RE: Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition
Discussion
Alex L said:
andy_s said:
Alex L said:
I can't see why they can't increase the power to 450bhp
Gearbox?andy_s said:
Alex L said:
andy_s said:
Alex L said:
I can't see why they can't increase the power to 450bhp
Gearbox?Can you get the sequential box as a factory upgrade on the Exige? I know it would be pricey but would be great for the track.
Wasn't the main reason the Exige was capped around 350 BHP compared to the ~400 in the Evora was the lack of a charge cooler in the Exige and that Lotus said they didn't think the extra weight the charge cooler would have added to the Exige would have made much sense? I think an element of not impinging on the Evora 400 plays a part as well.
I've no doubt that with UK weather, UK super unleaded and some minor mods you can achieve 400 BHP+ with the Exige, but Lotus have to cater for rest of the world and back it with a warranty so are more conservative.
Wasn't the main reason the Exige was capped around 350 BHP compared to the ~400 in the Evora was the lack of a charge cooler in the Exige and that Lotus said they didn't think the extra weight the charge cooler would have added to the Exige would have made much sense? I think an element of not impinging on the Evora 400 plays a part as well.
I've no doubt that with UK weather, UK super unleaded and some minor mods you can achieve 400 BHP+ with the Exige, but Lotus have to cater for rest of the world and back it with a warranty so are more conservative.
tankplanker said:
Can you get the sequential box as a factory upgrade on the Exige? I know it would be pricey but would be great for the track.
Wasn't the main reason the Exige was capped around 350 BHP compared to the ~400 in the Evora was the lack of a charge cooler in the Exige and that Lotus said they didn't think the extra weight the charge cooler would have added to the Exige would have made much sense? I think an element of not impinging on the Evora 400 plays a part as well.
I've no doubt that with UK weather, UK super unleaded and some minor mods you can achieve 400 BHP+ with the Exige, but Lotus have to cater for rest of the world and back it with a warranty so are more conservative.
I was quoted £20-25k for a Cup R Xtrac sequential box retro fitting. Was a rough quote, I didn't ask for more exact quote as I wasn't going to consider spending 20 grand on a gearbox, let alone 25.Wasn't the main reason the Exige was capped around 350 BHP compared to the ~400 in the Evora was the lack of a charge cooler in the Exige and that Lotus said they didn't think the extra weight the charge cooler would have added to the Exige would have made much sense? I think an element of not impinging on the Evora 400 plays a part as well.
I've no doubt that with UK weather, UK super unleaded and some minor mods you can achieve 400 BHP+ with the Exige, but Lotus have to cater for rest of the world and back it with a warranty so are more conservative.
tankplanker said:
Can you get the sequential box as a factory upgrade on the Exige? I know it would be pricey but would be great for the track.
Wasn't the main reason the Exige was capped around 350 BHP compared to the ~400 in the Evora was the lack of a charge cooler in the Exige and that Lotus said they didn't think the extra weight the charge cooler would have added to the Exige would have made much sense? I think an element of not impinging on the Evora 400 plays a part as well.
I've no doubt that with UK weather, UK super unleaded and some minor mods you can achieve 400 BHP+ with the Exige, but Lotus have to cater for rest of the world and back it with a warranty so are more conservative.
Komotec provide kits up to 460 ps without a charge cooler IIRC. They also offer a 7 speed seq box and are also working on a twin clutch unit.Wasn't the main reason the Exige was capped around 350 BHP compared to the ~400 in the Evora was the lack of a charge cooler in the Exige and that Lotus said they didn't think the extra weight the charge cooler would have added to the Exige would have made much sense? I think an element of not impinging on the Evora 400 plays a part as well.
I've no doubt that with UK weather, UK super unleaded and some minor mods you can achieve 400 BHP+ with the Exige, but Lotus have to cater for rest of the world and back it with a warranty so are more conservative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBcEVo2QzWc
andy_s said:
Ah, I just thought that the drivetrain was the weakest link so swapping it all out may not have been so simple. I'm sure we'll see power hikes as the next generation Elise comes in though, but realistically the 350 is a formidable enough machine for most people I would have thought, otherwise you're just into a world of upgraditus and you'd end up just doing an upgrade anyway, whatever Lotus put in the box.
All very true IMO. Even the Esprit V8s had to be torque limited to protect the transmission so it's very much business as usual. The pub bores will always want something to brag about at the bar but you do have to winder which aspect of an Exige V6 is "not quick enough" straight out of the box. Ozzie Osmond said:
All very true IMO. Even the Esprit V8s had to be torque limited to protect the transmission so it's very much business as usual. The pub bores will always want something to brag about at the bar but you do have to winder which aspect of an Exige V6 is "not quick enough" straight out of the box.
They have plenty of power for everything bar the longer straights on track where it would be nice to have some more shove. But its splitting hairs, they aren't a slow car. I'm from a world of big power tuning and yet, at the moment and for the foreseeable future, Ive zero interest in trying to squeeze any more out of mine.
I ran an Exige S2 (brand new, in 2005) as a daily driver for 2 yrs/35,000 miles.
This side of my bike-engined caterham, it was the most fun I've had with my clothes on. Even with 'only' 190bhp, the car was just magical. Every journey was a 'blat', zero faults (apart from a front indicator falling out on track) and made be grin daily.
Nuptials and Childbirth were the only things that saw it go.
The only weakness it had was on long, power circuits (i.e., man straight at the 'ring), but even then it could hold it's own with a 964RS both on the track and on the autobahn on the way back. I had a GPS verified 172mph on the beautiful straight bit of the Autobahn heading north from the 'ring.
This side of my bike-engined caterham, it was the most fun I've had with my clothes on. Even with 'only' 190bhp, the car was just magical. Every journey was a 'blat', zero faults (apart from a front indicator falling out on track) and made be grin daily.
Nuptials and Childbirth were the only things that saw it go.
The only weakness it had was on long, power circuits (i.e., man straight at the 'ring), but even then it could hold it's own with a 964RS both on the track and on the autobahn on the way back. I had a GPS verified 172mph on the beautiful straight bit of the Autobahn heading north from the 'ring.
Nice car. I sat in an early model Exige quite a few years ago, and I must say it was the first car I felt claustrophobic in. Getting out was not very glamorous. I just sort of rolled out 
I thought my C4 Corvette was low, but the Exige was even lower.
I am sure these cars are quick. I also really liked the M250, but they never made it. I guess the Evora is close in design.
Ken
I thought my C4 Corvette was low, but the Exige was even lower.I am sure these cars are quick. I also really liked the M250, but they never made it. I guess the Evora is close in design.
Ken
Edited by KGV on Thursday 6th October 12:00
I might be wrong but pretty sure the Komotec 460 kit is charge cooled...the 430 and 390 are not.
The gearboxes are rated at 400Nm or so I have been told by a Lotus employee, so it will be overloaded with the 460 kit...however in the real world it may take years before any damage materialised?
Sequential gearboxes are great, but every time you change gear you smash the gears together so they need a rebuild quite often.
The gearboxes are rated at 400Nm or so I have been told by a Lotus employee, so it will be overloaded with the 460 kit...however in the real world it may take years before any damage materialised?
Sequential gearboxes are great, but every time you change gear you smash the gears together so they need a rebuild quite often.
KGV said:
Getting out was not very glamorous. I just sort of rolled out
You learn with time. At first you take the embarassement of dragging yourself out like a beached hippo but before long you are leaping out like a ballerina gazelle filled with helium*. *not really, youll never look good getting out but you learn to look less bad!
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