RE: Chris Harris video: Lotus Exige S
Discussion
BOBBY G said:
Any trackday I have been on sees most of the lotus brigade cabin up in wet conditions, and it's all scoobs and evos out playing, maybe this will change that.
Bob
I went to Cadwell on the wettest day ever for a SELOC & smart track day. There were a few spins but to their credit all the Lotus boys stayed out all day. However the confidence gained from abs and ESP saw me pass a couple of them in my 700cc smart Roadster Bob
Personally I can't wait to see the new Exige in some proper group tests.
moribund said:
BOBBY G said:
Any trackday I have been on sees most of the lotus brigade cabin up in wet conditions, and it's all scoobs and evos out playing, maybe this will change that.
Bob
I went to Cadwell on the wettest day ever for a SELOC & smart track day. There were a few spins but to their credit all the Lotus boys stayed out all day. However the confidence gained from abs and ESP saw me pass a couple of them in my 700cc smart Roadster Bob
Personally I can't wait to see the new Exige in some proper group tests.
I ran a series one Exige in 2001 for eight months and 12,000 miles. It was a hoot, but its trick Yokohamas could also be a flipping nightmare in the wet. It was a car you didn't deliberately provoke because you weren't quite sure of the consequences
Sports tyres, light weight car, wet weather - drive according to the conditions and stop causing accidents, i'm sorry but that really pisses me off, i've had two series 1 Elises, 1 sport 160 and a 340R which yes did get caught in the rain (Quite a lot) and i managed fine.
Sports tyres, light weight car, wet weather - drive according to the conditions and stop causing accidents, i'm sorry but that really pisses me off, i've had two series 1 Elises, 1 sport 160 and a 340R which yes did get caught in the rain (Quite a lot) and i managed fine.
This is not a Lotus knocking post.
I'd love an Exige S, but as previously posted I simply can't get in and out of one on a regular basis.
I was at Silverstone yesterday in constant showery conditions, circuit very wet then rapidly drying on and off all day, I was driving my usual 968 engined 944 lightweight, pre electronics, a very fine slippery conditions machine due to it's front engine, transaxle gearbox configuration. So in these ideal conditions for the car it was interesting to see what was faster, most notably ( of all things ) a 997 Carrera 2, driven by somebody of massive skill, just faster than anything, and a metallic silver McLaren MP4/12C, which was just spectacularly fast, could pass me anytime any place ( the air brake look spectacular when deployed ). But which driver impressed me, obviously the guy in the Carrera 2, with next to no electronics, I'm sure the McLaren driver was very good, but how much was machine and how much driver ?
Will we see as these Bosch systems get deployed through many car brands, more and more people "driving" brilliantly in wet and slippery conditions, I suppose it's only like ABS, but more so ? I was testing a friends BMW Compact championship car at a wet Silverstone a couple of weeks ago and coming down Vale into Club it dawned on me that the car had no ABS, a bit of a heart stopping moment as even my 944 is thus equipped, but so unobtrusive that it's easy to forget how much you rely on it ! I'm guessing this level of traction control will bring about the same reactions only more so, Harris does show that it can be turned off, but I suspect the competitive nature of most of us will ensure that it stays on "proving" to others on track what a driving God is at the helm !
To my friend Mr Pits, as a read the reviews I pictured you spitting chips at the prospect of German electronics at the heart of this brilliant new car from Lotus !
I'd love an Exige S, but as previously posted I simply can't get in and out of one on a regular basis.
I was at Silverstone yesterday in constant showery conditions, circuit very wet then rapidly drying on and off all day, I was driving my usual 968 engined 944 lightweight, pre electronics, a very fine slippery conditions machine due to it's front engine, transaxle gearbox configuration. So in these ideal conditions for the car it was interesting to see what was faster, most notably ( of all things ) a 997 Carrera 2, driven by somebody of massive skill, just faster than anything, and a metallic silver McLaren MP4/12C, which was just spectacularly fast, could pass me anytime any place ( the air brake look spectacular when deployed ). But which driver impressed me, obviously the guy in the Carrera 2, with next to no electronics, I'm sure the McLaren driver was very good, but how much was machine and how much driver ?
Will we see as these Bosch systems get deployed through many car brands, more and more people "driving" brilliantly in wet and slippery conditions, I suppose it's only like ABS, but more so ? I was testing a friends BMW Compact championship car at a wet Silverstone a couple of weeks ago and coming down Vale into Club it dawned on me that the car had no ABS, a bit of a heart stopping moment as even my 944 is thus equipped, but so unobtrusive that it's easy to forget how much you rely on it ! I'm guessing this level of traction control will bring about the same reactions only more so, Harris does show that it can be turned off, but I suspect the competitive nature of most of us will ensure that it stays on "proving" to others on track what a driving God is at the helm !
To my friend Mr Pits, as a read the reviews I pictured you spitting chips at the prospect of German electronics at the heart of this brilliant new car from Lotus !
