Thursday, December 1, 2005

Lotus Exige Gets Performance Tweaks for Track Use

Both Road and Track versions of the Exige Cup 240, developed in conjunction with Lotus Sport, will be available. It's powered by the Exige 240R's 243-hp supercharged and intercooled 1.8-liter engine, with a top speed of 155 mph and 0-to-60-mph time of just under 4.5 seconds.



To cope with circuit work, the Exige Cup 240 has an uprated clutch, cross-drilled and grooved brake discs with uprated pads, an Accusump oil reservoir with twin oil coolers, an adjustable front antiroll bar, and adjustable two-way dampers with stiffer Öhlins springs.

There is also a steel rollover hoop and four-point safety harnesses, Lotus-developed switchable traction control, a limited-slip differential, and a stainless-steel sports exhaust. The forged alloy wheels wear Yokohama Advan A048 tires. Inside, there are weight-saving aluminum window winders and a Lotus Sport build plaque.

The Road-spec version has air conditioning and an alarm and immobilizer in place of the FIA-approved full roll cage, plumbed-in fire extinguisher, and ignition kill switches that come standard with the Track version.
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