Wednesday 7th March 2012

Geneva 2012: Lotus Exige Roadster

Kimi drops by for a mumble and Lotus launches its most powerful roadster ever

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If there's suspicion about how solid the foundations are beneath 'new' Lotus you'd never know from hanging around on the stand. Dany Bahar flits about and glitterati from motorsport (Jean Alesi, Kimi), industry (Bob Lutz) and engineering (Gordon Murray) add a bit of weight to the proceedings. Then there's all the bold talk of range extenders and work with Infiniti on the slinky-looking Emerg-E concept a couple of stands away.

Mmm, tan... Minimalist option also available

But what of the road cars? Somewhat disingenuously Lotus has removed the roof panel from the V6 Exige S, spammed up the interior with lots of quilted tan leather and declared it the fastest roaster it's ever made. The result is the lingering sense of a Lotus that's been set about by a bunch of flashy Italians ... and we'll leave the analogy there.

Interior aside it's actually a pretty tasty looking package and if you want a more appropriately minimalist cabin that's on offer too. 350hp from the supercharged 3.5-litre Toyota V6 combined with an appropriately Lotus-like 1,100kg kerbweight result in some pretty spectacular-sounding numbers - 0-62mph in four seconds dead and 0-100mph in 8.5 seconds. It's no vmax hero, topping out at 145mph rather than the regular S's 170mph, but it'll be fun getting there no doubt. Stripped of the coupe S's aero the roadster version does look pretty cool and, cynicism aside, we're itching to have a go.

Production of Evora GTE has started

Like the regular S the roadster gets a six-speed manual but Lotus will also offer it with the SPS (Serial Precision Shift) automated manual. And there's also the choice of a more street-oriented suspension set-up or a track-optimised one with the Race Pack, tuned to get the most out of the P-Zero Trofeo tyres. Race Pack also gets an override switch for the exhaust valve and a four-mode Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) with launch control. The track mode on this is, according to a spokesman, especially impressive.

Away from the road cars and rather more in the background is Lotus's involvement with the Infiniti Emerg-E and the realisation of the potential of its range extender engine. A chat with Director of Engineering Mark James underlines how important this is for Lotus, the modular approach - there are three states of tune available for the motor - meaning it can offer a variety of off-the-shelf packages to suit applications in a number of different cars. If Infiniti is serious about the Emerg-E, a high-profile mainstream collaboration like that would be a real leg-up for Lotus's 'other' business. At the core of this is the Evora 414E revealed at a previous Geneva show (see earlier stories here and here for the background) and underpinning the Infiniti.

Legard tries to make out what Kimi's saying

Behind the scenes tie-ups with major industry suppliers like Spanish concern Fagor Ederlan will, it's hoped, pair Lotus innovation with mainstream OEM manufacturing capacity and there's an inspiring sense of focus and optimism that seems a different world from the glitz, glamour and celebrity-fixated race and roadcar side of the business. Fingers crossed...

 

 

[Chapppers]

Wow, that looks pretty awesome. Might have to blag a test drive in one at some point.

[Zebede29]

So the Exige S Roadster....Lotus 2-seater, minimalist, powerful, dynamic to drive, removable roof....shouldn't this have been called the Elise V6 ?!?!?!

[hermes]

How fast can it do a chicken? (I am available for proof reading) ;-) )

[kambites]

I think this is the first car Lotus have produced since they ditched the K-series in the Elise that I could ever see myself owning (albeit minus the stupid interior).

[kambites]

Zebede29 said:

So the Exige S Roadster....Lotus 2-seater, minimalist, powerful, dynamic to drive, removable roof....shouldn't this have been called the Elise V6 ?!?!?!

The general assumption seems to be that they are splitting the Exige and Elise into two distinct(ish) models, with the Elise being the "entry level" four-cylinder cars and the Exige the V6s, rather than signifying whether it has a fixed roof or not.

[Boydie88]

kambites said:

I think this is the first car Lotus have produced since they ditched the K-series in the Elise that I could ever see myself owning (albeit minus the stupid interior).

About the interior... I'd love my VX220 interior like that with black and blue leather and blue and black stiching.

Edited by Boydie88 on Wednesday 7th March 11:44

[kambites]

Boydie88 said:

About the interior... I'd love my VX220 interior like that with black and blue leather and blue and black stiching. :cluod9:

I'm sure a decent trimmer could oblige, if you really want it done.

[Zebede29]

Well no matter what it's called, I WANT ONE. Full black leather for mine, please Danny B - oh and i'll take the manual version, thanks!

[anonymous-user]

First Lotus I have wanted in a long time

[Boydie88]

kambites said:

I'm sure a decent trimmer could oblige, if you really want it done.

There is a very decent one who offers good prices on our forums actually and it has got me thinking. Pretty big job though, hopefully a few cost free months of driving it will give me some money to play with.

[Skater12]

I dont do track days every week and I like refinement.
I dont want to look OTT, but i'd a car that looks classy.
This fits the bill perfectly!
Real world crazy performance, with luxury too.

Now then, a Black one with light cream or blood red interior please !

[pistonpie]

I haven't been much of a fan of Lotus in the past few years...but that looks brilliant

[kambites]

I think you'll be disappointed if you're expecting luxury or refinement from it. It's still an Elise at heart, complete with cramped cabin, high levels of NVH and relatively difficult entry and exit.

[Skater12]

kambites said:

I think you'll be disappointed if you're expecting luxury or refinement from it. It's still an Elise at heart, complete with cramped cabin, high levels of NVH and relatively difficult entry and exit.

ok ok, bare metal withg quilted leather.
still, better than just bare metal, and looks awesome in my opinion.

[rob.e]

Evora GTE

[EK993]

They have done a perfect job, interior included. I just wish they were bringing it to the US as I would definitely order one. Lotus are moving in the right direction with this car.

[braddo]

The Evora GTE and the sliver of Evora visible behind the Exige roadster in the photo also look

It will be interesting to hear what refinement/NVH levels are possible on the Exige roadster. I think it will be feasible to be dramatically better than a basic Elise (if that's what buyers want).

These Exiges appear to offer pretty mind blowing performance for the money.

[kambites]

braddo said:

It will be interesting to hear what refinement/NVH levels are possible on the Exige roadster. I think it will be feasible to be dramatically better than a basic Elise (if that's what buyers want).

It's certainly possible, but at the expense of adding significant weight. If they're really going to keep this to 1100kg, I doubt it'll be much better than the last of the I4 Exiges which were already around a tonne. Of course the engine should make a much nicer noise, so the cabin wont need to be quite so well insulated from that.

[toppstuff]

Love it.

But please Lotus, make the next one a couple of inches longer inside. The seat does not go back far enough for generously tall anglo saxons. Lotus seems to favour short-arses.

[DJRC]

I love it and Loon has sorted out the tickets and passes for Saturday to go wave a cheque at Lotus