Edited by ravon on Friday 27th April 11:12
I disagree with your point about the "lethal S1". From my POV more than 8/10s on the road in any car is lunacy anyway and will lead to Volvo interface moments. At least with the S1 there was a chance they'd happen at a lower speed 
However on the track/airfield, the on-limit trickyness of the S1 (and the way it punished lift-off, or any sort of nancying about) taught me tons about car control, bad habits, what burned rubber smelled and tasted like, and how to get grass stains off of bodywork. It stood me in good stead for all my future RWD sports & GT car ownership (with somewhat more power!!)
That said, I would still have massive hoot blatting that new Exige around, and am very glad Hethel are still putting good, interesting kit together. Dab of oppo, and away.....
However on the track/airfield, the on-limit trickyness of the S1 (and the way it punished lift-off, or any sort of nancying about) taught me tons about car control, bad habits, what burned rubber smelled and tasted like, and how to get grass stains off of bodywork. It stood me in good stead for all my future RWD sports & GT car ownership (with somewhat more power!!)
That said, I would still have massive hoot blatting that new Exige around, and am very glad Hethel are still putting good, interesting kit together. Dab of oppo, and away.....
The more I read and view, the more I'm liking the Exige S.
But... I'm surprised by the Exige's weight compared to a GT3 4.0 RS: the former is only 200kg lighter than the latter. Huh??
The Exige is smaller than the GT3.
The Exige's monocoque/tub is made from aluminium and its body panels are GRP; the GT3 is, for the most part, made of steel.
The Exige doesn't have an LSD; the GT3 does.
The Exige's cabin architecture/structure is very minimalist, it has no carpets or any (visible) sound-proofing material, its door cards are 'basic' and don't seem to contain any speakers.
So, if the Exige's cabin was equipped, trimmed/carpeted and sound-proofed to same level as the GT3's, it'd probably add at least 40kg to the Exige's weight, right? And an LSD would add, say, 10kg?
So, in 'reality', the Exige is only 150kg lighter. And it's smaller than the GT3 and made from GRP and aluminium. Huh??
But... I'm surprised by the Exige's weight compared to a GT3 4.0 RS: the former is only 200kg lighter than the latter. Huh??
The Exige is smaller than the GT3.
The Exige's monocoque/tub is made from aluminium and its body panels are GRP; the GT3 is, for the most part, made of steel.
The Exige doesn't have an LSD; the GT3 does.
The Exige's cabin architecture/structure is very minimalist, it has no carpets or any (visible) sound-proofing material, its door cards are 'basic' and don't seem to contain any speakers.
So, if the Exige's cabin was equipped, trimmed/carpeted and sound-proofed to same level as the GT3's, it'd probably add at least 40kg to the Exige's weight, right? And an LSD would add, say, 10kg?
So, in 'reality', the Exige is only 150kg lighter. And it's smaller than the GT3 and made from GRP and aluminium. Huh??
Edited by NGK210 on Friday 27th April 14:25
Max_Torque said:
I'm sorry to keep harping on about it, but i can't see the issue with Lotus doing what they are good at (lightweight inteligent design) and doing an "eco sports car". Sat way back in the spring of 2002, no one though "ooh, i must get out a develop a high fuel economy hatchback", but, 10 years later, if you're hatchback doesn't do <125g/km then it's an also ran. High fuel prices and Tax have seen to that. From where i'm sat these factors aren't going to get any less of an issue. Lotus are supremely wel placed to leverage this, as makers of small, lightweight cars they immediately have a massive advantage over the more conventional OE's when it comes to optimising for fuel economy. (lets face it, OE's are now moving to EPAS, Lotus doesn't even need to fit any PAS!).
Take an exige tub, do a low capacity (lets say 1.4 4 cyl) high boost engine (180bhp and 220Nm) optimise the drag, and rolling resistance, and you'd still have a car that would pull the same G-Lat/Long as a conventional "sportscar" but would be fun to drive, do 50mpg on a run. Considering how many GolF Tdi's, 320d's, and Audi A1/A3 Tdi's you see, even if you captured 5% of the market you'd shift 10k pa cars!. So, it'll take you 3 years to get that program to Production, bets start right now!!!
(for everyone else, i suggest we all meet back here in say, oh, April 2015, and lets see if there's a market for "ecosports cars" yet........ ;-)
Ford's smallest ecoboost engine 120ish bhp from 3 cylinders. Tiny little thing. Or the 4 cylinder one for a bit more. Sounds good to me.Take an exige tub, do a low capacity (lets say 1.4 4 cyl) high boost engine (180bhp and 220Nm) optimise the drag, and rolling resistance, and you'd still have a car that would pull the same G-Lat/Long as a conventional "sportscar" but would be fun to drive, do 50mpg on a run. Considering how many GolF Tdi's, 320d's, and Audi A1/A3 Tdi's you see, even if you captured 5% of the market you'd shift 10k pa cars!. So, it'll take you 3 years to get that program to Production, bets start right now!!!
