 8000 rpm and a torque figure of approximately 179 lb-ft, at 7000 rpm. This vast amount of extra power and torque now available means that the cam change between the low-speed cam and the high-speed cam is variable to ensure that there is a smooth and linearsurge of power from low engine speeds all the way to the maximum 8000 rpm. The Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require the use of the engine's oil) is run from the crankshaft and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation. Charge air (air under pressure from the supercharger) is cooled through an air-to-air intercooler (the cooling air enters via the roof scoop) before being fed into the engine itself. All charge air ducting has been kept as short as possible with large diameter pipes making sure that the bends in these ducts are not too tight, to the benefit of throttle response and efficiency. Four high capacity injectors add additional fuel under hard acceleration or high speed driving.

A sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfers the engine power and torque to the lightweight C64 six-speed gearbox (with an aluminum casing) - with the same perfectly spaced ratios as the Exige S. A plate type limited slip differential is fitted as an option as is the Lotus switchable traction control system (LTCS). The LTCS system works through the engine,reducing power to maintain traction, is active above 5 mph and operates much more quickly
than many brake-based systems.

An Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit) is included in the whole package as an oil reservoir backup for extreme track use ensuring that, under these conditions, the engine oil pressure
remains constant. Twin oil coolers complete the powertrain package.

Wheels and Tires

5-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels in silver are shod with Lotus specific Yokohama slick tires to maximise grip and achieve the ride and handling targets set by Lotus

Brakes

The brake system includes large diameter 308 mm 2-piece aluminum belled cross drilled and ventilated front discs and 282 mm cross-drilled and ventilated discs at the rear, upgraded Pagid RS14 sports brake pads set into the brake calipers (AP Racing two piece radially mounted, 4 piston at the front and Brembo sliding at the rear), high grade silicone brake fluid, stainless steel braided brake hoses all linked to the proven Lotus track tuned servo-assisted four-channel ABS system that enhances braking performance and minimising stopping distance without taking over from the skill of the driver.

Suspension

Suspension is provided by hlins springs and two-way adjustable dampers (which have 22 compression and 60 rebound settings and ride height adjustable perches to reduce the ride height from 130 mm to 120 mm) and an adjustable front anti-sway bar (five settings). Full instructions and recommended settings are provided to allow customers to tailor the handling characteristics of the car to their own requirements.

As the Lotus Sport Exige Cup cars are modified for track use, a double shear track control arm brace is provided to cope with the expected kerb abuse during racing and hard track day driving.

Safety Equipment

The Lotus Sport Exige Cup cars have the safety equipment that is expected for a track car with 6-point seat belt harness on the driver's side (with an FIA approved Recaro / Lotus Sport seat) - there is no passenger seat. The full roll cage is SCCA compliant and completing the additional safety equipment is a mechanical ignition kill switch with cockpit and external activation and a plumbed electrical fire suppression system, again with cockpit and external activation.

Exhaust System

A "Level One" stainless steel sports exhaust is fitted with the bifurcated exhaust pipes exiting from the centre of the anodized-finished 3-piece rear diffuser. A "Level Two" stainless steel exhaust with de-cat pipe is a no cost option.

Option costs:

FIA approved 70 litre fuel cell - $3095
Lotus Sport limited slip differential (plate type) - $1595
Lotus Traction Control System - $495
Air jack system (special conditions apply) - $5495
Air-conditioning - $2495
Metallic paint - $590
Lifestyle Paint - $1200
Star Shield protection - $995.

Related:
Supercharged Lotus Exige S Coming to the US [internal]

Yes, we know the Prius and Smart are both fuel efficient little buggers, but seriously — as driving machines, they really suck ass. And what's the point in driving if you aren't going to have fun when you do it. If the experience is gonna suck, you might as well take the bus or something because at least you'll be able to do the crossword puzzle. – Ray Wert

Related:
Classic Top Gear: James May's Manly Triumph; Classic Top Gear: Fifteen-Hundred-Quid Coupes [internal]

Finally. Lotus is sending its top-shelf hooch to the US, in the form of a superchargerd Exige S. The company anounced today that the near-supercar Exige is coming to the states in the form of a 220-hp version (a 16-percent lift from the base model). The coupe, which weighs in at 2,077 pounds, can get from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds (nearly a second faster than the base model) and to 100 mph in 11 seconds, under the command of a six-speed tranny. Top speed is 148 mph. The model also gets variable-revs cam switching, by way of its T4e engine control system. For you? $56,990. Operators are standing by.

