The Lotus Exige Cup 380 has been revealed as the brand’s latest collector and track-targeted model; just 60 will be made, costing £83,000 each.
Capable of 0-60mph in 3.4sec, the Lotus Exige Cup 380 has been reduced in weight to 1057kg thanks to an extensive use of carbonfibre. That's 62kg lighter than the standard Exige, but 59kg heavier than the track-only Race 380. The Cup 380's engine is the same 3.5-litre supercharged V6 as the Sport 380 and Race 380, with 375bhp and 302lb ft.
This gives the Cup 380 a power-to-weight ratio of 355bhp per tonne, and powers the car to a top speed of 175mph.
More basic weight-saving measures such as doing away with the boot carpet and gas tailgate struts, as well as replacing standard interior trim pieces with lighter items, further help to reduce the car’s mass.
Tweaks to the bodywork and exterior, including a front windscreen wiper that rests in the vertical position, reduce drag and increase total downforce to 200kg; an increase of 43% over the Sport 380.
The Cup 380's rear tyres are 20mm wider than the Sport 380's; 285/30 ZR18s are now fitted. Lotus has pegged the car as road and track-friendly, although the considerable downforce boost, due to a new front splitter, access panel, bargeboards and rear wing, means the car is far more track-honed than the standard Exige and the Sport 380.
Four drive modes are selectable; Drive, Sport, Race and Off, with the latter three increasing the accelerator response, lowering the sensitivity of the car’s traction control and fettling the exhaust back pressure.
The traction control also allows the driver to select how sensitive they want the system to be separately from the drive mode selector; wheel slip levels of between 1% and 12% are selectable, or the system can be turned off altogether.
Adjustable dampers and rear anti-roll bars are fitted to the suspension as standard, while the brakes are upgraded to four-piston AP Racing units. An optional titanium exhaust removes a further 10kg, while other options delete items like the airbag for extra weight saving, or a rollcage for greater track focus.
The Cup 380 won’t be produced as a convertible.
Read more:
Lotus Exige Sport 380 revealed
2016 Lotus Exige Sport 380 review
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