Exige V6 Cup

[Thorburn]

The Pits said:

There is a planned proper race car version but there are few details on that yet. All we know at the moment is that it's likely to have a mechanical LSD, full cage {and presumably uprated brakes, suspension optimised for slicks?) and cost quite a bit more than the £60k price of the 'trackday' version.

It's designed to race in the Lotus Cup series - so it won't be on full slicks. The cars at Brands Hatch were all on the Trofeo tyres, but I don't know if the 2013 regs will be changing to allow those or if they'll run on A048's (also only thinking about the UK series there, don't know what they use in other series).

The 2012 Lotus Cup UK regulations actually already cover the Exige as well as the Evora under the V6 Cup class (under Section 4.9) - http://www.lotrdc.com/Docs/2012regs/LoTRDC_LotusCu...

I think their priority is to get Competition spec cars out there and racing in Lotus Cup series around the world.

[Scuffers]

Thorburn said:

I think their priority is to get Competition spec cars out there and racing in Lotus Cup series around the world.

I imagine so, much easier to manage a single marque formulae than attempt open competition.

GT3 has gone a long way up the road in the last 5-6 years (consider it started life as the 996 cup car being the 'level')

[Thorburn]

Scuffers said:

I imagine so, much easier to manage a single marque formulae than attempt open competition.

GT3 has gone a long way up the road in the last 5-6 years (consider it started life as the 996 cup car being the 'level')

Undoubtedly. Seems to be working well for them with reasonably strong demand from the various series though.

[The Pits]

Surely privateer entries in other series is also part of the plan?

After all, wouldn't the cheaper 'trackday' spec car also be eligible for Lotus Cup series?

If so the moot point remains, what do you get for your extra £12k that the 'full competition' car costs.

[Thorburn]

Track Day spec doesn't have all the safety equipment required I believe - it can be upgraded to Competition spec though if you want to take it racing.

[DJRC]

Scuffers said:

DJRC said:

Agreed entirely though re: £80k for a 400ponied Exige Cup is a bargain compared to £140k 911.

here we go again

OK, when Lotus homologate it for GT3 (NOT soft-target GT4) and go head to head with the 911, then you might be able to make such sweeping statments.

Why? Pits and I were both talking on the road. An Exige is only of interest to me as a roadcar, just as a GT3 is only of interest to me as a roadcar. And as a roadcar, 80k plays 140k in my financial world = bargain.

As it is, as per my previous posts since Geneva on the topic, my pref is for the Roadster, not the coupe.

[The Pits]

Coming round to the roadster myself, might actually be better looking and the roof is rarely on my Elise.

Used to think top speed limiter was a minus, after having been banned from France recently I'm starting to think it's a plus!

I'm sure it's a limitation of the S2 roof which does balloon like a goodun at 140mph I can confirm! No way it's staying on much past 150.

However, surely sans roof the car could hit 170? I guess there's just no way of convincing people not to try it.

On the flip side I was told that the coupe is not stable at high speed with the roof panel out and Lotus are going to have to issue disclaimers for that, knowing that everyone is going to try it.

Might be best just to enjoy hair raising acceleration all the way to 145mph and call it a day there.

[Scuffers]

Funny that, done 160+ in an s1 without the roof on and with a soft top on no problem....

[Thorburn]

The Pits said:

However, surely sans roof the car could hit 170? I guess there's just no way of convincing people not to try it.

The coupe only just does it. Drag co-efficient is lower for the Roadster (0.41 instead of 0.43) as it doesn't have the spoiler, but taking the roof off would presumably push that back up and does bad things to the airflow over the rear of the car.

Was told it's partly down to risk of the roof lifting (S1 roof has a strip running along the top of the windscreen so presumably reduces the risk of it lifting up on the front edge at high speed?) and partly because of the lack of the rear wing that they limit it by someone who's chatted with their dealer about ordering one.

Plenty convertible sports and supercars have maximum speeds specified for their roofs - Gallardo Spyder is recommended not to exceed 200kph, same for the Boxster Spyder.

[bobo]

i'm hearing the race mode is a simple programming flash that can be done after market.

spoilers are for chavs as are roof scoops that do nothing. will probably remove the spoiler and buy a soft top. better the full fat car that way round frankly....

[DJRC]

The Pits said:

Coming round to the roadster myself, might actually be better looking and the roof is rarely on my Elise.

Used to think top speed limiter was a minus, after having been banned from France recently I'm starting to think it's a plus!

I'm sure it's a limitation of the S2 roof which does balloon like a goodun at 140mph I can confirm! No way it's staying on much past 150.

However, surely sans roof the car could hit 170? I guess there's just no way of convincing people not to try it.

