2005 lotus exige Preview

When Less is Obviously More

In North America and across the globe, Lotus is making a rebound as a seriously competitive sports car manufacturer. With the demise of the supercar-challenging Esprit V8, the brand has been left with all of two vehicles - the mid-engined Elise roadster and the track-day hardtop variant, the Exige.

Now in their second generation, the dynamic duo is starting to pull full force on the sports car scene and theres no better proof than the limited-edition Exige 240R, built by Lotus Sport, the brands performance arm.

The 240R will be the fastest and quickest road-legal Lotus, stopping short of the one-off 400-hp Sport Exige. What makes this particular breed so special is it raises the bar performance-wise even further, stretching its small-dimension body and tiny-capacity motor to the absolute limits of engineering.

As with the regular Exige S2 and the Elise 111R, the 240R features a Toyota-sourced 2ZZ-GE 1.8-liter inline-four with VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing with Lift - intelligent) that can be found in the Toyota Celica GT-S and Corolla/Matrix XRS. Acting as the successor to the Rover K-Series engine, the Japanese unit has the same high-revving characteristics, but betters the British unit in terms of reliability and emissions.

However, in the case of the 240R, "stock" almost never makes the grade; Lotus Sport technicians wanted their special Exige to be the performance equivalent of a 3.0-liter V6. Through Lotus "Engine Downsizing" research, the development team was able to modify the engine through supercharging. Despite the base engines high 8,500-rpm redline and compression ratio, very few changes were required to adapt the engine for forced aspiration. A low-pressure Eaton M62 supercharger, an air-to-air intercooler fed by the roof scoop, and a new intake manifold, plenum and induction system, are the only new components required.

Seeing as this model will most likely be used as a track car, Lotus has also upgraded its cooling system to deal with the extra strain of high-revs for long durations of time. Dual oil coolers keep running temperatures low, while the new Accusump keeps pressure constant, even during the high G-forces of hard cornering.

With the supercharged engine, Lotus claims that the Exige 240R has a maximum power output of 243-horsepower at 8,000 rpm, with 174 lb-ft of torque developed at 7,000 rpm. The revised Lotus-T4 engine management system has also been reprogrammed to adapt to the additional power gains and the different power delivery. The computer has been altered to change the timing of the cam-change from the low-power to the hi-power shafts. The result: linear power delivery from just 4,000 rpm.

With its extremely close-ratio six-speed gearbox, the Exige 240R is capable of time-bending acceleration: 60 mph is reached from a standstill within 3.9 seconds, while 100 mph is reached in just 9.9 seconds. Not only is the Exige one of the quickest accelerating Lotuses in history, its also one of the fastest, with a top speed of 155 mph. At 2,050 pounds, the 240R has an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 8.4 pounds per hp, which pays off in both acceleration and in handling.

Like any serious performance machine, the chassis and suspension are tuned according to the amount of power produced by the engine to increase the cars overall performance potential. Lotus engineers are truly serious about corners, and have set the car up for the best balance between downforce, speed, and balance. In addition to special springs, the car also receives adjustable Ohlins dampers with 60 compression settings, and adjustable anti-roll bars which allow drivers to fine-tune their vehicles according to road and weather conditions.

Uprated brakes are also an integral part of the 240Rs high performance package. New pads, steel-braided hoses and a combination of calipers (AP in front and Brembo in back) give the Exige unparalleled braking abilities with no fade. As for the wheel and tire package, the car rides on sticky 195/50WR17 front and 225/45WR 17 rear Yokohama A048 tires, built to Lotus specifications.

On the outside, theres very little that separates the 240R model from the regular Exige. Both cars are wild, with aggressive body kits sporting front and rear spoilers to increase downforce; however, one can distinguish the 240R by its exterior details which include an anodized rear diffuser, large rear wing and "Stage One" sport exhaust system. One major difference (if you know Lotus color portfolio), is that the 240R can be had in one of two unique colors - Sport Yellow with Satin Black painted wheels or Sport Black with High Performance Silver painted wheels.

Inside, Lotus has stripped out the interior of the Exige in order to save weight; however, there are a few additions and special amenities. Yellow-accented gearshift, handbrake and door inserts are new, as are composite-backed racing bucket seats with four-point harnesses and an alloy plaque designating the production number. A motorsport-certified roll bar has also been installed in the interior. As for amenities, little else aside from central locking, air conditioning (which weighs only 33 pounds) and a

four-speaker Blaupunkt CD/radio system is available.

The Lotus Exige 240R will reaffirm with great certainty that Lotus is one of the worlds best sports car makers, and as usual, it just goes to show that a car doesnt need eight or twelve cylinders to rank amongst the best on the track.

Pricing has been set by Lotus at £43,995 or E62,000 (equivalent to $83,000 USD). Now heres the bad news: the production run for the 240R has been set at 50 units, 40 of which have been set aside for Europe, and another 10 of which are supposedly destined for Japan, although there is a very minute possibility that one or two units may make their way to North America.

While enthusiasts on this side of the pond might miss out on this supercar-humbling Exige, rest assured that Lotus will be making a strong comeback in North America. Perhaps the next high-performance variant will be available on our shores, but until then, well have to make do with the Exige 240Rs less frantic, but still enjoyable open-topped cousin, the Elise.