Autoblog

Tokyo 2009: Lotus Exige Stealth, complete with soft-touch paint

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:22:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Tokyo Motor Show, Lotus

Lotus Exige Stealth - Click above for high-res image gallery

Lotus has unveiled the latest special edition of its maximum performance, minimum everything else Exige today at the Tokyo Motor Show. We took a moment to check out the Exige Stealth (known as the Scura in Europe) on the show floor and managed to curry some time with Lotus vehicle development director Roger Becker.

The new model gains a set of comely forged alloy wheels, but the big news with the car is the unique paint. We asked Becker about the Stealth and its special finish, and as it turns out, this is more than just a basic matte paint. Lotus has been experimenting for several years with matte finishes but was never satisfied with the results. The problem - as anyone who has ever done body repairs and worked on primer-finished cars can tell you - is that matte surfaces really show marks and stone chips. Lotus wanted something more durable before putting the car into production.

To create the Exige seen here, the entire car has to be sprayed in the base gloss coat seen on the central stripes. The stripe area was then masked off and the rest of the body abraded in order to get a surface that the matte paint will grip to. Finally, a newly formulated rubberized matte paint is applied. When you touch the car, the surface actually feels soft, and according to Becker, it is four- to five-times more resistant to marking and peeling than other finishes.

Just 35 examples are planned, so get your deposit in now.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: 2010 Lotus Exige Scura

Continue reading Tokyo 2009: Lotus Exige Stealth, complete with soft-touch paint

Tokyo 2009: Lotus Exige Stealth, complete with soft-touch paint originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo Preview: Lotus Exige Scura and Stealth cross over to dark side

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Lotus, UK

2010 Lotus Exige Scura - Click above for high-res image gallery

Depending on where you live, you might be able to get a new 2010 Lotus Exige Stealth or 2010 Lotus Exige Scura, but not both, and neither unless you get crackin'. In anticipation of its official coming out party at the Tokyo Motor Show, Lotus just dropped the deets on a new special edition blacked out Lotus Exige alternatively known as the Stealth or Scura (Italian for 'dark') depending on market. Whatever they call it, it is one badass car. Only 35 will be built worldwide and none of them appear headed to the States unfortunately.

This newest Exige special looks menacing with its matte black paint, contrasting gloss black stripes and carbon fiber highlights. It's powered by the 260-hp version of the ubiquitous supercharged 4-cylinder and comes standard with launch control, traction control and 2-way adjustable Ohlins dampers. And thanks to the prodigious amount of carbon fiber inside and out, this featherweight flyer drops another 10kg, allowing it to do the 0-60 sprint in 4 seconds flat. It should also reach 100 in less than ten seconds on its way to a top speed of 152 mph. Brits who hustle over to their local Lotus shoppe will have to plunk down £45,000, while EU customers can expect to pay around €61.000. Check out the gallery of high-res pics below and a long press release after the jump.

Gallery: Tokyo Preview: 2010 Lotus Exige Scura and Stealth

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Tokyo Preview: Lotus Exige Scura and Stealth cross over to dark side

Tokyo Preview: Lotus Exige Scura and Stealth cross over to dark side originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 offers even more power and lightness

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lotus, UK, Reviews

2009 Lotus Exige S 260 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over its 61-year history, Lotus Cars has spent a considerable amount of time clawing its way back from the brink of insolvency. The company's most recent bout with financial disrepair came in the early Nineties after the front-wheel-drive Elan proved a commercial failure (surprise!) and the Esprit toiled away in the shadows of newer, more powerful supercars. As hope for the historic marque's triumphant return began to fade, a group of Lotus engineers pooled their collective will to create an all-new, back-to-basics model that would revive Colin Chapman's company and give hardened enthusiasts the purist's driving tool they craved.

In September of 1996, the Elise was born, and four years later, its hard-top sibling - the Exige - came on the scene. Over the last decade, we've seen a raft of super-special-limited-edition variants follow in its lightweight wake, but the ultimate version is this: the 2009 Lotus Exige S 260. Packing more power and "more lightness" than the 240 Sport we sampled last year, there's no doubt it's a telepathic terror on track, but we wanted to know if it was up to the depravity of Michigan roads, so we set our chiropractor on speed dial and headed out...

