motor

Pimp Racer · 03-25-2005, 11:31 PM

Just some good news before I am gone for a while!

Thank you Lotus!

Lotus has announced that it will bring its Exige--a rebodied, hardtop version of the Elise--to the United States this fall. Mechanically, the Exige will be identical to the U.S. Elise, which means a 1.8-liter four making 190 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. (We won't see the supercharged, 243-hp engine from the Europe-only 240-R.) The Exige will use the firmer suspension tuning of the Elise with the optional sport package, but the hardtop Lotus will have a cornering advantage over its open-topped counterpart because the Exige's unique bodywork creates so much additional downforce--80 lbs. more at 100 mph to be exact. All the Exige's body panels, save the doors, are unique. The increased downforce comes chiefly from four factors: the longer, reshaped nose; the front wind splitter; the rear wing; and the covered roof. The aerodynamic tweaks help the Exige scoot around the 2-mile Lotus test track two seconds faster than the Elise. Other changes for the Exige are limited to reshaped seats (bigger bolsters and cut-outs to fit a racing harness) and black wheels (either cast aluminum or the forged wheels from the Elise sport package). Only 200-300 Exiges will come to the States annually--against 2000-plus Elises--at a price estimated in the low- to mid-$50,000 range.

pimrusis · 03-26-2005, 12:13 AM

Boner.

Toronto · 03-26-2005, 01:39 AM

really good car for that amount of money, but I don't think it would do that well just because the north american market is all about comfort and options and that is one things the exige doesn't have :roll:

and this is posted in the wrong section "car gallery"? you might want car chat.

666fast · 03-26-2005, 01:46 AM

but I don't think it would do that well just because the north american market is all about comfort and options and that is one things the exige doesn't have

Since they only plan on selling 200-300 a year, I don't think they'll have a problem with selling them.

$50,000, add in dealer markup and other nonsense, $60,000+

gobs3z · 03-26-2005, 04:28 AM

I've been waiting to hear this because my friend has been waiting for it to come out so we could do a 3sgte swap into it. Great news, thanks pimp.

Pimp Racer · 03-26-2005, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Toronto

really good car for that amount of money, but I don't think it would do that well just because the north american market is all about comfort and options and that is one things the exige doesn't have :roll:

and this is posted in the wrong section "car gallery"? you might want car chat.

Hehe sorry about that!

ops: This thread will explain why it might have been posted here - http://www.motorworld.net/forum/show...=375657#375657

Originally Posted by Pimp Racer

Just got back from a party bout to leave again!

YEAH SPRING BREAK MOTHER FUCKERS!!! WHOOOO!!! I think I drank too much? I am all wet and shit! Outta here in a few. Sorry if I am weird I might be wasted.

ikon2003 · 03-26-2005, 04:50 PM

awesome news pimpracer! that's a pretty low # of imports, but that's not a huge segment of the american market. not that i'm really complaning tho - that keeps lotus a more "prestige" marque in the US. and the price is semi-high (for that size of a car), but obviously its stellar performance purly justifies the price, and could even be called a bargain.

i would not be averse to getting my hands one one...

Vansquish · 03-26-2005, 06:46 PM

FUCK YEAH!!!! I was really hoping that when Lotus homologated the Elise for the US market that the Exige would make it across the pond too. Finally we get some real cars in North America...can't wait to start seeing them on the road.

ae86_16v · 03-26-2005, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Toronto

really good car for that amount of money, but I don't think it would do that well just because the north american market is all about comfort and options and that is one things the exige doesn't have :roll:

Yeah, that is only if the dealers won't charge a $20k+ on top of MSRP.