'Light is right' is the Lotus mantra at Geneva this year, with the heaviest car on its stand the 1,325kg Evora Sport 410. At a show that also includes heffers like the Maserati Levante, Bugatti Chiron and Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet, that's quite pleasing to report.
Yellow the 2016 colour for Lotus
Evora Sport 410
Elise Cup 250
we knew about before the show, CEO Jean-Marc Gales adding at Geneva that the Evora has an "outstanding" ride and that the Elise "is capable of amazing things on a track." But what wasn't announced before the show was an Exige Sport 350 Roadster, the latest product of the Lotus 'Lightweight Laboratory' approach where every part of a car is assessed to see where weight can be saved.
Unsurprisingly, it's a very similar package to the ExigeSport 350 coupe: same 350hp V6, same overhauled manual gearbox and same lightweight engine mounts. Interestingly though the weight saving is even more significant, provided all the lightweight options are added. A standard Exige S Roadster is 1,166kg and an Exige Sport 350 is 1,125kg, but a fully lightweight Sport 350 Roadster is 1,085kg, the lightest V6 Exige that there's been.
Those lightweight options are a lithium-ion battery, forged wheels, drilled brake discs plus a few carbon parts including the tailgate, the side intakes and seats. The car at Geneva has all those fitted, plus a carbon aero pack (the front splitter, rear wing and diffuser). Beyond the £55,900 list price though, the cost of options hasn't been confirmed yet. Don't expect a 1,085kg Exige Sport 350 Roadster to come cheap!
That better be a lightweight cloth
Lotus claims a 0-60mph time of just 3.7 seconds for the Sport 350 Roadster manual, identical to the coupe. There's a six-speed automatic option too, and top speed is 150mph.
"Yet again we've been able to slash weight to produce something that should be on every sports car fan's wish list" said Gales of the Sport 350. Would it be on yours? The Exige sits in an odd place in the market, more intense than something like an SLC or Boxster but obviously above cars like the Zenos and Caterhams. This new Sport 350 is arguably the most desirable iteration yet though. And don't worry, the tartan is optional.