Lotus Just Unveiled the Most Extreme Exige Ever

Sitting midship in the Exige Cup 430 is Lotus’ Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter supercharged V6 engine, which is making a stout 430 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque in this application. It’s connected to a six-speed manual transmission (with an achingly cool exposed linkage) sending power to the rear wheels. Lotus claims it will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and go on to reach a top speed of 180 mph.

SEE ALSO: Lotus Introduces its Fastest Four-Cylinder Model Ever

A smattering of carbon fiber components have helped strip a considerable amount of weight from the Exige platform. Together, the new front and rear fascia panels are 6.8 kg (15 lbs) lighter than those on other Exige models. There’s also a lightweight steel rollover bar, a lighter lithium-ion battery, an aluminum rear diffuser, a handmade carbon roof, carbon race seats and carbon door sills, among more. Customers looking for the lightest, most track-focused Exige can also check boxes for an airbag delete, fire extinguisher controls, a non-airbag steering wheel and an FIA-compliant roll-cage. All told – the Exige Cup 430 will tip the scales at just (2,328 lbs) in its lightest form.

Further aiding in the Exige Cup 430’s on-track performance is the aero kit. With a large rear-diffuser, carbon front splitter and a motorsport-inspired rear wing, the aero kit makes 220 kg of downforce at 180 mph. To put this in perspective, Lotus says the Exige Cup 430 makes the same amount of downforce at 100 mph as the lesser Exige Cup 350 does at 170 mph.

The Exige Cup 430 will only be available to buyers in the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Prices will start at £99,800 in the UK, equivalent to about $130,000 USD.

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