Tuesday 10th June 2014

Lotus Exige LF1 revealed

81 Exiges for 81 F1 victories - surely Lotus hasn't given up on 2014 yet...?

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Lotus has announced a new Exige LF1 special edition. Based on the Exige S, exactly 81 LF1s will be built, commemorating the number of Lotus grand prix victories since the first at Monaco in 1960 and the last in Australia 2013.

One car for every Lotus victory ... thus far

What this says about the team’s hopes for the current Formula 1 season, well, we wouldn’t like to comment. But come on – you’ve got to admit this is a pretty sexy looking machine. Lotus has gone for the old favourite black and gold theme, with a little current F1 red thrown in for good measure. This extends to the unique black and gold Lotus badge on the nose, and the gold Lotus lettering on the rear. Not to mention the contrast-stitched interior, complete with Lotus F1 logo seat backs and individually numbered carbonfibre build plate.

The numbering system will also see each car associated with a particular Lotus F1 victory; good luck sorting that buyer bun fight out…

There are no upgrades to the 350hp 3.5-litre supercharged V6 – so you’ll have to make do with 0-62mph in 4.0 seconds and 170mph flat out. But the LF1 does get the Race Pack as standard (four-stage Dynamic Performance Management with launch control, exhaust bypass override switch and suspension set-up to cope with Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tyres, also included on the LF1) and the two-piece high-performance brake upgrade, tucked in behind matt gold cast aluminium wheels.

Insert Maldonado gag here. Actually don't...

You also receive some lovely Lotus F1 tat (1:2 scale Grosjean replica helmet, Lotus F1 key fob and – wait for it – Lotus F1 USB stick), as well as what the firm is calling LF1 Membership. This includes a tour for two of the Lotus Cars and the Lotus F1 Team HQs, plus a membership card that saves owners up to 20 per cent on official Lotus merchandise. Seriously.

All this is yours for the princely sum of £62,900 – a mere £10,000 more than the standard car. Which actually isn’t a bad deal if you consider the extras. You’d also have to hope the LF1 will be worth more than a standard Exige S come resale time, but perhaps not if we go on the number of Macau Edition Elise models currently sitting unsold in the classifieds… (this Elise Sports Racer is a happier example of the limited edition effect).

[MikeG88]

I thought Dany Bahar was sacked?!

[Frimley111R]

That looks absolutely

(There's only 6 Macau versions for sale!)

[marshalla]

Lotus F1 Team ? 81 victories ? 1961 ? WTF ?

Bahar-worthy attempt to rewrite history, badly.

[Imafreeman]

Reverts to type by coming up with loads of new paint editions instead of coming up with a new range of cars.

[Fetchez la vache]

The more I see of the Exige S the more I think they're lovely.
However, judging by the bling on the exterior, I think in this case I can probably guess why there aren't any pics of the interior.

[dandarez]

MikeG88 said:

I thought Dany Bahar was sacked?!

I'm waiting for the real Lotus special edition...


The special edition of the special edition of the special edition.

I bet they'll do it too!

Edited by dandarez on Tuesday 10th June 10:01

[bakerstreet]

Imafreeman said:

Reverts to type by coming up with loads of new paint editions instead of coming up with a new range of cars.

I was thinking the same thing.

However, I like the look of this, especially the wheels

[WCZ]

nothing worse than special editions which don't have dynamic differences, imo

[Veeayt]

They better be building LS1 Exiges

[rtz62]

I'm sure that there will be a cat-fight amongst people ordering one;
I want the Graham Hill / Jim Clark / Mario Andretti / Ronnie Peterson numbered one (delete as appropriate)

[jaf01uk]

WCZ said:

nothing worse than special editions which don't have dynamic differences, imo

Erm...

"But the LF1 does get the Race Pack as standard (four-stage Dynamic Performance Management with launch control, exhaust bypass override switch and suspension set-up to cope with Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tyres, also included on the LF1) and the two-piece high-performance brake upgrade, tucked in behind matt gold cast aluminium wheels."

I'm thinking that little lot would make a difference dynamically?

[sad61t]

But shouldn't an F1 homage be open topped? :ducks:

[Impasse]

Fetchez la vache said:

The more I see of the Exige S the more I think they're lovely.
However, judging by the bling on the exterior, I think in this case I can probably guess why there aren't any pics of the interior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0KVm_WtbbU

[marshalla]

rtz62 said:

I'm sure that there will be a cat-fight amongst people ordering one;
I want the Graham Hill / Jim Clark / Mario Andretti / Ronnie Peterson numbered one (delete as appropriate)

They drove for Team Lotus.

[hondansx]

They need to sell cars. I can't blame them; you gotta do what you gotta do.

[Pistachio]

Super Cool
Like like and I dont like Lotus'ssss

[leon9191]

Have they even sold 81 normal Exiges this year?!

I have never seen one on the road outside of Norwich/Norfolk.

[WCZ]

jaf01uk said:

Erm...

"But the LF1 does get the Race Pack as standard (four-stage Dynamic Performance Management with launch control, exhaust bypass override switch and suspension set-up to cope with Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tyres, also included on the LF1) and the two-piece high-performance brake upgrade, tucked in behind matt gold cast aluminium wheels."

I'm thinking that little lot would make a difference dynamically?

they are optional extras available on the ordinary cars

[Prawnboy]

looks fantastic, but have to agree that they need a new car soon or i fear for their survival. If i had the cash i would by this to help the cause.

[ukaskew]

81 cars?! Even if this perks up a little bit of interest, how long on average are they taking to shift 81 cars full stop at the moment?

I think it may be some time before they shift that 2013 Australia Edition.