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The Lotus Exige S has landed in Australia, promising an unrivalled combination of race-track performance with on-road ability. In the press kit released by local importer, Ateco Automotive, the Exige S is said to offer ‘supercar performance without the supercar price’.
“Anyone who has ever driven an Exige on the track will tell you that it’s not for the faint-hearted. The new Exige S skips a few rungs on the ladder to give the driver the ultimate Lotus experience. And, as with all Lotus Sports cars, it comes at a remarkable price which is, indeed, the only thing that separates it from other supercars. Quite simply you can’t get more Lotus than the Exige S!” says Alastair Manihera, Brand Manager, Lotus Australia and New Zealand.
Priced from $119,990 plus on-roads, the Lotus Exige S is over $35,000 cheaper than a BMW M3 Coupé but is quicker from 0-100km/h, accomplishing the task in 4 seconds (against the M3’s 4.8 seconds). 0-160km/h is dispatched in 8.5 seconds, while top speed is rated at 274km/h.
At the heart of this performance is a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine that punches out 257.5kW of power and 400Nm of torque, and a lightweight body that weighs 1,176kg.
Famed for its ride and handling, the Lotus Exige S is tauted to be equally masterful in the corners as it is in a straight line.
To achieve the perfect blend of mechanical design and electronics chassis response, the Lotus Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) allows the driver to switch between three driving modes: Touring, Sport and DPM off.
Additionally, a Race Pack option adds Launch Control and a fourth driving mode: Race. This setting provides the maximum possible traction out of corners. The Race Pack also comes with an optimised suspension setting making the car perfect for letting rip on the track.
To wash the speed off, the Exige S comes with AP Racing four piston callipers on 350mm ventilated and cross drilled discs at the front, and 332mm discs at the rear, all backed by the latest four-channel ABS system.
Inside the driver focused and minimalistic interior, a pair of sports seats holds the driver and passenger in place while niceties such as air conditioning and an audio system are included.
Technical details:
| Lotus Exige S | |||
| Engine Code | 2GR FE | ||
| Engine | Mid-mounted, transverse engine, aluminium lightweight and compact construction, V6 24 valve, water cooled, supercharged with double overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, 4 valves per cylinder, Dual-Variable Valve Timing – intelligent, direct ignition system, electronic throttle control system-intelligent, Harrop HTV 1320 supercharger assembly (utilising Eaton Twin Vortex Series (TVS) Technology ™) | ||
| Capacity | 3456 | ||
| Bore and Stroke | 94.0 x 83.0 | ||
| Compression ratio | 10.0:1 | ||
| Engine Management | Lotus Te6 | ||
| Power kW/rpm | 257.5 kW @ 7000 rpm | ||
| Torque NM/rpm | 400 @ 4600 rpm | ||
| Max Engine Speed | 6,600 rpm continuous and 6,800 rpm transient7,000 rpm continuous and 7,200 rpm transient (Sport Mode and optional Race Mode) | ||
| Emissions | Three-way catalytic converter. Euro V emissions compliant with full On-Board Diagnostics (OBD). | ||
| Transmission | EA60 6 speed transverse Sports Ratios manual gearbox with open differential | ||
| Ratios | 1st | 3.538:1 | |
| 2nd | 1.913:1 | ||
| 3rd | 1.407:1 | ||
| 4th | 1.091:1 | ||
| 5th | 0.9697:1 | ||
| 6th | 0.8611:1 | ||
| Reverse | 3.831:1 | ||
| Final Drive | 3.777:1 (1st to 4th) | ||
| 3.238: 1 (5th to 6th) | |||
| Suspension | Fully independent suspension utilizing unequal length wishbones, Bilstein Sports mono-tube gas damper, Eibach coaxial coil spring at each corner and front and rear anti-roll bars. | ||
| Chassis | Lotus designed lightweight structure of epoxy bonded aluminium alloy extrusions with integral steel seat-belt support structure and lightweight steel rear subframe. | ||
| Chassis Electronics (All apart from * can be completely switched off) | Corner Brake Control (CBC)Drag Torque Control (DTC)Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)Traction Control System (TCS) Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)* Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)* Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)* Understeer Recognition DPM with Sports Mode button Sport Mode increases the traction slip thresholds and removes understeer recognition, allowing the driver more vehicle control before an intervention is required. | ||
| Steering | Solidly mounted mechanical rack and pinion steering box with 2.8 turns lock-to-lock. | ||
| Brakes | Servo-assisted, track tuned 4-channel Antilock Braking System (ABS)AP-Racing four-piston callipers (front and rear)Front: 350 mm ventilated and cross drilled cast-iron discsRear: 332 mm ventilated and cross drilled cast-iron discs | ||
| Wheels | Lightweight alloy wheels: Front: 17” Rear: 18” | ||
| Tyres | Pirelli P-Zero Corsa Front: 205/45 R17 Rear: 265/45 R18 | ||
| Performance | |||
| 0-100 kmh (secs) | 4.0 | ||
| 0-160 kmh (secs) | 8.5 | ||
| Max speed (kmh) | 274 | ||
| Fuel Consumption | |||
| Urban (l/100 km) | 14.5 | ||
| Extra Urban (l/100 km) | 7.6 | ||
| Combined (l/100 km) | 10.1 | ||
| CO2 (G/km) | 236 | ||
| Dimensions (mm) | |||
| Wheelbase | 2370 | ||
| Track front/rear | 1453/1499 | ||
| Length | 4084 | ||
| Width no mirrors/mirrors | 1802 | ||
| Height | 1129 | ||
| Overhang front/rear | 880/802 | ||
| Ramp angle f/r degrees | 7.4/16.4 | ||
| Ground clearance | 130 | ||
| Fuel tank (l) | 42.5 | ||
| Weights | |||
| Unladen | 1176 | ||
| Weight distribution f/r | 38%/62% | ||
| Drag coefficient | 0.433 | ||