On the flip side I was told that the coupe is not stable at high speed with the roof panel out and Lotus are going to have to issue disclaimers for that, knowing that everyone is going to try it.

Might be best just to enjoy hair raising acceleration all the way to 145mph and call it a day there.

The roadster is just better for me all round frankly. It looks better, is less track orientated and quite simply reminds me of a modern interpretation of my 308GTS. Me likey.

[The Pits]

More than a hint of 246 Dino about it too.

Mid-mounted V6, naturally agile and responsive and you have to say, sounds the part too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMIzIHBrWF0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQUY0cVV4O0&fea...

well, kind of ish...

[Boggy]

Scuffers said:

here we go again

OK, when Lotus homologate it for GT3 (NOT soft-target GT4) and go head to head with the 911, then you might be able to make such sweeping statments.

Honestly Simon the standard Exige S road car is as quick as a Porsche GT3 I know I've driven both, the Exige on the road is qucker as the power is easy to use don't take my word for it just go and test drive, it's as quick as Jamies SC Exige, well when I went in it last.

Boggy

Edited by Boggy on Friday 24th August 18:14

[Scuffers]

Boggy said:

Scuffers said:

here we go again

OK, when Lotus homologate it for GT3 (NOT soft-target GT4) and go head to head with the 911, then you might be able to make such sweeping statments.

Honestly Simon the standard Exige S road car is as quick as a Porsche GT3 I know I've driven both, the Exige on the road is qucker as the power is easy to use don't take my word for it just go and test drive, it's as quick as Jamies SC Exige, well when I went in it last.

Boggy

with respect, in your dreams.

Honestly, you really have not got a clue, you think an 1100+Kg's Exige S will stand a cat in hells chance against a car with more power, and 300+Kg's less weight?

FFS even an NA Honda'ed S1 can wipe the floor with an Evora GT4 (with the great Kershaw driving the Evora) and an Evora GTN (with Martin Donnelly driving that) - last weekend http://www.tsl-timing.com/msvr/2012/123351lcu.pdf

Edited by Scuffers on Friday 24th August 19:42

[jfk01]

Since when has a GT3 been 800 KG,s?

[Scuffers]

jfk01 said:

Since when has a GT3 been 800 KG,s?

well, the Exige GT3 was listed as 750Kg's according to Lotus.

http://www.hazelnet.org/gt3/exige_gt3.pdf

[bobo]

scuffham seeing as this car is a bit of a rival to what you do (correct me if i'm wrong) i would have thought you would have gone out and ragged the v6 to see what all the fuss is about ? would be great to get your opinion actually.

frankly i want to see with my own eyes that its as quick as a gt3 on the faster tracks. be that as it may/may not if its 90pc there its still a bargain and having driven both cars on the road I would wager it is as quick, possibly quicker on that as its so damn compliment over rougher stuff.

[Boggy]

Scuffers said:

with respect, in your dreams.

Honestly, you really have not got a clue, you think an 1100+Kg's Exige S will stand a cat in hells chance against a car with more power, and 300+Kg's less weight?

FFS even an NA Honda'ed S1 can wipe the floor with an Evora GT4 (with the great Kershaw driving the Evora) and an Evora GTN (with Martin Donnelly driving that) - last weekend http://www.tsl-timing.com/msvr/2012/123351lcu.pdf

Edited by Scuffers on Friday 24th August 19:42

Not going to get into that, as I've said don't take my word for it drive it then post

Boggy

[The Pits]

bobo said:

would be great to get your opinion actually.

agree with everything apart from this bit.

apart from his relentless and dreary negativity towards everything Lotus does, it's not in his commercial interests to praise the car so we already have a good idea of what his opinion is going to be. He's already been slagging the car off before driving it so for me that renders his opinion entirely pointless.

[Boggy]

Scuffers said:

with respect, in your dreams.

Honestly, you really have not got a clue, you think an 1100+Kg's Exige S will stand a cat in hells chance against a car with more power, and 300+Kg's less weight?

FFS even an NA Honda'ed S1 can wipe the floor with an Evora GT4 (with the great Kershaw driving the Evora) and an Evora GTN (with Martin Donnelly driving that) - last weekend http://www.tsl-timing.com/msvr/2012/123351lcu.pdf

Edited by Scuffers on Friday 24th August 19:42

The Evora is never going to be as quick as a Exige/Elise round brands and you know that Simon, before you say it they were using the GP circuit I know as I was there and the Evora did keep up on the straight but developed problem's on Two occasions and had to retire. Interestingly enough and I'm glad you pointed it out look how close the 2 11's were, Exige S would be a fair bit quicker.

I'm not knocking the work you've done or do the Honda conversion is a great package but the Exige S as a package is unbeatable sorry but it simply is

Boggy