Lotus Exige Sport 240: Australian-Specific Exige Sports Car

Motoring Channel Staff - 28/August/2007

Chipping Norton, Australia — Sports car fans rejoice, for Lotus Australia has will unveil its newest and fastest Exige to ever go on sale in Australia at the Australian International Motor Show in October.

The special edition Lotus Exige Sport 240 is priced at $149,990 and goes on sale at the Australian International Motor Show, from October 11.

According to Jonathan Stretton of Lotus Cars Australia, this special edition model comes along during the most successful year for Lotus Australia: "Year-to-date, Lotus Australia has more than doubled its 2006 retail sales. In 2007 we are likely to exceed the highest sales ever in Australia by 20 percent. Adopting a more focused strategy in Australia is serving us well and the introduction of the Exige Sport 240 further emphasises the importance and relevance of Australia for Lotus Cars."

Power for the new model has been improved to 179kW, or 240 horsepower, and for the first time in Australia the Exige has been fitted with driver-adjustable stand-alone traction control, which Lotus says is similar to the systems currently used in Formula 1.

The 1.8-litre supercharged mid-mounted 4-cylinder engine gets a torque boost from 215Nm to 230Nm, thanks in large part to upgraded fuel injectors and a new ECU map. This allows the car to rival the Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari F430 in the zero to 100km/h sprints, which takes the lightweight British car just 4.2 seconds.

Furthermore, it accelerates from zero to 160km/h in 9.9 seconds and has a top speed of almost 250km/h.

The Lotus Sport 240 gets bigger brakes, new body work, and the suspension uses one-way adjustable dampers with adjustable ride height (and adjustable front sway bar) says Lotus, all of which allow drivers to tune the car for track days.

"This Exige Sport 240 will only be available in Australia. We have worked with the Lotus factory in the UK to select specific styling and performance parts based on what we know will improve performance, but also taking into account customer feedback and current trends in this market," said Jonathan Stretton, the manager of sales and marketing at Lotus Cars Australia.

"Designed specifically for Australia, we are excited and proud to add this bespoke Exige to our existing range. Cars like the Exige Sport 240 show our passion and commitment to the Australian market," added Mr Stretton.

Lotus says the Exige Sport 240 will be the most exclusive Exige to hit Australian showrooms says Lotus, with only half a dozen of the new models to be initially available in launch colours. These colours are as follows:

Blaze Orange 
Sapphire Black

Lotus explains the Blaze Orange model comes with black highlights on the front splitter, wheels, rear wing end plates, and around the rear lights. The Sapphire Black model gets a Chrome Orange front splitter and rear wing end plates.

Both models get lightweight Lotus Sport forged five-spoke OZ alloy wheels. The Blaze Orange car has black wheels, the Sapphire Black model fitted with silver rims. For the first time in Australia, the signature Exige roof scoop will extend forward from the engine compartment to the top of the windscreen to supply an increased volume of air to the intercooler, whilst also giving the car more visual presence.

The Exige Sport 240 is fitted with stronger brakes to match its newfound power reserves, in the form of AP 4-piston calipers on the front with 308mm two-piece front vented discs and braided hoses. On the rear, new Brembo single-piston calipers work on 288mm rotors (Pagid brake pads are fitted all around).

Grip is enhanced via 'R' compound Yokohama A048 LTS tyres, with 16-inch 195/50s at the front, and 17-inch 225/45s at the rear. There's also a BS4 T45 steel roll-over hoop and struts.

Developed from the Lotus Sport UK GT3 motorsport program, the advanced electronic traction control system utilises a driver-adjustable control knob to dial-in one of 18 preset levels of traction control intervention explains Lotus, which allows for "the ultimate in driver control in any road condition, wet or dry".

Moreover, the new system utilises an electronic launch-control system. Dial in the desired revs, floor the throttle and it will hold at the determined point until the clutch is released for perfect starts every time.

"The Exige Sport 240 is a car entirely comfortable on the road for everyday use. Take it to the track and it will be blisteringly quick and will outpace cars two or three times the price," Mr. Stretton said. But anyone that's driven an Exige will know that the terms 'everyday use' and 'Lotus Exige' are rarely used in the same sentence. This is a race track car, pure and simple.

Related articles:
- Lotus Europa S (2006)
- Type 72 Lotus Elise (2002)
- Lotus Elise (2001)