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Written by Ollie Kew
Here"s the latest mix"n"match from the Lotus toybox. The idea: extract the 424bhp (430PS) supercharged V6 from the ultimate Evora, the GT430, and apply it vigorously to the smaller, lighter, more track-happy Exige. Lavish with literally a quarter-tonne more downforce, and the result is this, the new Lotus Exige Cup 430. And it"s a hundred thousand pounds. So, we"d better get tucked into that spec, quickly. Before Lotus thinks of another special edition.Hethel claims the charge-cooled, 3.5-litre, 325lb ft engine is capable of punting the little Exige from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds, which is fairly crackers for a machine with rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. A sublime, open-gate manual, at that.It"s helped on its merry way with a 12kg weight saving once all the lightweight carbon fibre option boxes are ticked. Done that? Good. Now, your Exige weighs in at 1,056kg. Pretty incredible for a car cradling a Toyota-developed V6 lump once destined for your grandpa"s Camry.Meanwhile, there"s a lot more downforce, a lot more of the time. The old Exige Cup 380, which this car replaces, generated 200kg of downforce at 175mph. The Cup 430, thanks to its wider front splitter, wheelarch cutouts, and taller rear wing, is said to be developing 100kg of aerodynamic grip at 100mph. So you won"t need that cheeky confidence-lift through a fourth-gear corner on your next track day. Feeling brave?
Date written: 9 Nov 2017
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 9887
Here"s the latest mix"n"match from the Lotus toybox. The idea: extract the 424bhp (430PS) supercharged V6 from the ultimate Evora, the GT430, and apply it vigorously to the smaller, lighter, more track-happy Exige. Lavish with literally a quarter-tonne more downforce, and the result is this, the new Lotus Exige Cup 430. And it"s a hundred thousand pounds. So, we"d better get tucked into that spec, quickly. Before Lotus thinks of another special edition.Hethel claims the charge-cooled, 3.5-litre, 325lb ft engine is capable of punting the little Exige from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds, which is fairly crackers for a machine with rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. A sublime, open-gate manual, at that.It"s helped on its merry way with a 12kg weight saving once all the lightweight carbon fibre option boxes are ticked. Done that? Good. Now, your Exige weighs in at 1,056kg. Pretty incredible for a car cradling a Toyota-developed V6 lump once destined for your grandpa"s Camry.Meanwhile, there"s a lot more downforce, a lot more of the time. The old Exige Cup 380, which this car replaces, generated 200kg of downforce at 175mph. The Cup 430, thanks to its wider front splitter, wheelarch cutouts, and taller rear wing, is said to be developing 100kg of aerodynamic grip at 100mph. So you won"t need that cheeky confidence-lift through a fourth-gear corner on your next track day. Feeling brave?
Date written: 9 Nov 2017
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 9887
