Lotus Exige V6

[GTRene]

Is there already more news around the spotted Lotus Exige V6?

said:

By Mark Kleis
Information is still sparse, but this not-quite-right-looking Lotus Exige is actually powered by the 3.5-liter V6 engine right out of the Evora. This crafty camouflage is hiding the next Exige – but nothing was able to hide the evidence of the 3.5-liter V6 from our spies.


The Exige, which is essentially a coupe version of the iconic Lotus Elise roadster, would be downright rocket-fast with the Evora’s V6 mounted where the Toyota-sourced four-cylinder traditionally lies.

The four-cylinder typically located in the Exige produces 220-horsepower, while the switch to this rumored Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 would increase power to 276 hp.

Expect chassis and suspension upgrades to go along with the new powertrain. We’ll update you as we learn more about this exciting new Lotus variant.

September 21, 2009

looks wider, and I guess it will get a bit longer wheelbase too?

would be a good thing to see a bit longer wheelbase 280<>320hp NA V6 in a Exige...but will it happen?

[ucb]

There's already a conversion on the market for S1 elises using the VW R32 engine. Apparently gives 300bhp.Search for JSD racetech on youtube and listen to the noise - lovely
Cant quite see how Lotus fitting a V6 to the exige fits in with the brand philosophy of performance through lightweight. Surely it would weigh 1100-1200kg? Plus would it not reduce Evora sales (which is barely a 2+2)?

[Talksteer]

I think Lotus should just bite the bullet and put a small capacity turbo engine in the Elise. It would be lighter and allow the car to get into a lower tax bracket.

The BMW/Peugeot Prince engine from the Mini Cooper S is a 1.6 turbo with 210bhp that weighs in at 130kg as standard, there is probably headroom to get up to 300bhp out of it. The Toyota engine weighs 145kg without the supercharger.

[bordseye]

ucb said:

Plus would it not reduce Evora sales (which is barely a 2+2)?

Not really. No-one who wanted a comfortable grand tourer type car would ever chose an Elise or variant thereof. Its a track day car really. The Evora and Elise have totally different markets

[cyberface]

Damn it - the only thing that'd tempt me out of my Exige is one with a proper sounding engine... if that thing is below 1100 kg then I'd be fighting the demons in my head I said I'd never sell the ginger one, as she's perfect... but the same car with a V6?

I'm hoping that it's either 200 kg heavier (may as well buy a Cayman / Boxster and soup it up) or impossible...

[otolith]

cyberface said:

Damn it - the only thing that'd tempt me out of my Exige is one with a proper sounding engine...

The soundtrack is the only thing that really lets my Elise down.

I think perhaps the pricing of the Exige is an issue - I don't think I could get over the barrier of paying 35k-45k for a car with a four cylinder engine. Ironic, though, that Porsche are now looking into blown four pots for the Boxster to reduce CO2 emissions.