|
Price |
|
-- |
Production |
|
-- |
|
Engine |
1.8
liter inline-4 |
Weight |
-- |
|
Aspiration |
supercharger |
Torque |
174
lb-ft @ 7000 rpm |
|
HP |
243
hp @ 8000 rpm |
HP/Weight |
-- |
|
HP/Liter |
135
hp per liter |
1/4 mile |
-- |
|
0-62 mph |
4.5
seconds |
Top Speed |
155
mph |
(from Lotus Press
Release) Lotus Sport, the motor sport division of Lotus
Cars Ltd., has developed two higher performance versions of the 2006
Model Year Lotus Exige, the Lotus Exige Cup and the Lotus Exige Cup
240, both developed for track use straight out of the box.
The Lotus Exige Cup cars
are based on the new 2006 Model Year Exige and are completely track
ready sports coupés with uprated clutch, sports exhaust, adjustable
suspension, uprated brakes, limited slip differential, switchable
traction control, a T45 steel roll-over hoop and Aframe
with harness mounts, fuel and ignition kill switches and a fully
plumbed in fire extinguisher system. An FIA approved 6 point roll
cage is a no cost option*.
As the names suggest,
the Lotus Exige Cup cars are available with two different engine
variants. The Lotus Exige Cup uses a 192 PS (189hp / 141kW) and
181Nm four cylinder 1.8 litre 2ZZ VVTL-i engine, and the Lotus Exige
Cup 240 uses a supercharged and intercooled high revving 1.8 litre
four cylinder engine producing 247 PS (243hp / 181kW) at 8000 rpm
and a torque figure of 236 Nm at 7000 rpm.
Performance from both
the variants is phenomenal with the Lotus Exige Cup reaching 100
km/h in 5.2 seconds and 160 km/h in 13.2 seconds, with a top speed
of 237 km/h. The Lotus Exige Cup 240 reaches the 100 km/h mark in
around 4.5 seconds and 160 km/h in 11.3 seconds. Top speed is 249
km/h.**
Both versions are built
as official factory conversions of new Lotus Exige cars by Lotus
Sport
at its facilities at the Group Lotus Headquarters in Hethel,
Norfolk, UK. Each car features a
Lotus Sport build plate.
Apart from the differences in engine performance, the Lotus Exige
Cup cars have identical
specification.
Engine
The Lotus Exige Cup uses
a 192 PS 2ZZ-GE 1.8 litre VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing with Lift –
intelligent) engine. This high revving engine is governed to a
maximum engine speed of 8500 rpm with a change between two cams (a
high speed cam and a low speed cam) at between 5800 rpm and 6200 rpm
depending upon the operating conditions of the car.
The supercharged and
intercooled engine in the Lotus Exige Cup 240 has a maximum power
output of 247 PS (243 hp / 181 kW) at 8000 rpm and a torque figure
of 236 Nm at 7000 rpm. This vast amount of extra power and torque
now available means that the cam change between the low-speed cam
and the high-speed cam now takes place at around 4000 rpm giving a
smooth and linear surge of power from 4000 rpm all the way to the
maximum 8300 rpm. The Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a
sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require
the use of the engine’s oil) is run from the crankshaft, and has an
integral bypass valve for part load operation. Charge air (air under
pressure from the supercharger) is cooled through an air-to-air
intercooler (the cooling air enters via the roof scoop) before being
fed into the engine itself. All charge air ducting has been kept as
short as
possible with large diameter pipes making sure that the bends in
these ducts are not too tight,
to the benefit of throttle response and efficiency. Four high
capacity injectors add additional fuel
under hard acceleration or high speed driving.
A sports-type clutch
plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfers the engine power and
torque to the lightweight C64 six-speed gearbox (with an aluminium
casing) – with the same perfectly spaced ratios as the standard
Elise 111R and Exige.
A torque-sensing type
limited slip differential is fitted as standard and works in harmony
with the
Lotus switchable traction control system. The system works though
the engine, reducing power
to maintain traction, is active above 8 km/h and operates much more
quickly than many brake-based
systems.
An Accusump (engine oil
accumulator unit) is included in the whole package as an oil
reservoir
backup for extreme track use ensuring that, under these conditions,
the engine oil pressure
remains constant.
Wheels and Tyres
Y-type 8-spoke
lightweight cast alloy wheels in High Power silver are shod with
Lotus specific
Yokohama Advan A048 tyres (rated W and annotated with “LTS”) to
maximise grip and achieve the ride and handling targets set by
Lotus.
Brakes
The brake system
includes cross-drilled and ventilated discs and upgraded sports
brake pads set into the brake calipers (AP Racing on the front and
Brembo on the rear), high grade silicon brake fluid, stainless steel
braided brake hoses all linked to the proven Lotus track tuned
servoassisted
four-channel ABS system that enhances braking performance and
minimising stopping distance without taking over from the skill of
the driver.
Suspension
Suspension is provided
by Öhlins springs and two-way adjustable dampers (which have 22
compression and 60 rebound settings and ride height adjustment to
reduce the ride height from
130 mm to 120 mm) and an adjustable front anti-roll bar (five
settings). Full instructions and
recommended settings are provided to allow customers to tailor the
handling characteristics of
the car to their own requirements.
As the Lotus Exige Cup
cars are modified for track use, a double shear track control arm
brace
is provided to cope with the expected kerb abuse during racing and
hard track day driving.
Safety Equipment
The Lotus Exige Cup cars
have all the safety equipment that is expected for a track car with
4 point seat belt harnesses (for track use only), two sports seats
clad in suede-effect material and using ProBax technology, a T45
steel roll-over hoop and A-frame with harness mounts, a mechanical
ignition kill switch with cockpit and external activation and a
plumbed electrical fire extinguisher system, again with cockpit and
external activation. A FIA approved 6-point roll cage is a no cost
option, race ready for customers wishing to compete in motorsport
activities.
Interior
The interior makes use
of lightweight and simple race specification materials including
aluminium window winders, acrylic capped door panels and
carbon-effect leather door inserts.
Exhaust System
A “Level One” stainless
steel sports exhaust is fitted with the bifurcated exhaust pipes
exiting from the centre of the anodised-finish 3-piece rear
diffuser. Front driving lamps, twin oil coolers and air
conditioning* complete the equipment package for the Lotus Exige Cup
cars.
The Lotus Exige Cup has
a Recommended Retail Price of 47,621+VAT in mainland Europe and
CHF83,948 including all taxes in Switzerland.
The Lotus Exige Cup 240
has a Recommended Retail Price of £45,995 in the UK, 56,034+VAT in
mainland Europe, and CHF101,026 including all taxes in Switzerland.