[Source: LotusCars]

Is this the quickest ever real-world production car?
It is certainly the quickest Lotus production car - so far!

The Lotus Exige S is the latest addition to the Exige range and is a real sportscar that redefines the term 'Extreme Performance'. With 90.5 kW / litre (121.4 hp / litre, 123 PS / litre), it is one of most powerful production cars in the world for its engine size but most importantly it has full type approval for all the markets in which it will be sold. The Lotus Exige S is not a limited edition, nor is it an aftermarket special - it is manufactured from start to finish in the world leading and award winning Lotus Manufacturing facility at Hethel, Norfolk.

Because the basic car is so immensely strong but lightweight (935 kg, 2057 lbs), giving a power to weight ratio of 173.8 kW/tonne (233.2 hp/tonne, 236.4 PS/tonne), performance is phenomenal, with 100 km/h being reached from a standing start in 4.3 seconds (0 - 60 mph in 4.1 seconds) and 160 km/h (100 mph) being reached in 9.98 seconds (estimate) before topping out at 238 km/h (148 mph). Inspite of this phenomenal performance the fuel economy is impressive with an official combined figure of 9.1 litres / 100 km (31.0 mpg) - extra urban is an impressive 7.2 litres / 100 km (39.2 mpg).

However the Exige S is not just a track day warrior. It is a sportscar that would be at home on the back roads, freeways and autobahns, as well as on city streets. With an extremely 'torquey' engine and the classic Lotus suspension set-up of soft compliant springs and firm controllable dampers, the driving experience is an uncanny combination of telepathic-like handling with a taught and comfortable ride. There is really no car that handles quite like a Lotus.

The Lotus Exige S in more detail

The Driving Experience

For what is probably the quickest 'real world' production car, the driving experience has to be pretty special. The lightweight composite seats with ProBax technology hug the driver and passenger giving the right amount of support and security to cope with acceleration, braking and cornering forces of well over 1g. The steering wheel is a small off-centre leather clad unit (both the airbag wheel and the non-airbag wheel) and is set in just the right position for comfort, driver dexterity and feedback. The gear stick is located just 15 cm (6 inches) from the steering wheel for quick, accurate and safe gear changes and the lightweight steel and aluminium pedals are located in just the right position for heel and toeing. The Lotus Exige S doesn't have a multitude of user adjustment to the wheel or seat position - Lotus believes that the driving position is pretty close to perfect anyway!

What does acceleration feel like in a Lotus Exige S? First of all the feeling of acceleration is mildly addictive. Few vehicles, aside from racing cars, motorbikes and extreme theme-park rides, can pull this amount of g-force under acceleration, braking and cornering. This gives a safe, but fun (even exhilarating) experience that you can only get from such a finely honed sportscar.

The Engine

The heart of the Exige S is a Roots-type supercharger and air to air intercooler attached to the tried and tested 4-cylinder, 1.8 litre 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine. Using a development of the supercharger and intercooler package developed first for the already legendary Lotus Sport Exige 240R, the Exige S has peak power of 162.5 kW (221 PS, 218 hp) at 7800 rpm, 215 Nm

(158.6 lb ft) of torque at 5500 rpm (but 80% is produced at just over 2000 rpm). Maximum engine speed is 8000 rpm (8500 rpm transient for up to 2 seconds). 162.5 kW (218 hp, 221 PS) is the figure that has been achieved by Lotus Engineers whilst retaining full vehicle type approval for the markets in which it is sold. A slightly redesigned air intake and roof scoop has been added to the Exige S to ensure that the air to air intercooler works as efficiently and effectively as possible in all climates and environments. A single oval exhaust exits from the centre of the undertray.

Aerodynamics is the key

The Lotus Exige S uses the same aerodynamic package as the standard Exige. Like all Lotus cars, the Lotus Exige S isn't all about straight-line performance. The Lotus Exige S is one of the quickest cars on normal roads and also around a circuit. Key to this incredible performance is the aerodynamic package, which creates 41.2 kg (90.64 lbs) of downforce - 19.3 kg (42.46 lbs) at the front and 21.9 kg (48.18 lbs) at the rear - at 160 km/h (100 mph). This downforce ratio between front (47%) and rear (53%) is balanced and remains constant at the speeds of which the Exige S is capable.

The Legendary Chassis and Body

The Lotus Exige S is built around the revolutionary and award winning extruded and bonded aluminium tub, with a light weight steel rear subframe, as used in the Exige. The chassis tub itself weighs just 68 kg (150 lbs) and has a stiffness of 10,500 Nm per degree.