Related:
Lotus Launches Sport Exige GT3 Racer [internal]

Lotus is bringing a new connotation to the term British racing green. The sons of Chapman have turned out an Exige coupe, the 265E, that can run on E85 bio-ethanol. It's no sacrifice, however, as the 265-hp track-day favorite shares the same figures with its monofuel counterpart: zero to 60 mph in 3.88 seconds, 0-100 mph in 9.2 seconds and a top speed of 158 mph. The company's preserved the car's performance mainly by enlarging the existing four fuel injectors and by adding two additional ports at the supercharger inlet to increase the volume of fuel fed to the engine. Unfortunately, greenies with a jones for more correct racing options will have to stick to the Roller Derby; the 265E is for research purposes only.

Related:
Lotus Launches New, High-Performance Exige S; More on Ethanol [internal]

Sometimes, when you add lightness, things get a little delicate. Such, apparently was the case with shifters installed in 311 Elises and Exiges sold in Japan and built between February 2004 and 2005 April of 2005. In two cases, the shifter bent, and in a third, it broke. If we had more caffeine in us, we'd make a joke about about a shiftless Japanese hoon, but we don't, so we won't.

Lotus recalling some 300 cars in Japan [TMC]

Related:
Porsche Recalls 18k 911s [Internal]

Holy mother of Malcolm Muggeridge! Lotus is launching a new, high-performance edition of its Exige coupe, which can do the zero to 60 in just 4.1 seconds. The car's near weightlessness (it's just 2,057 lbs) is owed to the company's continuance of Lotus Seven creator Colin Chapman's "Speed through lightness" philosophy. The quickest Lotus production vehicle ever built, the Exige S is not a limited edition, but a full production model built at Lotus's Hethel, Norfolk (UK) plant. The company touts the S as a car for both day-to-day and track or circuit driving. It costs 33,995 in the UK, but you can just forget the currency conversion; the company has no plans to bring it to the states. We'll likely have to wait for the next-gen model. [Thanks to Zerin for the tip.]

Related:
Lotus Launches Sport Exige GT3 Racer [internal]

Lotus fans planning to eyeball the FIA Championship's new GT3 series next year will have a new Exige to cheer on (or put a hex on from afar). Lotus Sport's Exige GT3 race car (pictured) has passed preliminary shakedown testing, part of a process to qualify for the series, which requires a power-to-weight ratio of 380hp per metric ton (2,204 lbs). In the case of the Exige, the power part comes in the form of the familiar 1.8 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine, breathing through a Roots type supercharger and air to air intercooler, controlled by the Lotus T4e ECU, which conspire to produce 285 hp at 7,800 rpm. As for weight, the Exige tips the scales at 1,653lbs via typical Lotus weight-watching. A six-speed sequential transmission handles the cog swapping. The single-seat prototype has also been fitted with five-spoke forged alloys, carbon body panels and a high-downforce aerodynamic package incorporating a race front splitter and adjustable carbon fiber rear wing, plus FIA-required kit including six-point roll cage, ignition kill switches, and track-ready braking and suspension systems. Availability, full specs, and price of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 will be available in early 2006. Press release after the jump.

Lotus Sport Exige GT3 undertakes testing for FIA GT3 European Championship

A prototype of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 race car was unveiled at the annual FIA GT Championship presentation ceremony outside the world famous Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 02 December, 2005. The following day (03 December 2005), the first test for the car took place at the high speed Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Southern France under FIA supervision, the first stage in the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 becoming eligible for FIA GT3 competition. This latest FIA series, which will start in 2006, is for race cars that have an equal power to weight, and that have a direct lineage to their road going versions.

