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(from Lotus Press
Release) The New Lotus Exige S -
2010 Model Year
The 79th International Geneva Motor Show sees the introduction
of the exciting new 2010 Model Year Lotus Exige S with a newly
designed front end, a new rear wing and impressive emissions
of just 199 g/km CO2.
The Lotus Exige is a renowned high performance coupe that has a well
earned
reputation of choice for drivers who demand uncompromised
performance,
both on the road and on the track.
Lotus has always pursued efficiency and fuel economy and for the
2010 Model
Year Lotus Exige S, Lotus has reduced the emissions to only 199 g/km
CO2
and increased the fuel economy to an impressive 8.5 litres/100 km on
the
Official European Combined Cycle and a frugal 6.5 litres/100 km on
the Official
European Extra Urban Cycle.
The 2010 Model Year also sees the introduction of a few key changes
to the Exige to enhance the look and improve aerodynamic performance.
A restyled front end and new larger, rear wing that not only reduces
drag, but
also gives a more muscular stance enhancing the lightweight
shrink-wrapped
look of the whole car.
The composite rear wing is based on the design from the Exige GT3
road car
concept shown at the Geneva Motorshow in 2007. Compared to the 2009
Model Year Exige tailgate mounted wing it is 181 mm wider and
mounted 46
mm higher and 61 mm further back. It is attached to the rear
bodyshell clam
via rear end plates which not only increases the stiffness of the
whole structure
but also ensures that as much of the airflow as possible passes over
the rear
wing. This careful airflow management increases stability, reduces
drag and,
most importantly, maintains the impressive downforce figures of 42
kg at 160
km/h.
The restyled front end includes a larger, more angular air intake
mouth to help
funnel more air through the radiator, to improve the efficiency of
the engine
system. Ahead of the front wheels on either side of the main
aperture, two
larger air intakes increase the airflow to the twin oil coolers.
Horizontal vanes
bisect these oil cooler air-intakes to stabilise the airflow to
further increase the
cooling efficiency.
Since the Exige S2 was launched in 2004, the power has increased
from 190
hp through 220 hp to 240 hp in standard road form more for the
track centric
Exige Cup 260 - and the new larger air intakes improve engine
cooling for
these current higher powered Exige variants.
Mounted below the three new air intakes is a new aerodynamic
splitter for the
2010 Model Year Exige. Made from a lightweight composite, the
splitter is now extended to wrap around the whole of the front end
and chiseled side lips are
raised to deflect air around the tyres to reduce drag.
Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus plc said, Over the
years, the
Lotus Exige has developed a hardcore fan base around the world and
its
popularity has placed it as one of the legendary sportscars of the
21st century.
So far, over 5000 Exiges have been hand-built at our high-tech
manufacturing
facility making it a significant contributor to our global
production. The
lightweight Exige has one of the highest specific power outputs of
any globally
emissions certified car and 133 hp per litre is a perfect
demonstration of Colin
Chapmans philosophy of performance through light weight and of
Lotus'
relentless pursuit of efficiency. The same technology that makes a
lightweight
car a high performer also makes it efficient how many cars have performance figures of 0 100 km/h in 4.77 secs but produce only
199 g/km
CO2?
Like all Lotus cars, the functional components of the car are also
beautifully
designed as Russell Carr, Chief of Lotus Design, explains, For 2010
we have
taken the already visually extreme Exige and given it even more
visual drama.
The changes we have integrated into the front and rear of the Exige
signal an
even clearer and purposeful intent. The purposeful rear wing is race
inspired,
the new angular air intakes and full width splitter gives a more
hard-edged and
aggressive look. Overall, the Exige appears more planted and gives
the
illusion that both the front and rear of the car are wider than they
really are
without losing its agile and lithe character.
Roger Becker, Director of Vehicle Engineering said, The changes we
have
made to the Exige for 2010 Model Year are quite subtle when taken
individually, but taken as a complete package they make significant
improvements to aerodynamics and the overall look of the car. The
Exige is a
classic fit-for-purpose performance machine, the design tweaks we
have made
have reduced the drag, cleaned up the airflow around the front and
rear of the
car, whilst retaining the impressive balanced downforce figures, to
give an
exciting high performance drive.
The specification of the highly successful 2009 Model Year Exige Cup
260,
unveiled at the Paris Motorshow in 2008 remains unchanged.
The 2010 Exige in more detail:
Driver and passenger airbags are standard on all models while an
on-board Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is standard in the USA.
The instrument pack in the Exige contains much more than just a pair
of
stylishly back-lit dials. It also features a high-definition LCD
message panel
that can display a scrolling text message with vehicle systems
information.
The instrument pack always displays the fuel gauge, engine
temperature and
odometer, however you can select to display the time, trip distance
or a digital
read-out of your speed in the opposite calibration to that of your
speedometer
dial if your dial is in mph, the readout is in km/h.
Warning symbols are secret until lit, keeping the instrumentation
free from
visual clutter and distraction until necessary. Gearchange shift
lights similarly
remain hidden until required. There are three shift up warning
lights,
cumulatively lighting when the driver is getting closer to the rev
limiter and
when all three are illuminated, they flash to indicate that you
should have
changed up a gear by now!
