Νέα Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition, 26 κιλά ελαφρύτερη

Μετά την Evora 400 Hethel Edition και την Elise 250 Special Edition, η Lotus παρουσίασε σήμερα την Exige 350 Special Edition, που ολοκληρώνει τον εορτασμό των 50 χρόνων λειτουργίας του εργοστασίου της βρετανικής εταιρίας στο Hethel.

Το αυτοκίνητο βασίζεται στην Sport 350, με τη Lotus να παρουσιάζει σε αυτό τη βελτίωση που ξέρει καλύτερα να κάνει: να αφαιρεί βάρος. Η Exige Sport 350 είχε ήδη μειωμένο βάρος κατά 51 κιλά, με αυτό της Exige 350 Special Edition να μειώνεται περαιτέρω κατά 26 κιλά.

Ανάμεσα στις πολλές βελτιώσεις, είναι η χρήση ενός πάνελ με γρίλιες στο κάλυμμα του κινητήρα, μια ελαφρύτερη μπαταρία, νέες ελαφρύτερες βάσεις κινητήρα, νέα ελαφρύτερη κεντρική κονσόλα που διαθέτει ένα εκτεθειμένο μηχανισμό αλλαγής ταχυτήτων, ελαφρύτερες σωληνώσεις του συστήματος κλιματισμού και βελτιστοποιημένη χρήση της ηχομόνωσης. Τα 26 κιλά έχουν αφαιρεθεί από το αυτοκίνητο μέσω της χρήσης σφυρήλατων ζαντών (-5 κιλά), από την μπαταρία ιόντων-λιθίου (-10 κιλά), από τα carbon καθίσματα (-6 κιλά) και από τα δισκόφρενα (-5 κιλά).

Έτσι, το συνολικό βάρος του αυτοκινήτου έπεσε στα 1.099 κιλά, με τον κινητήρα να παραμένει απαράλλαχτος. Κίνηση παίρνει από τον γνωστό V6 3,5-λίτρων κομπρεσοράτο κινητήρα απόδοσης 345 ίππων και 400 Nm ροπής, που όμως συνδυάζεται με ένα ταχύτερο χειροκίνητο κιβώτιο. Για τα 0-100 χλμ/ώρα χρειάζεται 3,7 δευτ. (-0,2 δευτ.), ενώ η τελική του ταχύτητα να μην αλλάζει και να φτάνει τα 274 χλμ/ώρα.

Οι μηχανικοί της Lotus ασχολήθηκαν και με την ανάρτηση της Exige 350, καθώς έχουν τοποθετηθεί πιο σφιχτά αμορτισέρ, άλλαξαν και τη γεωμετρία της ώστε να βελτιωθεί το κράτημα του αυτοκινήτου και να ανταποκρίνεται καλύτερα στις εντολές του τιμονιού και χαμήλωσαν το κέντρο βάρους. Όλες αυτές οι αναβαθμίσεις έχουν μειώσει κατά 2,5 δευτερόλεπτα το χρόνο γύρου στη πίστα δοκιμών της Lotus, σε σύγκριση με την Exige S, ολοκληρώνοντας τον σε 1 λεπτό και 29,8 δευτερόλεπτα, καθιστώντας την, τη πρώτη Lotus παραγωγή που κάνει τη πίστα του Hethel σε λιγότερο από 1 λεπτό και 30 δευτερόλεπτα. Η αεροδυναμική παίζει εξίσου σημαντικό ρόλο, με την πίσω αεροτομή συνδυασμένη με το επίπεδο πάτωμα και τον πίσω διαχύτη να προσθέτει 42 κιλά κάθετη δύναμης σε ταχύτητα 160 χλμ/ώρα.

Η Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition θα βγει σε περιορισμένη παραγωγή 50 αυτοκινήτων και είναι ήδη διαθέσιμη για παραγγελία. Η τιμή της στη Αγγλία ξεκινάει από τις £61.900 και στη Γερμανία από €81.900.

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Beauty of a beast: Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition

• Final anniversary edition celebrating 50 years at Hethel
• Based on the exceptional Exige Sport 350
• Distinctive lightweight options as standard, saving 26 kg
• Weighs 1,099 kg and delivers 314 hp/tonne benchmark performance

Saving the hardest until last, the new Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition is a fitting completion to the trilogy of Lotus 50th celebration editions.

Based on the most extreme Exige to date, the Sport 350, the new special edition adds a number of lightweight, performance-enhancing features, as well as unique paint and interior options as standard.