Gallery: Review: 2009 Lotus Exige S 260

Continue reading Review: 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 offers even more power and lightness

Review: 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 offers even more power and lightness originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Elise Club Racer and Exige Cup 260 give us that special feeling

Noah Joseph — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Lotus

Lotus Elise Club Racer and Exige Cup 260 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Another show, another pair of special editions from Lotus. This time around it's the Elise Club Racer and the Exige Cup 260, two lightweight specials based on the company's core product range.

We brought you details and photos of both a few weeks ago in the ramp-up to the show, but stopped by to have a closer look at the pair while we were there checking out the race-spec Evora. Check 'em both out in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Elise Club Racer and Exige Cup 260

Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Elise Club Racer and Exige Cup 260 give us that special feeling originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK Garage creates V8-powered Lotus Extrema

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Europe, Supercars, Lotus

Click above for a high-res gallery of the UK Garage Lotus Extrema

The UK Garage (based in... Italy) and its Lotus Extrema has taken Colin Chapman's philosophy to a level the old man never could have imagined. Built atop a Mark I Exige, UK Garage widened the track, stretched the wheelbase and created a custom Mark II body kit to fit more rubber and make room for a range of mid-mounted engines.

On the low end of the spectrum, customers can equip their Extrema with a GM-sourced, turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 putting out 350 hp and tipping the scales at just over 1,800 pounds. A Superlight variant is also available, weighing in at 1,650 pounds and equipped with either a 2.6- or 3.4-liter V8, producing 360 or 450 hp, respectively. For those who want to go full (big) bore, the Extrema can be had with almost any GM-supplied V8, ranging from two LS3s producing either 420 or 500 hp, the 520-hp LS7 or the Corvette ZR1's 638-hp, supercharged LS9. With only 2,138 pounds to motivate, the range-topping Extrema is claimed to hit 60 in 2.9 seconds, blow through the 100 mph mark in under seven seconds and on to a top speed of 200 mph.

In addition to the engine upgrades, UK Garage can equip any model with a manual or sequential transmission, along with an Ohlins suspension, four-piston AP Racing brakes, roll cage and other safety systems. Both race-ready and road-legal versions are available with prices starting at €66,000.

Gallery: UK Garage Lotus Extrema

[Source: Autoblog.it]

UK Garage creates V8-powered Lotus Extrema originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Lotus Exige S240

Dan Roth — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupe, Performance, Lotus

Lotus Exige S240 - Click above for high-res image gallery

"What is it?" people will ask. They'll keep going. "It's fast, huh? How fast does it go?" The answer will disappoint them. Yes, it is fast, but when driving the Lotus Exige S240, its 150-mph top speed is not at the forefront of one's mind. Lotuses are more classically described as accurate weapons of destructed mass; light cars that handle as an extension of the driver's body. True to the roots laid down by the Europa, the Exige is a composite monocoque, carrying 1800cc of supercharged Toyota fury admidships.

Many have glommed on to the Elise and Exige as track-day toys, but we wanted to see how this most raucous of Lotuses would do as a desert island car. If all you could swing were the payments for a single car, and you got your kicks by surgically trimming apices, could the Lotus hack it? It's certainly one of the most accurate-handling street cars we've had the pleasure of driving, and it does come with such comforts as power windows, air conditioning, and an Alpine audio system with iPod interface. Sounds like the perfect everyday car for a hardcore enthusiast, doesn't it?

Gallery: Review: Lotus Exige S240

Continue reading Review: Lotus Exige S240

Review: Lotus Exige S240 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seat Time: Getting intimate with the 2008 Lotus Challenge Series

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus

Click above for a high-res gallery from the Lotus Challenge Series.

Jack Fried is barely audible under the stentorian sound of the supercharged four behind our heads. With two helmets worth of plastic and padding between his strained, soft-spoken voice and my assaulted ears, I'm only able to make out a few words of every other sentence. When we finally line up in the starting grid, Jack shuts off the engine on his Lotus Cup 255 and turns in my direction. "I've sold most of my track cars," he says, "This is all I need."

I hear that.

Gallery: Lotus Challenge - Buttonwillow - April 2008

Continue reading Seat Time: Getting intimate with the 2008 Lotus Challenge Series

Seat Time: Getting intimate with the 2008 Lotus Challenge Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 May 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That's a wrap! Union Jack Lotus Exige S filmed for Discovery Channel

Alex Nunez — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Lotus, UK

Click image to enlarge

No, it's not the official ride of Captain Britain, but it would probably fit the bill nicely. The Lotus Exige S shown was the subject of an episode of Discovery Channel's How Do They Do It? series. The topic was vehicle wraps, and Lotus Design came up with the flag motif to be applied to one of its dynamic sports cars. Four techs took ten hours to complete the job (this was a little more complicated than wrapping a city bus with a pizzeria ad) and the results look pretty stunning. If you're in the UK, you might be able to catch it as it tours Lotus dealers throughout the country. This makes the MINI roof flags look as subtle as lapel pins.

