Friday 28th August 2009

New Lotus Exige Cup 260

Road and track star's upgrades include (warranty-voiding) new launch control

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The latest version of the Lotus Exige Cup 260 has been revealed, boasting a stiffer chassis, lower weight and a new launch and traction control system.

The most extreme Exige shaves 12kgs from the weight of the Exige S with extensive use of carbon in the roof panel, FIA/HANS-compliant seats, tailgate, centre tunnel, front splitter, side air intake ducts and a rear spoiler.

Use of lightweight components saves another 22kgs, says Lotus, listing a lightweight motorsport battery, ultralight racing wheels (thought to be the lightest 'OE' wheels in the world at 5.65kgs front, and 7.75kgs rear), a lightweight flywheel, a composite bulkhead panel to replace the rear window and alloy supercharger U-bend pipes.

Removing other non-essential components and equipment such as the interior and boot carpets, front mudflaps, battery cover, interior mirror, sun visors, rear tailgate gas strut, results in a further weight saving of 4kg, the company claims.

In total, the weight reduction measures bring the Exige Cup 260 in at 890kgs, giving it a lively power to weight ratio of 288hp per tonne thanks to its 257hp supercharged Toyota engine. Lotus says the car will reach 60mph in 4 seconds, 100mph in 9.9 seconds and a maximum of 152mph.

Handling has also been upgraded thanks to a new rear diffuser evolution that improves lateral stiffness in the rear sub-frame by 30 per cent, and the adoption of Ohlins two-way adjustable dampers.

Although Lotus sells Exige Cup models for road use, the car's primary focus has always been the track, where the new launch and traction control system should come into its own. Launch control allows you to dial up the required revs then sidestep the clutch for quick getaways, while the traction control can be adjusted on the move to provide anything from an 'optimised' seven per cent tyre slip, to being dialled out altogether. A message display in the new instrument pack tells you what setting you are driving on.

Like Nissan, which was roundly criticised for offering a launch control system on the GT-R that voided the warranty if used, Lotus is taking a similar path, saying: "If the launch control facility is utilised, the warranty on related powertrain components is void."

You can spot the new Exige Cup 260 by its restyled front end with larger intakes, and new rear wing from the Exige GT road car concept shown at Geneva is 2007. It's priced at £45,000 plus £950 on-the-road charges.

 

 

 

[dank]

what has happened to the exige!!!!!??????

it seems to be so over complicated style wise now, too many swoops, curves and stickers!

s1 exige is how it should look!

[cirvy]

How many bleedin' variations on a theme do we need.

Also, who wrote this? Launch control being suited for track day goers..... what kind of track day features standing race starts?????

[boobles]

dank said:

what has happened to the exige!!!!!??????

it seems to be so over complicated style wise now, too many swoops, curves and stickers!

s1 exige is how it should look!

Are you just jealous because you couldnt afford a proper one?

Only joking ofcourse.

[posterboy]

£45,000

[Frimley111R]

dank said:

what has happened to the exige!!!!!??????

it seems to be so over complicated style wise now, too many swoops, curves and stickers!

s1 exige is how it should look!

It's not much different but the black areas/stickers exaggerate the scoops etc.

[RobM77]

That's more like it 288bhp/tonne is getting towards Caterham power/weight. Sounds amazing

To those questioning the purchase price, consider that it's in the same ballpark as a Caterham R500, Atom 300 or 2-11, and the Exige has a roof, comfy seats and a CD player on the options list I have to confess though, it's too much for me to spend on a track day toy.

[JumpinJack]

cirvy said:

How many bleedin' variations on a theme do we need.

Also, who wrote this? Launch control being suited for track day goers..... what kind of track day features standing race starts?????

Yeah i'm not a huge lotus fan as it is... but there seems to be a few too many excessive variations... why not just wait a little longer till the engineers have solved ALL the problems, or cannnot possibly improve on that model, rather than make a limited edition line of 20,000 with their own sepcial unique number... which won't mean sod all in 6 months time anyway.

Rant over.

[300bhp/ton]

How do companies get away with this crap in offer features and saying if you use it voids the warranty???

Come one there must be someone willing to challenge this BS in a court.

If allowed to continue how much will car makers try and get under the same umbrella!!

Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

Next will be, if you use wide open throttle it'll void the warranty.

Or if you use full steering lock....

What a lot of dogs dangly bits

[130R]

Why do car companies keep fitting launch control then effectively say don't use it because it will break stuff? I have it on my car and it's totally useless because it destroys the (very expensive) clutch.

