Lotus has revealed its most extreme Exige yet, the Lotus Exige Cup 430, offering an extra 55bhp over the limited-production Exige Cup 380 unveiled in April this year.
While the Cup 380 was limited to 60 models, costing £83,000 each, the Cup 430 is a full production model and is priced from £99,800.
Using a development of the 3.5-litre V6 powertrain used in the Lotus Evora GT430, the Exige Cup 430 makes 430bhp at 7,000rpm and 325lb ft of torque from 4000rpm. It achieves 0-60mph in 3.2sec, which is 0.2sec faster than the Cup 380. That means a 55bhp hike in power over the Cup 380.
The Exige Cup 430 weighs just 1056kg in its lightest configuration, which is near-identical to the Cup 380. However, thanks to the extra power, the power-to-weight ratio is improved from 350bhp per tonne in the Cup 380 to 407bhp per tonne in this new model. Downforce is 220kg.
Lotus said that the powertrain paired with a newly designed body “delivers enhanced aerodynamic performance to reveal the model’s true potential”.
New aerodynamic features include an ultra-lightweight front clam panel with carbonfibre ducts and wider radiator apertures, plus a new mesh pattern grille to allow for a new front splitter and air curtain to reduce drag.
The lightweight rear clam panel supports the large, straight motorsport wing to increase downforce without impacting upon the car’s overall drag coefficient, Lotus says.
The new front and rear clam panels are 6.8kg lighter than those on any other Exige.
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Prost A
probably quite happy! it's not as if their car will suddeny feel terrible to drive, slow, or develop a depreciation problem. Also, should they actually be lotus fans/fanatics, they'd probably feel quite glad about the fact that things look to be turning around in a proper permenant sense and the future looks to actually contain good things. It's only 5 years since Bahar left - remember what it was like then?
Bad bad move
how would a loyal lotus buyer feel now
save up bought the 350 cup- a few months later 380 come out
ok Bite the bullet upgrade with hard earn cash .... a few months later
this .... really hammer the little guys
resale for those idiot who committed to 350 and 380 are going to take a hammering
never again ....bye no matter how good your product is
no special relationship here
Utterly
Deeeelicious. A lot of dosh...but God I wish I had 100k. Now please make the Evora better looking by sticking this front end on it. It’s only glued on isn’t it ?
Surely by now
There must be more limited, special edition Lotuses than their are mainstream ones. Time for a rethink methinks.