Thursday 5th April 2018

Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25

Yes, another one. A "collector's piece" this time, inspired by the Type 25 F1 car

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Everybody knows the Exige Cup 430 by now, right? Still the fastest Lotus around a track with a roof (we came up with that one, not Lotus), it was deemed good enough to make it to our best cars list of 2017. Seemingly not content, however, Lotus has created another one.

As you can probably tell from the name - and have confirmed by the pics - the Cup 430 Type 25 is a cosmetic exercise and nothing more. It is mechanically identical to the regular Cup, down to the last horsepower, millimetre and kilogram. If you need reminding, that's 436hp, 180mph, 62mph in 3.3 seconds and a "lightest possible dry mass" of 1,056kg.

25 versions of the Type 25 will be produced, either in Lotus Racing Green or Old English White, with each version getting contrasting pinstripes and new graphics. Plus a build plaque, of course. Being part of Type 25 club also means buyers will receive a signed certificate of authenticity from Jean-Marc Gales, the Jim Clark: Tribute to a Champion (also signed by Clive Chapman and Bob Dance) and, if you're really keen, the chance to pick up your car from Hethel, including a tour around the factory.

Inside the Type 25 is most obviously different from the regular Cup 430 thanks to the wooden gearknob - it also receives body coloured upholstery and trim inserts. Interestingly, Lotus is packing the Type 25 with kit (all things being relative, of course) with the optional stereo, air conditioning and carpets all standard.

Gales said of the new Exige: "Although the Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25 is street legal, it blurs the line between road and race car to provide owners with an unbeatable blend of power, road holding, intuitive handling at any speed." It's amazing he gets any CEO work done with all these soundbites he has to provide nowadays...

Should you want one of these limited edition Exiges, you'll need £110,000 in the UK, a fair chunk above the £99,800 for a normal Cup 430 even after those options added - they account for £3,000. Finally, if you must have a Cup 430 and simply cannot wait, a pair are in the PH classifieds already - both are more than £100,000...

[Andyt25]

Great drivers car....one of Lotus best but it looks like a dogs dinner....I had an Elise Type 25 which looked resplendent in its type 25 colour scheme but what is it with Lotus and black bonnets, roofs etc.....Just looks like Max power has got hold of it.

[Far Cough]

Oooh wow .... yet another limited edition ( of sorts ) ............ Stack loads of cash for a handbuilt car .......................... and we all know what that means ...................... shoddy compared to what else you can have at that price point.

[Leggy]

I had a Type 25 Elise too and I loved it’s looks.
I’m glad they didn’t just copy that again. This is modern interpretation which looks cool.

[Andyt25]

No doubt to its performance credentials .... It will give a bloody nose to most cars ..... That isn't the issue ...it just doesn't look like 110k worth of car.

[T25UFO]

I think Leggy might have bought my Type 25. You'll know because I think it was the only Type 25 Elise with the white roundels removed. Lovely car. It originally had T25UFO as it's number plate but the dealer I sold it to kept the plate! How annoying is that?

I bought new for about £35,000 and added a few mods. I thought that was a lot but the entry price seems to have gone up a little . . .

[GranCab]

Who needs a calendar to tick off each new month when Lotus will do it for you with another rehashed Elise ?

[Leggy]

T25UFO said:

I think Leggy might have bought my Type 25. You'll know because I think it was the only Type 25 Elise with the white roundels removed. Lovely car. It originally had T25UFO as it's number plate but the dealer I sold it to kept the plate! How annoying is that?

I bought new for about £35,000 and added a few mods. I thought that was a lot but the entry price seems to have gone up a little . . .

I did indeed no. 23 now residing in France.

[suffolk009]

Shouldn't the seats and steering wheel be bright red?

[anonymous-user]

What an unfortunate pantomime Lotus has become.

[Thorburn]

Andyt25 said:

Great drivers car....one of Lotus best but it looks like a dogs dinner....I had an Elise Type 25 which looked resplendent in its type 25 colour scheme but what is it with Lotus and black bonnets, roofs etc.....Just looks like Max power has got hold of it.

They're all carbon fibre.

The renders don't really do them justice, they look really good in real life.

Edit: The Cup 380/430 that is - not seen the Type 25 version.

Edited by Thorburn on Thursday 5th April 20:54

[unsprung]

I agree with comments that this car is a fabulous machine in terms of performance... but lacks a little something in terms of visual harmony.

. Is the front splitter on this particular Exige approved for EU road use?

. Do Lotus in general conform to EU requirements for pedestrian impact? Or do their road cars get an exemption?

[T25UFO]

Leggy said:

I did indeed no. 23 now residing in France.

Always interesting to know where my cars go . . . I also had a lovely 340R which passed through several hands and was up for sale in Scotland the last I heard.

[Thorburn]

unsprung said:

I agree with comments that this car is a fabulous machine in terms of performance... but lacks a little something in terms of visual harmony.

. Is the front splitter on this particular Exige approved for EU road use?

. Do Lotus in general conform to EU requirements for pedestrian impact? Or do their road cars get an exemption?

It's a type approved vehicle, so I believe so.

[K2iss]

T25UFO said:

I think Leggy might have bought my Type 25. You'll know because I think it was the only Type 25 Elise with the white roundels removed. Lovely car. It originally had T25UFO as it's number plate but the dealer I sold it to kept the plate! How annoying is that?

I bought new for about £35,000 and added a few mods. I thought that was a lot but the entry price seems to have gone up a little . . .

I own number 5, and also have no roundels. I saw leggy’s once, I couldn’t tell mine from his apart lol

[Tickle]

suffolk009 said:

Shouldn't the seats and steering wheel be bright red?

Agree, it should have red on the interior.

I think it looks great though.

[unsprung]

Thorburn said:

unsprung said:

. Is the front splitter on this particular Exige approved for EU road use?

. Do Lotus in general conform to EU requirements for pedestrian impact? Or do their road cars get an exemption?

It's a type approved vehicle, so I believe so.

That's good to know. Thanks.

I asked because I had the vague impression that some OEM road cars with "track skills" had not been imported as the front splitter was large and functional (and, consequently, a risk in moments of pedestrian impact).

[Housey]

Leggy said:

I had a Type 25 Elise too and I loved it’s looks.
I’m glad they didn’t just copy that again. This is modern interpretation which looks cool.

Yea, but the types 26 to the type 546546854906850968045986409 all moved the game on. The next year will see another 45737594375984379837594375 models and they will, again, move it on by 10000% each time.

[BK911]

Not many modern cars can carry of BRG... A Lotus can. Here's my JC T25, photo taken last Monday.. the spec and attention to detail is close to perfection... I've had a few cars, don't think I'll ever be able to sell this one, it drives even better than it looks! 🇬🇧

[corozin]

£100,000 is a loada money for a Lotus.

[Thorburn]

unsprung said:

That's good to know. Thanks.

I asked because I had the vague impression that some OEM road cars with "track skills" had not been imported as the front splitter was large and functional (and, consequently, a risk in moments of pedestrian impact).

I think its related to how far it can extend, and things like radius, etc.

Also it has some rubber attached, although I think that is to lessen it scuffing along the ground?