Filed under: Motorsports, Coupes, Lotus
Lotus reveals 2008 Exige Sport Cup 260
Lotus just keeps churning out more variants of the Elise and Exige, but the major difference between those other limited-edition models and the Exige Sport Cup 260, is this is the automaker's ultimate track-day version to date.
Powered by the 257 hp, Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter mill and a Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger, the 2,046-pound coupe rockets to sixty in four seconds, passes 100 mph in 9.9 seconds an on to a top speed of 147 mph. A heavy-duty clutch sends power to the standard six-speed manual and on down to an LSD, with a plate-type limited slip available as an option. A new instrument pack with a revised graphic design keeps tabs on the blown four, while new aerodynamic bits (producing 40 kgs of downforce at 100 mph) and variable traction and launch control keep things planted at speed.
Standard equipment includes cast 16-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama A048R tires, four-piston AP Racing calipers up front clamping 282 mm cross-drilled rotors, an adjustable anti-roll bar and dampers, along with FIA-approved Recaro seats, six-point roll-cage and a 70-liter fuel cell.
The price of the Exige Sport Cup 260 is set at £56,034 and it's available now in Europe.
[Source: Lotus]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
The Doctor 4:36PM (2/14/2008)
Just show us the Esprit please.
Reply
rp_guy 4:43PM (2/14/2008)
does anyone know why toyota stopped using the 1.8L (ex. current XRS models w/ 160hp now)
Reply
Seoultrain 4:58PM (2/14/2008)
blandness is a black hole that will consume all the rev-happy engines in your lineup.
Seoultrain 2:07PM (2/15/2008)
woah, there, sw.
rp was talking about toyota's use of the 1.8L, not Lotus's. It was a nice engine in toyota's lineup, a memory of happier times at Toyota, if you will. It is now gone, so I was saying that the "Blandness that is ToMoCo" consumed its last vestige of driving fun.
sw 5:22PM (2/14/2008)
Bland? Perhaps if you eat pit vipers alive for breakfast, run across the tundra to kill and a polar bear with your bare hands for lunch, and then jump into the ocean and kill a great white with nothing but grit and determination and eat it for supper. If you can do these things, or it's equivalent then you may call a track version of a lotus a bland ride.
Tyo 5:22PM (2/14/2008)
why cant anyone else make street legal sub 2,100LB Cars?
I know this one may not be but why are the current "Muscle" Cars about to come out so damn large?
GM needs to make a Sky Coupe with the 260HP DI I-4
Reply
Justin 5:25PM (2/14/2008)
how much extra do you wanna pay?
why not the LS2LS7? 2:18PM (2/15/2008)
Because other companies make cars that are more drivable day to day. The Lotus is light, but it's a track-specialized car.
The interior is spartan at best and the lack of plastic crap all around means the engine noise really rattles around in there too. And large people don't even fit in it well.
It's a great track car, few companies can get away with selling cars that are only great for the track.
madgamer 6:17PM (2/14/2008)
He was talking about toyota killing off the 1.8L and making bland engines/cars now as opposed to calling the lotus bland (which it is not)
Justin 5:24PM (2/14/2008)
Damn that's good looking, fast, light, and thanks to the roots-supercharger-whine, it could actually sound good as well, despite the 4-banger.
Reply
madgamer 6:18PM (2/14/2008)
bah, I was replying to sw with the above comment, but it put it in the wrong place
Reply
dawookie 6:26PM (2/14/2008)
because if you own the toyota, you would realize that it's easy to burn through crappy clutches..im on 3 in under 100k...yeah for Q/A!
Reply
captainslow 6:38PM (2/14/2008)
sw:
He was referring to toyota's lineup when he used the word "bland". Learn how to read.
Reply
R 6:45PM (2/14/2008)
At the likely risk of being counter-flamed, it sounds more like you need to revisit your manual skills. 3 under 100k? I don't think any brand anywhere has issues like that. What are you doing? Clutch dump launches? My parents' Toyota's had 1 clutch change in 24 years, and mainly because I started going aggro on it towards the end of its life cycle.
Reply
speedball3 6:57PM (2/14/2008)
I have a coworker who claimed to go through a clutch on his early 90s Celica every 30k miles or so...which seems ridiculous to me, but I have never ridden w/him so I can't tell if it's him or the car. He is not the type to really drive fast/dump the clutch though, so I have no idea what he does to do that.
R 6:48PM (2/14/2008)
On another note, does anyone know if this is coming to the US? I'm guessing no since I'm under the impression roll cages aren't street legal here.
Reply
R 7:15PM (2/14/2008)
No idea either, but my friend just purchased a relatively low-mileage Honda with a manual from a middle-aged woman. Before he bought it, he was told the clutch was replaced (which we both thought was early). Puzzled, we then watched the seller drive off in the car. When she reversed, from the sounds of it, her engine was spooling at 4-5k rpm, if not more, while the car was moving at a crawl, ie completely riding the clutch. That pretty much answered our question. Maybe your friend does something similar.
Reply
DIRETTORE 7:30PM (2/14/2008)
£56,034 = > 112,000 U$D + it aint cheap!
Yes, yes, very nice, etc. Check the classifieds used cars. You can pick up a very similar car for VERY little money. Lotus cars depreciate like a stone. And I am a huge fan actually. I love their light weight & nimbleness.
But if you're asking me to part with that kind of money?!
There is sooo much on the market right now, ie.
GTR, ZR1, Z06, Viper, etc...
Reply
Avery 8:40PM (2/14/2008)
they say the lotus elise/exige have good residual values:
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/103457/Top-10-New-Cars-for-Future-Value;_ylt=AvtRVFMMOfTjd6QUbHXY3Ye7YWsA
Also, US pricing is not entirely based on the exchange rate. I'd expect it to be much less than $112,000.
Lotus keep the pure sports cars coming.
Reply
Rob 8:50PM (2/14/2008)
I think he was referring to Toyota. If anyone thinks a Lotus is bland, check your pulse for activity.
Reply