A key issue
The Exige has a Thatcham approved alarm/immobiliser system and the
ignition key incorporates the controls for the alarm/immobiliser and
central
locking functions. This key features three buttons, the one which
locks the
doors and sets the alarm/immobiliser is stylishly crowned with the
famous
Lotus roundel. The second button unlocks the doors and de-actives
the
alarm/immobiliser, and the final button is a panic alarm button.
The contents of the Touring pack, for the Exige S includes:
Full leather or Microfibre suede-effect interior
Leather trimmed centre console
Leather handbrake gaiter
Sound system iPod* connection
Full carpets, with embroidered logo
Auxiliary driving lights (in markets where legally allowed)
Sound insulation kit
Cup holder
The Exige S Sport pack includes:
Bilstein sports dampers
Traction control
Adjustable front anti-roll bar
T45 roll bar, with integrated harness mounts
The Exige S Performance Pack more punch, more ability for Exige S
308 mm front cross-drilled and vented discs with AP Racing four
piston
callipers
Uprated front and rear brake pads
Full length upsized roof scoop
Variable slip traction control
Uprated clutch plate and cover
Uprated vehicle performance through enhanced power and torque
delivery
Launch control
With the Exige performance pack, the power is raised to 240 PS / 179
kW
(minimum) at 8000 rpm courtesy of a Magnuson/Eaton M62 supercharger,
new faster flowing injectors and higher torque clutch system and an
upsized
roof scoop to feed more air to the supercharger intercooler system.
This hike in power, together with an increase in torque to 170 lbft
/ 230 Nm /
23.5 kgm at 5,500 rpm from the standard 158.6 lbft / 215 Nm / 22 kgm
at 5500
rpm, helps whisk the Performance Pack Exige S from zero to 60mph in
4.5
3 March 2009
Page 4 of 5
secs and 0-100km/h in 4.77 secs, and on to 100mph in 11.97 secs. Top
speed
rises to 145 mph. The power and torque of the 240 PS engine is
increased
across the rev range giving even more flexibility. Despite these
high levels of
performance the fuel economy is impressive with a new combined
figure of 8.5
litres / 100 km and 199 g/km CO2 reduced from 9.1 litres / 100 km
(combined) and 216 g/km CO2 for the 2009 Model Year Exige.
Continuous
engineering improvements over the last year including careful whole
vehicle
optimisation has enabled this sportscar to be even better for fuel
economy and
emissions.
Of course the increased power and straight-line performance are only
a couple
of elements of the Performance Pack option. The clutch is uprated
and a
clutch damper fitted; there are thicker, 308mm diameter
cross-drilled and
vented discs at the front clamped by AP Racing four-piston callipers;
the
standard brake pads are replaced by uprated pads.
Keen to pass on lessons learned on the track with the Exige GT3
racing
programme, Lotus Sport has contributed another important track
specific
technology to the Performance Pack launch control combined with
variable
traction control.
From the drivers seat the track orientated launch control allows
you to
determine the engine revs you wish to use during a standing start on
the track.
Having programmed that limit, it will not be exceeded when you then
hold
down the throttle and sidestep the clutch at departure from the
line. The clutch
damper cushions the severity of the clutch / transmission engagement
to minimise the stresses to the drivetrain (noting that continuous
abusive
standing start applications will destroy the drivetrain components).
The launch
control also keeps wheelspin at bay until 6 mph, after which the
traction control
assumes its duties.
As with launch control, you can dial in the amount of traction
control you
require from the drivers seats, altering it on the move to suit
driving style and
the characteristics of particular corners. The amount of traction
control can be
varied in over 30 increments from an optimum 7 percent tyre slip to
completely
off. The message display in the new instrument pack displays what
degree of
traction control you have currently dialled in.
The beauty of all the packs is that they can be combined so a
customer can
have the additional interior and exterior equipment from the Touring
pack with
the sport focussed equipment from the Sport pack.
Air conditioning, Lotus traction control and limited slip
differential are available
as stand-alone options.
Customers wanting to add further finishing touches to their Exige
such as
specifying adjustable dampers and forged wheels can do so by
ordering from
an extensive range of accessories.
Colours
The Premium Colour Range
has been designed to further enhance the choice
for customers to individualise their cars. Most of the paints in
this range require
a more sophisticated application process and are from our paint
suppliers
premium range. The paint colours in this range have been
individually priced,
and it is Lotus intention to extend and change this range at
periodic intervals.
The 2010 Model Year Exige S will enter the EU markets in May 2009.
Exige S: 199 g/km CO2
8.5 litres/100 km (33.2 mpg) Combined Cycle
11.9 litres/100 km (23.7 mpg) Urban Cycle
6.5 litres/100 km (43.5 mpg) Extra Urban Cycle
Ends
* iPod is a trademark of Apple inc registered in the USA and other
countries
Notes:
About Lotus
The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Ltd,
which has two operating
divisions - Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is
an internationally recognised
automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Global
facilities include those in
Michigan (USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in
Germany.
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy
services to many of the
world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering
service from initial concept and
project design through development and integration of the complete
vehicle to meet all
worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes
third party 'niche vehicle'
engineering and manufacture worldwide.
Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports
cars for sale in 37 countries.
These include the iconic Lotus Elise, and the Exige and Europa.
Lotus latest model, the Lotus
Evora, goes on sale from Spring 2009. Lotus is a global high-tech
company, expanding rapidly
and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and
its Engineering clients,
spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles
and renewable fuels.