At the end of 2005, Lotus developed and built the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 to suit the new FIA GT3 sportscar championship regulations. Weighing in at just 750 kg and producing around 285 hp, the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 is suitable for this new power to weight ratio racing. The Lotus Sport Exige GT3 also uses a Roots type supercharger, an air-to-air intercooler (both are race prepared) and the 1.8 2ZZ-GE VVTL-I engine. The base engine and supercharger system is identical in the Lotus Exige S. So with the Exige S acting as the base, a competitive GT3 sportscar has been successfully developed!

Engine Down-Sizing is key to the Exige S

Lotus Engineering had to ensure that there were minimal changes to the normally aspirated 2ZZ-GE engine, which arrives fully dressed from Toyota for the Exige and the Elise 111R. The lightweight 2ZZ-GE engine, with a compact metal matrix composite alloy cylinder block, is a perfect unit on which to conduct the necessary research, as it runs to a high 8500 rpm, with a very high compression ratio of 11.5:1. The only changes needed to be made to the engine were the addition of a low pressure supercharger (and the longer drive belt that this requires), the intercooler and a new intake manifold, plenum and induction system.

An electronic drive-by-wire throttle ensures the quickest engine response possible whilst keeping the emissions clean and as low as possible, to meet relevant legislative demands.

The Roots-type supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require the use of the engine's oil) is run from the crankshaft, and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation.

Charge air (air under pressure from the supercharger) is cooled through an air to air intercooler (the cooling air enters via the redesigned roof scoop) before being fed into the engine itself. All charge air ducting has been kept as short as possible with large diameter pipes making sure that the bends in these ducts are not too tight, to the benefit of throttle response and efficiency.

The Lotus T4e Engine Management system is used in the Lotus Exige S.

This engine management system has been programmed to optimise the supercharged engine.

The lightweight C64 six-speed gearbox (with an aluminium casing) is fitted with the closest ratios and gearset afforded by the transmission. The gearbox offers a fast, precise and light gearshift, ensuring drivers have total control and flexibility to apply the power exactly as and when required.

Equipment and Options

ProBax Seats
ProBax seats help to significantly improve the postural position of the driver and passenger by maintaining the natural curvature of the spine, so improving comfort and improving the body's blood flow.

Touring Packs
The Touring Pack includes electric windows, black suede effect interior with leather highlights, full carpet set, high specification DAB Radio and CD/MP3 player, sound insulation, auxiliary front driving lamps and interior stowage net.

The Super Touring Pack includes the contents of the Touring Pack plus an upgraded interior trim with driver and passenger airbags, high specification leather covered steering wheel, front speakers located in the fascia top panel, engine start button, trinket tray stowage unit, cup holder, leather handbrake sleeve, leather handbrake gaiter and gear shift knob and embroidered logo premium floor mats.

Sports Packs
The Sports Pack includes switchable Lotus Traction Control (LTC) - see later for a full explanation of LTC. In addition, it is equipped with sports seats and a T45 steel roll-over hoop and harness bar for the aftermarket fitment of four point harnesses for track use only.

The Super Sports Pack includes the contents of the Sports Pack plus black coloured ultra lightweight seven-twin spoke forged (6.5J front, 7.5J rear) alloy wheels (giving an unsprung weight saving of 2.7 kg (6 lbs) for each front wheel and 1.3 kg (2.8 lbs) for each rear wheel - compared to the already lightweight cast wheels), track suspension with Eibach springs and Bilstein one-way adjustable dampers - with a single adjuster for bump and rebound - and adjustable ride height), adjustable front anti-roll bar and a double-shear rear traction control arm brace.

Lotus Traction Control and Limited Slip Differential

A switchable Lotus Traction Control System (LTC) is available for the Exige S. The LTC works through the Lotus T4e Engine Management System to reduce power when required to maintain traction. Unlike many traction control systems, LTC has been tuned to complement the skills of the driver without taking over. The Lotus LTC is active above 8 km/h (5 mph) and operates much more quickly than many brake based systems. The system can be deactivated with an illuminated button, which is located adjacent to the gear lever. A Torsen type limited slip differential (LSD) is also available for tight and twisty driving (such as in auto tests). The LSD is only available if LTC has been specified and is not available by itself.

Air-conditioning

Air-conditioning is available as a cost option (standard in some markets) and weighs in at a featherweight 15 kg ('33 lbs).

A Comprehensive Range of Colours

The range of colours, from standard solid shades to metallic and fashionable lifestyle colours is available. Colours include black, shades of silver, shades of blue, a vivid Aspen White, non metallic British Racing Green, a hot Chilli Red, a high metallic Solar Yellow and a harmonious Autumn Gold.

The total number of colours available is 20, excluding the bespoke custom colours.