The Lotus Sport Exige GT3 entrant has been developed by Lotus Sport, the performance arm of Lotus Cars and is a derivative of the standard Lotus Exige coup model. Weighing in at approximately 750 kg, it stays true to the performance through light weight core Lotus philosophy. The car uses a race prepared 1.8 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine with a Roots type supercharger and air to air intercooler which utilises the Lotus T4e Engine Control Unit to produce 285 hp (289 PS) at 7,800 rpm. This gives an impressive power to weight ratio of 380hp / tonne or 2.6 kg / PS.

Following a brief shakedown programme at the Lotus Test Track at Hethel, factory test driver Gavan Kershaw carried out final chassis set up work on wet tyres in the morning session at the Paul Ricard official FIA test. This was followed by an outing on slick tyres on a drying track by FIA nominated test driver Christophe Bouchut.

Commenting on the encouraging test session, Chris Arnold, General Manager of Lotus Sport, explained: We were delighted to attend the official FIA test session. Considering the car was still on the drawing board two months ago it s a fantastic achievement by the team to complete the build in such a short time. We knew this test would be a first shakedown for the car on slicks and I m very pleased with the results. Our winter development programme starts with a wind tunnel test just before Christmas followed by further work in preparation for the next FIA test in March.

The FIA has announced a five race European championship for the new GT3 class with rounds
in the UK, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy. Various national GT Championships are also
considering amending their regulations to include a GT3 class.

Basic prototype specification
Like the standard Exige, the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 comes complete with the award-winning light weight bonded aluminium chassis. This is complemented by low weight 5-spoke forged alloy wheels, carbon body panels, and a revised high downforce aerodynamic package incorporating a race front splitter and adjustable carbon fibre rear wing. An FIA 6-point roll cage, ignition kill switches, and uprated braking and suspension systems including hlins 3-way adjustable dampers also feature on the new race car. A 6-speed sequential transmission system, and full data logging system have been fitted to the singleseater prototype vehicle.

Availability, full specification, and price of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 will be announced in early
2006.

Related:
Lotus Reveals New, Elise-Based Circuit Car [internal]

Lotus Sport, Lotus's motorsport division, has prepared two track-ready versions of the 2006 Exige — factory conversions of production cars, to be specific — the Lotus Exige Cup and the Lotus Exige Cup 240. While the Cup model gets the base 190hp, Toyota-sourced 2ZZ VVTL-i engine, the more potent Cup 240 gets the Exige 240R's 243hp version, reducing zero-to-60-mph times to under 4.5 seconds. The Cup models also get limited-slip diff, traction control and a bunch of race-prep upgrades, including clutch, brakes, oil coolers, suspension mods and safety upgrades. Yes, please.

Lotus Exige Gets Performance Tweaks for Track Use [Edmunds]

Related:
Lotus Builds Special Edition Elise Sports Racer [internal]

The most nattily dressed of Lotus fans (or those who sweat their pinstriped gabardine) will bust a seam over this one-off Exige coupe, created with a Savile Row tailor, Gieves and Hawkes. Built as a promotional vehicle for Harrods' "Truly British" show, the Lotus Exige Espionage features a navy-blue exterior and an interior fitted with pinstripe wool cloth — seat upholstery, door inserts and dashboard — silk for the backs of the seats and tailor-made leather floormats that mimic James Bond's shoes. Alas, poison darts and slinky ingenue have been left off the options list. The car will be available for sale after the show for $70,000.

More at Dubspeed Driven

Related:
Lotus Releases Details on US-bound Exige [internal]

Lotus released details on its US-spec Exige coupe, which will sell for a few shillings less than what had been estimated earlier this year. It's a bit of enthusiast bait for US buyers who've been clamoring for the fixed-roof, rigid-body version of Lotus's Elise roadster (as if a roadgoing Elise needed better handling) that Europeans have enjoyed on many a track day. The States will recieve a mere hatful of the hardtops, beginning in early 2006, of between 300 and 350 cars. The MSRP will be a sprightly $50,990, not including such options as traction control for $495 ($1790 with torque-sensing limited-slip differential); air conditioning delete (saves 22 lbs.) at $250 and "lifestyle paint" (read: dayglo) at $1200.

See Dubspeed Driven for the full press release.

Related:
Lotus Exige: Coming to America; Lotus Sets One-Year Sales Record in the US [internal]