The Lotus Exige S, big brother to the Exige launched in South Africa in November 2005 is the latest addition to the Exige range.
The English automaker says it "re-defines extreme performance", is a real sports car with 90.5kW/litre on tap and is one of the world's most powerful production cars for its engine size.
Lotus importer Pearl Automotive says it is evaluating the Exige S for an SA launch in early 2007.
"It's not a limited edition or special," Lotus says. "It's assembled from start to finish in the Lotus plant in Hethel, eastern England and is certainly not just a track-day warrior.
"It's a sports car equally at home on back roads, freeways and autobahns, as well as on city streets and, despite its phenomenal performance, its official combined fuel consumption is 9.1 litres/100km or 7.2 cruising on the open road."
Lotus Cars MD Clive Dopson said: "The Exige S represents the ultimate 'extreme' production Lotus with performance that trumps other supercars costing twice or even three times as much.
"That it does so with the fuel economy of a family hatchback stands as a testament to the Lotus concept of performance through light weight. It's an unbeatable package and an unbeatable drive."
Its power comes from a Toyota 1.8-litre 2ZZ-GE four-cylinder engine that arrives "fully dressed" for both the Exige and the Elise 111R. It's compact, made of composite alloy and can spin to 8500rpm with an 11.5:1 compression ratio.
All Lotus does is add a low-pressure, Roots-type supercharger that runs directly off the crankshaft, an intercooler that gets its air from a roof scoop and a new intake manifold, plenum and induction system.
There's a "drive-by-wire" throttle to get the fastest-possible engine response.
Maximum power ex-factory is 162.5kW at 7800rpm, maximum torque 215Nm at 5500rpm, with 80 percent of that available from 2000rpm. Two oil-coolers are hooked to the engine.
Brute power is not the Lotus way of doing things; the company's solution to high speeds, great acceleration and suction-cup handling is light weight and excellent aerodynamics.
The Lotus Exige S is, its maker says, one of the quickest cars on normal roads and around a circuit and the key is its aero package.
It creates 41kg of downforce - 19.3kg at the front and 21.9kg at the rear - at 160km/h which translates to a 47/53 percent split front/rear and is constant at any speed of which the Exige is capable. Here's the bits that make it work
- A completely flat underside provided by a strong, yet light, extruded and bonded aluminium tub.
- An anodised rear diffuser which helps promote a venturi effect beneath the car.
- A deep front splitter only 108mm off the tar giving just enough ramp angle clearance despite its aerodynamic properties.
- A fixed rear wing set at 11.5 degrees angle for what Lotus believes is the best compromise between downforce and drag.
Lotus explains what the Exige's acceleration feels like:
"First of all the feeling of acceleration is mildly addictive. Few vehicles, aside from a race car, motorcycle or extreme theme-park ride can pull similar g-force under acceleration, braking and cornering.
"This gives a safe, but fun (even exhilarating) experience that you can only get from such a finely honed sports car."
So now you know
The Exige S uses the Lotus T4e engine management system programmed for the supercharged engine and a light, six-speed, very close ratio gearbox
Fast, light gearshift
"The gearbox has a fast, precise and light gearshift," Lotus says, "so the driver has total control and flexibility to apply the power exactly as and when needed."
Buyers of cars such as the Exige have different uses: some plain out-and-out club racing, others long-distance driving and others want top-end luxury and to hell with the extra weight so Lotus has a series of options:
- The Touring Pack adds power windows, black suede-effect interior with leather highlights, full carpet set, high-spec radio and CD/MP3 player, sound insulation, auxiliary front driving lights and an interior stowage net.
- The Super Touring Pack adds even better cabin trim, to crash bags, high-spec leather steering wheel, front speakers,, engine start button, trinket tray stowage unit, cupholder, leather handbrake sleeve, gaiter and shift knob and premium floor mats.
- There are various sports packs that include traction control, sports seats and a rollover hoop and harness bar, a range of alloy rims and tyres, track suspension systems and a limited-slip differential.
Air-conditioning is available as an extra-cost option (though it's standard in some markets) but the unit weighs only 15kg.
Lotus describes the Exige S as "a fully homologated vehicle for the markets in which it is sold and introduces a more powerful and higher performing series production variant of the Exige".
What they costs
The rest of the Exige range consists of the 141kW Exige, the Lotus Exige Cup 190 and its supercharged variant the Exige Cup 240 (both of which are developed and converted by Lotus Sport, the performance arm of Lotus Cars) and the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 (developed and built by Lotus Sport specifically for the FIA GT3 championships).
The basic Lotus Exige S costs £33 995 (about R370 000) in the UK and €44 147 (about R265 000) in mainland Europe and will be available from March/April in the UK and shortly afterwards in other countries, including Japan but not the US.