[Source: Lotus via Zer Customs]

That's a wrap! Union Jack Lotus Exige S filmed for Discovery Channel originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus debuting 350 hp Exige GT3 Down Under

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Lotus, Australia

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lotus Exige GT3.

Aussie racing fans are in for a treat during the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend, where the updated Lotus Exige GT3 will make its official debut. The revised racer is still packing the same supercharged 1.8-liter mill from the road-going Exige S, but it's been tweaked to created almost 350 hp and 224 lb.-ft. of torque (we're guessing through the use of a liquid-to-air intercooler and around 16 pounds of boost heaved into the built motor). Additionally, Lotus has revised the aero bits to increase downforce and reduce drag through the use of a lengthened nose (3 cm), a widened track (10 cm) and a rear section stretched by some 8 cm. Angelo Lazaris will be piloting the GT3 this weekend during the third round of the GT Championship.

Lotus' full press release is posted after the jump and you can check out the gallery of the Lotus Exige GT3 concept below.

Gallery: Lotus Exige GT3

Gallery: Lotus Exige GT3 concept

Continue reading Lotus debuting 350 hp Exige GT3 Down Under

Lotus debuting 350 hp Exige GT3 Down Under originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva '08 Preview: Lotus goes tri-fuel with Exige 270E

Alex Nunez — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Green, Lotus

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

While assorted activists, politicians and random individuals carry on about the spectres of global warming, imported oil, CO₂ emissions and other issues that combine to create timetable-free doomsday scenarios, there are people working on potential solutions that do not involve us driving around four-wheeled Segway scooters. That's right: the "dreaded" internal combustion engine might yet provide the answer -- or at least an answer. And because Lotus is the entity searching for the answer in this particular case, the end result might not only be green -- it looks ridiculously fun, too.

The car you see here is the Geneva-bound Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel concept, the successor to 2006's Exige 265E, which made 265 horses running on E85. The 270E goes a step further. Not only can it run on gasoline or ethanol, it achieves its peak output -- 270 horsepower and 184 lb-ft -- on methanol, hence the Tri-Fuel label. Incidentally, that power figure is the highest yet for an Exige coming out of Hethel. Even more interesting, however, is Lotus' research into producing carbon-neutral synthetic methanol. You can read about it in detail after the jump, but in summary, the process involves using atmospheric CO₂ and reacting it with hydrogen created via renewable electrical power to create methanol. Liquid methanol could be transported and distributed much in the same way gasoline is now, making for a feasible infrastructure if the idea were to take hold somewhere down the line.

Lotus is also hunting for solutions involving EVs, as well as optimizing the traditional gasoline-powered ICE through its Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Grou p. One must admit, however, that the idea of a sustainable, synthetic, carbon-neutral fuel driving internal combustion engines with the same levels of power we currently enjoy is the equivalent of having your cake and eating it. Press on, Lotus.

Gallery: Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

[Source: Lotus via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Geneva '08 Preview: Lotus goes tri-fuel with Exige 270E

Geneva '08 Preview: Lotus goes tri-fuel with Exige 270E originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus reveals 2008 Exige Sport Cup 260

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:18:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Lotus

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]

Lotus reveals 2008 Exige Sport Cup 260 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus wants to be on the cutting edge of green

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Lotus

Lotus may already have one of the greenest line of vehicles, with both the Elise and Exige easily reaching into the 30-mpg range when driven with restraint, but Mike Kimberley wants Lotus to be pioneers of green engineering.

Lotus' CEO made comments alluding to the automaker's goal of providing environmentally friendly automotive technology after signing a deal to produce a research and testing facility in Saudi Arabia that would focus on green motoring. The center is part of Lotus' strategy to branch out both technologically and production-wise, with a manufacturing center based in the Middle East. Much of this shift will come with the advancement of hybrid development, although Kimberley didn't go into detail about how the hybrid drivetrains would be implemented in this new venture.

The CEO also went on to report that development of Project Eagle is well underway, saying that the Eagle team is doing a great job and that after driving a prototype late last year he was "very impressed".

