Lotus announces Exige V6 Cup racer
Mon, 20 Aug 2012
The Exige Cup features a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 making 346 horsepower, enabling the 2,380-pound race car to get from zero to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds. Power is put to the road with the help of Lotus Dynamic Performance Management, which allows for Touring, Sport and Race settings for the engine.
The Exige V6 Cup also features revised aerodynamics in the front fascia and rear diffuser, and it rides on a fully adjustable suspension that reaches the road with special wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tires.
The race-prepped gear found on the Exige V6 Cup also includes a roll cage, HANS-compatible seats with four-or-six-point safety harnesses, kill switch, FIA-approved fire extinguisher, tow points and a removable steering wheel.
There is a Track Day version, which carries a VAT-inclusive price of £62,995 ($98,855), and a hard-nosed Competition-Spec variant, with a price of £74,995 ($117,686). The first cars will roll out of Lotus' Hethel facility in December of this year, and only 20 examples are scheduled to be built. In addition to the car essentially being ready for various track day events, the race-read Exige is intended for the various Lotus Cup series throughout the world. The U.S. version will be on display at this weekend's Lotus Festival at Brands Hatch.
Having already got the motoring press hot under the collar with production of the road-going Exige S, we are turning up the temperature at this weekend's Lotus Festival at Brands Hatch with the official launch of a new track-focused model: The Exige V6 Cup.
There are two variants: a Track Day version priced at £62,995* and a full-on Competition-spec car starting at £74,995*.
Performance hits 274km/h, 0-100 in 3.8 seconds, and 346hp kicked out from the 3.5 litre supercharged V6 behind the drivers' seat. The Exige V6 Cup weighs in at 1080kg, and comes with Lotus Dynamic Performance Management, so you can switch the engine and traction settings between Touring, Sport and Race; Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tyres; aerodynamically optimized front splitter, rear diffuser and wing; multi-adjustable suspension; and race-ready kit such as a heavy-duty roll cage, 4 or 6-point harnesses, isolator switches, FIA-approved fire extinguisher, tow eyes, removable steering wheel and HANS-compliant race seats.
The first cars will roll off the production line in Hethel in December, with an allocation of 20 cars through to March 2013. In addition to hitting circuits the world over in various track days events, the Exige V6 Cup is intended for new and current Lotus Cup series including Lotus Cup UK, Lotus Cup Europe, Lotus Cup Eastern Europe, Lotus Cup Italy, Lotus Cup Japan, and the Lotus Ladies Cup (Hungary).
There will be a version for the USA which will be on display at Brands Hatch this weekend. The cars can be purchased through Lotus Cars' dealer network and direct from Lotus Racing. * Prices include VAT @ 20%
By George Kennedy
See also: Lotus could build production versions of Renault Alpine, Infiniti Emerg-E, Lotus Evora S IPS automatic transmission option arrives in October [w/video], Lotus Evora GX to race in U.S. Grand-Am series.