[NeilC]

Launch control is included as this car is primarily aimed at those competing in the Lotus Cup Europe next year and any racing would void the warranty anyway.
A quick count on parkers reveal Ford sell 53 variations of the mondeo, but Lotus sell 3 different types of Exige at different power/price points and they're taking the pee?

[GranTurismoMan]

300bhp/ton said:

How do companies get away with this crap in offer features and saying if you use it voids the warranty???

Come one there must be someone willing to challenge this BS in a court.

If allowed to continue how much will car makers try and get under the same umbrella!!

Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

Next will be, if you use wide open throttle it'll void the warranty.

Or if you use full steering lock....

What a lot of dogs dangly bits

Ditto. What next, buy a 65mpg diesel and void the warranty by driving it in an economical manner? Feckin eejits.

[Walton]

RobM77 said:

That's more like it 288bhp/tonne is getting towards Caterham power/weight. Sounds amazing

To those questioning the purchase price, consider that it's in the same ballpark as a Caterham R500, Atom 300 or 2-11, and the Exige has a roof, comfy seats and a CD player on the options list I have to confess though, it's too much for me to spend on a track day toy.

Sorry to disappoint you, but having owned/driven both, the S/C Exige is certainly not in the same ball park as an Atom 300 (or even 245) - with over double the P/W ratio the Atom's a very very different experience.

[Horse_Apple]

I'd need Lunch Control if I'm ever going to fit in one.

[Chris-R]

cirvy said:

How many bleedin' variations on a theme do we need.

Also, who wrote this? Launch control being suited for track day goers..... what kind of track day features standing race starts?????

Who said anything about track day goers? Launch control is for racers.

[Staffy1984]

300bhp/ton said:

How do companies get away with this crap in offer features and saying if you use it voids the warranty???

Come one there must be someone willing to challenge this BS in a court.

If allowed to continue how much will car makers try and get under the same umbrella!!

Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

Next will be, if you use wide open throttle it'll void the warranty.

Or if you use full steering lock....

What a lot of dogs dangly bits

What a lot of dogs dangly bits

You do realise that the above line means something is good yea?

The dogs B@ll@cks!!!

[PhilJames]

Looks almost as awesome as the concept car! Love the new tweeks, it must be hard to try and improve on this 'road and track' car without it going in one of the two directions road or track. Aero evolution and some track extras! Shame I don't have enough pocket money!

I think the launch control can be used to destroy components if used incorrectly. As it's NOT for road use then I can see why they can 'get away with it' voiding the warrante. The fear of manufacturers voiding a warrantee for general use seems a little paranoid and alarmist to me.

Sad how many negative opinions are expressed towards Lotus cars. Especially on pistonheads where I'd expect people to be enthusiastic towards sports cars rather than ranting un thought provoking rubish.

Like the styling, like the performance, love the concept!

[stew-S160]

anyone else notice the very porsche ish front end?

[RichyBoy]

It must be true of most performance cars. If you launch an evo the related parts aren't covered by warranty.

[dandarez]

Walton said:

RobM77 said:

That's more like it 288bhp/tonne is getting towards Caterham power/weight. Sounds amazing

To those questioning the purchase price, consider that it's in the same ballpark as a Caterham R500, Atom 300 or 2-11, and the Exige has a roof, comfy seats and a CD player on the options list I have to confess though, it's too much for me to spend on a track day toy.

Sorry to disappoint you, but having owned/driven both, the S/C Exige is certainly not in the same ball park as an Atom 300 (or even 245) - with over double the P/W ratio the Atom's a very very different experience.

When he said ballpark he was talking about price! ie for a similar price he was indicating you get a roof, comfy seats and music (not much point of the latter in an Atom though).

[300bhp/ton]

PhilJames said:

Looks almost as awesome as the concept car! Love the new tweeks, it must be hard to try and improve on this 'road and track' car without it going in one of the two directions road or track. Aero evolution and some track extras! Shame I don't have enough pocket money!

I think the launch control can be used to destroy components if used incorrectly. As it's NOT for road use then I can see why they can 'get away with it' voiding the warrante. The fear of manufacturers voiding a warrantee for general use seems a little paranoid and alarmist to me.

Sad how many negative opinions are expressed towards Lotus cars. Especially on pistonheads where I'd expect people to be enthusiastic towards sports cars rather than ranting un thought provoking rubish.

Like the styling, like the performance, love the concept!

But its not a race car, its a road legal car being sold with a feature that voids the warranty.

Jeep sell the Wrangler with diff lockers for use "off road", yet these don't void the warranty.

I like the car, but I think this approach of removing consumer rights is wrong and I'll stick by it.

It's not as if its about people "misusing" something but actually using it for its designed purpose. If the drivetrain can't hack it then Lotus should either make it stronger or not sell the feature.