[Source: BIZOnline]

Lotus wants to be on the cutting edge of green originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrating 40 years of minimalist fun: Lotus Exige Sprint

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Lotus, UK

Click the image above for a high-res version.

We're going to have to wait until July for something new from Lotus when it drops the Eagle 2+2 at the London Motor Show. But until then, Lotus seems content to keep us satiated with yet another limited edition Exige. The Exige Sprint draws its inspiration from the Elan Sprint that was built between '71 and '73 and comes covered in a tri-tone paint scheme with a white bottom half, blue or yellow top and a gold line bisecting the two. The Sprint will come standard with A/C, Lotus' Sport Pack and model-specific lightweight alloys to compliment the 243 hp road rocket. Only 40 will be built to commemorate when Lotus began building vehicles in Hethel back in 1967, with each donning a chassis number covering each year of production, except for 1982, when Lotus founder Colin Chapman departed for the big race track in the sky. A book covering the history of Lotus' models from Hethel will be included with the car, along with a signed certificate from the automaker's boss, Mike Kimberley. The Sprint is on sale now in the UK for £42,550.

Celebrating 40 years of minimalist fun: Lotus Exige Sprint originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For shame! Cupholder option in new Lotus Exige S

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Lotus

We were as taken-aback as the blokes over at Autocar when they discovered that the new, Performance Pack-equipped, Lotus Exige S came with an optional cup-holder. "It can't be true!" we screamed to the God of Oversteer, but it is, and although it's as minimal as it can get, it still seems like a dilution of a car (and a brand) that's made a name for itself producing focused, lightweight weapons for the track. Mr. Chapman is doing donuts in his grave and we're left shaking our heads.

[Source: Autocar]

For shame! Cupholder option in new Lotus Exige S originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2007: Lotus blossoms from Elise/Exige to Eagle to Esprit

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Lotus

Large high-res gallery of all of the Lotus models available by clicking above

This week in LA, veteran Lotus development engineer Roger Becker told the assembled press about the changes we'll see in the Elise and Exige for 2008. He also talked a bit about some of the changes happening at the factory and even gave us some info about new models in the company's future.

The biggest recent news for Lotus was that the Elise SC and Exige S were given an optional power boost via a Magnuson-developed supercharger that raises horsepower from 190 to 218 or 240 depending on the application. Other changes were made to all 2008 model year cars in the lineup.

Aside from upgraded brakes and a few other tweaks, the biggest changes came inside, where a new security system has been installed that for the first time ever allows a single key for Lotus owners. As a nod to American driving habits, TPMS and a new information display were also added, because as Becker put it, we aren't too aware of when a tire is going down and need to have it pointed out. That line was delivered without missing a beat and expertly showed a typically dry British sense of humor. Funny guy. Follow the jump for individual model news and to hear more about the upcoming Eagle and Esprit replacement too!

[Source: Lotus]

Gallery: 2008 Lotus Elise and Exige

Continue reading LA 2007: Lotus blossoms from Elise/Exige to Eagle to Esprit

LA 2007: Lotus blossoms from Elise/Exige to Eagle to Esprit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus powers up Elise, Exige for 2008

Alex Nunez — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:28:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Lotus

Click image for photo gallery

For 2008, Lotus has turned up the heat on its Elise and Exige sports cars. The Lotus Elise SC is a 220-horsepower variant powered by a new, compact, non-intercooled supercharger mated to the standard 1.8L engine. Identifiable by its model-exclusive wheels and a new rear spoiler, the SC boasts a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds, 10.7 seconds to 100 mph, and a 150 mph top end.

The Exige is not ignored either, as the Exige S can now be fitted with a Performance Pack boosting output to 240 horses. Also includded are upgraded brakes, an upgraded clutch, traction control, driver-adjustable launch control, and a new roof scoop. The traction/launch control combo is the same one found in the Lotus 2-Eleven track car. Performance, as you'd expect, is impressive: 4 seconds to sixty, 9.7 seconds to 100 mph, and a 153 mph ceiling.

Additionally, all 2008 Elise and Exige models get new instrumentation, standard driver and passenger airbags, a new keyfob design with an immobilizer system, a simplified option pack range, and new paint colors. You can read the Lotus press release in full below (it was only available as a PDF, so it's been gallerized). For all the updates, the two most important traits of the Elise and Exige remain the same: they're still light, and they're still fast.