(for everyone else, i suggest we all meet back here in say, oh, April 2015, and lets see if there's a market for "ecosports cars" yet........ ;-)
Back in the late 60s early 70s when petrol was (relatively) very expensive, even without all the environmental wories Ginetta's best selling car was the tiny Imp engined G15. Right car for the moment.
I think you're right - there's a spot for a small lightweight sportscar that has a Lotus badge and handles like a Lotus.
RaySingh said:
otolith said:
the bread and butter supercharged four pot with > 200bhp and < 900kg needs to be out there and selling.
Take one vx220n/a, supercharge, intercool, suspension refresh & set-up...... 300bhp/ton? NGK210 said:
The more I read and view, the more I'm liking the Exige S.
But... I'm surprised by the Exige's weight compared to a GT3 4.0 RS: the former is only 200kg lighter than the latter. Huh??
The Exige is smaller than the GT3.
The Exige's monocoque/tub is made from aluminium and its body panels are GRP; the GT3 is, for the most part, made of steel.
The Exige doesn't have an LSD; the GT3 does.
The Exige's cabin architecture/structure is very minimalist, it has no carpets or any (visible) sound-proofing material, its door cards are 'basic' and don't seem to contain any speakers.
So, if the Exige's cabin was equipped, trimmed/carpeted and sound-proofed to same level as the GT3's, it'd probably add at least 40kg to the Exige's weight, right? And an LSD would add, say, 10kg?
So, in 'reality', the Exige is only 150kg lighter. And it's smaller than the GT3 and made from GRP and aluminium. Huh??
And it's what, a third of the price of the GT3 4.0? I should think if people were willing to pay £80-100k for the Exige it could be made both lighter and more plush inside.... But... I'm surprised by the Exige's weight compared to a GT3 4.0 RS: the former is only 200kg lighter than the latter. Huh??
The Exige is smaller than the GT3.
The Exige's monocoque/tub is made from aluminium and its body panels are GRP; the GT3 is, for the most part, made of steel.
The Exige doesn't have an LSD; the GT3 does.
The Exige's cabin architecture/structure is very minimalist, it has no carpets or any (visible) sound-proofing material, its door cards are 'basic' and don't seem to contain any speakers.
So, if the Exige's cabin was equipped, trimmed/carpeted and sound-proofed to same level as the GT3's, it'd probably add at least 40kg to the Exige's weight, right? And an LSD would add, say, 10kg?
So, in 'reality', the Exige is only 150kg lighter. And it's smaller than the GT3 and made from GRP and aluminium. Huh??
Edited by NGK210 on Friday 27th April 14:25
braddo said:
NGK210 said:
The more I read and view, the more I'm liking the Exige S.
But... I'm surprised by the Exige's weight compared to a GT3 4.0 RS: the former is only 200kg lighter than the latter. Huh??
The Exige is smaller than the GT3.
The Exige's monocoque/tub is made from aluminium and its body panels are GRP; the GT3 is, for the most part, made of steel.
The Exige doesn't have an LSD; the GT3 does.
The Exige's cabin architecture/structure is very minimalist, it has no carpets or any (visible) sound-proofing material, its door cards are 'basic' and don't seem to contain any speakers.
So, if the Exige's cabin was equipped, trimmed/carpeted and sound-proofed to same level as the GT3's, it'd probably add at least 40kg to the Exige's weight, right? And an LSD would add, say, 10kg?
So, in 'reality', the Exige is only 150kg lighter. And it's smaller than the GT3 and made from GRP and aluminium. Huh??
And it's what, a third of the price of the GT3 4.0? I should think if people were willing to pay £80-100k for the Exige it could be made both lighter and more plush inside.... But... I'm surprised by the Exige's weight compared to a GT3 4.0 RS: the former is only 200kg lighter than the latter. Huh??
The Exige is smaller than the GT3.
The Exige's monocoque/tub is made from aluminium and its body panels are GRP; the GT3 is, for the most part, made of steel.
The Exige doesn't have an LSD; the GT3 does.
The Exige's cabin architecture/structure is very minimalist, it has no carpets or any (visible) sound-proofing material, its door cards are 'basic' and don't seem to contain any speakers.
So, if the Exige's cabin was equipped, trimmed/carpeted and sound-proofed to same level as the GT3's, it'd probably add at least 40kg to the Exige's weight, right? And an LSD would add, say, 10kg?
So, in 'reality', the Exige is only 150kg lighter. And it's smaller than the GT3 and made from GRP and aluminium. Huh??
I'm curious that a small, GRP/aluminium car with a bare, racer-esque cabin is not much lighter, relatively speaking, compared to a larger, mostly steel-bodied car with a plusher/trimmed cabin.
In short, perhaps an ally tub clothed in GRP panels is not especially weight efficient?
Grovsie26 said:
Plusher, trimmed cabin? it has straps for door handles.
Be as that may, but one of the cabins, below, is very sparse and minimalist. The other, in comparison, is pretty damn 'plush' and, therefore, contributes more weight. Just one of the GT3's door cards probably weighs more than the Exige's dash.
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