Long regarded as the enthusiast’s favourite, the new Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition takes the model’s benchmark handling and raw performance and adds a sense of occasion.  Packing a supercharged 345 hp, V6 3.5 litre engine, and weighing 26 kg less than the Exige Sport 350, the new Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds (0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds) before reaching a top speed of 170 mph (274 km/h). It’s also capable of the lapping the famous Hethel track in 1 minute 29.8 seconds.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, commented, “The Lotus Exige is the quickest point-to-point sports car on the road; nothing can match its levels of accessible performance and grip. It’s lightweight, responsive and exceedingly fast, with the purity expected of a Lotus.It is a real beast that needs taming but it won’t bite back. ”

Complementing this class leading performance, the car receives a revised front access panel cover, as first seen on the Exige Cup 360, lightweight carbon-fibre sports seats, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and a Lithium ion battery as standard to keep kerb weight at a minimum. A choice of four colours help the Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition stand out, while the interior offers the choice between black leather or Alcantara upholstery with bespoke contrast stitching.

Helping to celebrate the company’s 50 years in Norfolk, the special edition coupe is limited to 50 examples, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Like the already sold out Evora 400 Hethel Edition and Elise 250 Special Edition, this Exige is built to mark 2016 as this anniversary year.

Jean-Marc Gales continued, “This Exige 350 Special Edition joins the Evora and Elise editions that we have already produced to celebrate our half century in Hethel and our connection toNorfolk. Judging by the demand for the other models, I expect that the Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition will sell out quickly as it combines exclusiveness and limited production wrapped up in a great design.”

Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition in more detail

The new Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition features a number of changes to the accomplished Exige Sport 350. Lighter and faster than its predecessor, the Exige S, it packs performance-enhancing components and styling features as standard. Substantially cheaper than a similarly equipped standard model, it provides an outstanding ownership proposition for those to demand the purest driving experience.

Weighing just 1099 kg, the Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition has shed an impressive 77 kg, when compared to the previous generation Exige S. The result of a thorough re-evaluation, every component has been scrutinised in order for the car to possess the purity of drive and benchmark handling which all Lotus cars are renowned for.

Amongst the many enhancements, the use of a louvered tailgate panel, a lighter battery, lightweight engine mounts, a lightweight centre console featuring an exposed gearshift mechanism, lighter HVAC pipework and the optimised use of sound insulation have all contributed to the extreme Exige’s focused drive. A total of 26 kg has been excluded from the car through the careful application of performance components: a 5 kg saving from the use of forged wheels, 10 kg from the Li-Ion battery, 6 kg from the carbon seats and 5kg from thevented, two-piece brake discs.

To reflect its enthusiast-orientated personality, the Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition is only available with a slick, six-speed manual gearbox. Aesthetically appealing, as well as technically accomplished, the distinctive exposed gear-change mechanism perfectly embodies Lotus’ lightweight ethos. Employing machined and cast aluminium components, the linkage uses precision engineering to deliver faster, more precise gear changes. Stopping power is provided by AP Racing four-piston brake callipers, front and rear.

The aerodynamics of the Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition have received careful attention, including the use of a revised front access panel. This sculptured component improves air flow exiting the car’s horizontally mounted radiator and the light weight louvered tailgate improves engine cooling. The rear wing, combined with the flat underside and rear diffuser, help contribute to the 42 kg of down force generated at 100 mph (160 km/h).

The Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition also features Lotus’ Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) which, selected via a dashboard switch, provides ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings. Proportionally increasing throttle response, lowering traction slip thresholds and removing understeer recognition, it allows enhanced control before the system intervenes. DPM also utilises an engine exhaust bypass valve at mid-to-high engine speeds, increasing throttle responsive in both ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings.

The new car retains the Exige Sport 350’s excellent suspension setup, including firmer dampers and optimised geometry to deliver more responsive handling. Key weight-saving features, including the louvered tailgate, not only cut weight but also lower the car’s centre of gravity, contributing to its sharpened dynamics.

Available in four of Lotus fans’ favourite colours, the new Lotus Exige 350 Special Editioncomes in Essex Blue, Old English White, Dark Metallic Grey, or Motorsport Black, all finished with contrasting racing stripes. The car’s bright red brake calipers are offset with black forged alloy wheels and, as standard, the front splitter, rear wing, front access panel, roof panel, wing mirrors and rear transom are finished in matt black.

In addition to the special interior, Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition customers will enjoy cruise control and floor mats as standard. An integrated in-car entertainment system can also be specified, including iPod® connectivity and Bluetooth® functionality along with full carpets and enhanced sound insulation.

The Lotus Exige 350 SE is on sale now.

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price

Technical Specification:

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