[Source: Lotus]

Gallery: 2008 Lotus Elise Supercharged

Gallery: 2008 Lotus Exige S

Gallery: Lotus 2008 Model Year Updates - PR

Lotus powers up Elise, Exige for 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Exige S Club Racer: New color, same shtick

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Lotus

Click the image above for a couple of wallpaper-worthy shots of the Club Racer Exige S.

The term "Club Racer" is usually appended to some of the most hard-core track-day weapons on the market. In the case of the Lotus Exige S Club Racer, it boils down to an exclusive paint scheme and some added interior bits.

The sky blue and "Phantom Black" exterior ties in nicely with the sports pack black wheels, and harkens back to the heyday of Mr. Chapman's racing endeavors in the '60s. Inside, the Club Racer gets a combination of black leather and carbon fiber "effect" coverings, along with an overhead shot of the Hethel circuit embroidered into the headrests.

Only 25 limited editor "Racers" will be sold, with no word on how many will make it Stateside. With a price of £39,950 for what's essentially a Sport, Touring and Super Touring package equipped Exige S with a Sports Exhaust and air-con, we could think of better ways of building up our own dream Exige.

Lotus' press release in full is posted after the jump.

Gallery: Lotus Exige S "Club Racer"

Continue reading Lotus Exige S Club Racer: New color, same shtick

Lotus Exige S Club Racer: New color, same shtick originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Australia unveils Exige Sport 240

Alex Nunez — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:56:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Lotus, Australia

Click image for photo gallery

Lotus Cars Australia decided that it would be a good idea to offer a market-exclusive version of the Exige for Aussie track-day fiends who don't necessarily want to skimp on the niceties. So they did it, and the result is the Exige Sport 240. That's 240 as in horsepower (20 more than a regular Exige S), which this Oz-tastic Lotus belts out from its blown 1.8L four with assistance from a new ECU and new injectors.

The Sport 240 also gets fully user-adjustable traction control from Lotus Sport. A dial in the cabin allows the driver to chose from eighteen different traction control intervention settings, allowing it to be optimized for nearly any road condition. Bigger brakes and an adjustable suspension also weigh into the overall dynamic upgrades.

Intended to be both a daily driver and a trackday weapon (and here we thought the Exige S already fit that bill), the interior is treated to the Touring Plus pack's A/C and additional sound insulation, plus black leather seats with orange stitching and the requisite special edition badging. There will be 6 cars in the initial run of Exige Sport 240s, finished in either black with orange accents or orange with black accents. Lotus claims a 0-100km/h (62 mph) time of 4.2 seconds, a 0-160 km/h (roughly 100 mph) run of 9.9 seconds, and a top end of 154 mph. How fast it circles a road course depends on the skill of the driver, of course, but finding out sounds like a helluva fun endeavor. You can read the full Lotus PR after the jump.

[Source: Lotus Cars Australia]

Gallery: Lotus Exige Sport 240 (AU)

Continue reading Lotus Australia unveils Exige Sport 240

Lotus Australia unveils Exige Sport 240 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Elise confused for bass boat in horrible painting accident

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lotus

Surfing around these great interwebs, we've learned far too many times that there is no accounting for taste. Case in point: someone with 50 large to spend on the most pure form of driving bliss - the Lotus Elise - decided the car's factory paint scheme wasn't eye-catching enough. The result? The abomination you see above.

Not only did the owner decide to go for the Hot Import Nights-approved color shifting hue, he or she decided that 12 different light-dependent colors wasn't enough, hence the liberal application of glitter to make this Elise an eyesore from the Liberace House of Crap.

We're disgusted and disturbed by such a careless disregard for something as perfect as the Elise, so much so that we're considering the establishment of a Hague-like tribunal to prosecute such offenses.

[Source: DieselStation]

Lotus Elise confused for bass boat in horrible painting accident originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Motor Show: Live shots of the Lotus Exige GT3

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Lotus

Click the image for our live gallery.

Is it possible to make the Exige any more purposeful? Lotus Sport answered that question with a resounding "Yes!" when they debuted the Lotus Exige GT3 concept last week in Geneva. Although only billed as a concept, the GT3 may see production in limited numbers for a select group of track day aficionados.

As a refresher from our original post, the GT3 had the output of its supercharged 1.8-liter boosted up to 271 HP and comes equipped with a wider rear track to fit uprated wheels, a large spoiler, a smoothed out front clip and new brakes and pads at all four corners.

Check the original post here and take a gander at the live gallery, shot by our own Mr. Joseph.

Gallery: Lotus Exige GT3 concept

Geneva Motor Show: Live shots of the Lotus Exige GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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