Currently reading: Lotus Exige S gets new six-speed automatic option

New automatic version of the Exige S, designed to widen the car's market appeal, on sale in January 2015 for £56,500

Lotus has unveiled an automatic version of its Lotus Exige S sports car, which will go on sale in January 2015.

The Lotus Exige S automatic will command a premium of £2000 over the manual variants, meaning the coupé will cost £56,500 and the roadster £57,500.

Lotus' boss, Jean-Marc Gales, said: "By introducing a paddle-shifted automatic, we have expanded the Exige product range to make it more accessible to customers worldwide.

"Now, customers who are more accustomed to two pedals and automatic transmissions can enjoy the unbelievable performance and handling of the Exige S without compromise."

The Toyota-sourced gearbox is the same six-speed torque convertor-based unit used in automatic 'IPS' versions of the Evora, but it has been tailored to suit the Exige S.

Sport and Race modes are offered, delivering more appropriate gear selections and responses when required, and column-mounted paddle shifts allow for prompt manual overrides.

Lotus says that the new self-shifting Exige is in the final stages of testing. Official performance figures are yet to be announced but the company states that the new car will "exceed the manual variant in performance".

The automatic, which retains the same 346bhp 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine found in manual versions, has so far proven as fast as its three-pedal counterpart around the Hethel test track.

It has also completed the 0-62mph sprint in 3.9sec, which is 0.1sec quicker than the manual Exige S.

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Hethel goes back to basics with its Lotus Exige, which makes for a capable track day machine, but one less refined than its direct rivals on the road

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LP in Brighton 25 October 2014

How would this fare if it was a new model?

I suspect sales of this car will be virtually zero, because it's seen as an old design produced by a brand which has little value. But how would it fare if it was a brand new design sold by a respected brand? Is the car any better than say the similar concept Alfa Romeo 4C, which as a 15 year head start, but the same period less development? Or are they both hopelessly flawed cars in the modern world? I'd like to see Lotus turn around its fortunes, but I suspect that the world has already made its mind up. Perhaps Lotus should go back to its roots and sell this model as a kit car because selling ready made cars against the likes of Porsche and Toyota clearly isn't working.