Lotus Sport, the performance arm of Lotus Cars that brought us the
2-Eleven track car, has developed a new concept based on the Exige GT3 racecar. The new car, unveiled today in
Geneva, is called the Exige GT3 'concept road vehicle', and it looks downright menacing.
Its lightweight structure - made of epoxy bonded aluminium alloy and a lightweight galvanised steel rear sub-frame - is clothed in a one-piece front and wide track rear clamshell, with a full length roof scoop design borrowed from the Cup Exige 255 race car. The rear deck has been flattened to reduce overall drag and a massive rear wing with integral end plates mounted to the rear clam maintains front to rear downforce balance. A front splitter and multi-element rear diffuser further emphasise the car's sporting intentions.
Power is provided by the same supercharged and intercooled 1.8-litre engine employed in the GT3 race car, producing 271bhp at 8000rpm and 190lb.ft torque at 7000rpm. A VVTL-i variable valve timing system is claimed to ensure a smooth and linear surge of power from low engine speeds all the way to 8000rpm, while the Roots-type Eaton supercharger (with an integral bypass valve for part-load operation) is powered from the crankshaft. Other additions include an uprated fuel pump to provide sufficient fuel to four high-capacity injectors under hard acceleration, along with twin oil coolers with a back-up engine oil reservoir to keep engine oil pressure constant, even during extreme track use.
The revisions to the powerplant, paired with a lightweight frame and improved aerodynamics, enable the concept to achieve 60mph from rest in a claimed 3.9 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 160mph.
A sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfer engine power and torque through the reugular lightweight aluminium six-speed gearbox. An open-type limited slip differential is fitted as standard, while the Lotus traction control system works through the engine, reducing power when necessary. Fortunately, the system can be turned off to prevent any nannying interference if you're feeling frisky, though in our experience the system doesn't generally get in the way of hard driving.
A fully-independent suspension - utilising unequal length wishbones and a set of two-way adjustable Ohlins dampers with coil-over springs - are charged with keeping the car poised and predictable and the handling should certainly be enhanced by the adjustable front anti-roll bar and rear double shear track control arm brace.
The brake system is comprised of 308mm two-piece aluminium front discs (cross-drilled and ventilated) with AP Racing two-piece four-piston callipers at the front; and 288mm cross-drilled and ventilated discs with Brembo single sliding pistons at the rear.
Lotus intends to further develop the Exige GT3 'concept' road vehicle into a full production car and offer it for sale in limited markets in late 2007, with an estimated price tag of between £50,000 and £60,000.
Eric Gallina - 6 Mar 2007