Lotus Sport Exige 240R

[BMWDave]

Lotus Sport Exige 240R  


Let's face it: while the Exige is a sports car enthusiasts' dream, it is not above criticism. For example, the 1.8-litre Toyota engine has to be worked very hard to enjoy the best of its performance. And despite those track car looks, the Lotus' chassis lacks the adjustability which circuit drivers crave.

Now, the firm has found a way around the foibles by fitting a supercharger, to boost power from 189bhp to 243bhp. Along with other upgrades, this is aimed at making the limited-edition 240R the ultimate trackday car.

Its lowered suspension has adjustable dampers, while at the front the unique alloys are half-an-inch wider than the basic Exige's. There are also new race-spec brakes, plus a special oil pump to prevent the engine running dry during extreme cornering. The model does not lack luxury, though, as air-con and two-tone trim come as standard inside. But despite these touches, the 240R is clearly for hard driving. There is a real sense of occasion as you nestle into the sports seats, clip together the four-point harness, then fire up the engine.

At idle, the motor sounds more potent than the standard car's, helped by the whine of the supercharger mounted neatly on the engine behind you. The linear power delivery does not immediately give a sensation of explosive acceleration, but the extra low-down urge is both welcome and effective.

Use all 8,000rpm and the little Lotus delivers incredible pace, with a claimed 9.9-second 0-100mph time. It impresses with extraordinary grip, agility and ride quality, despite the firmer suspension. The sole downside to the 240R is that the company will build only 50 of them - and they are already sold. Still, Lotus' Sport division plans to offer the supercharger kit as an aftermarket option, making the Exige one of the cheapest ways into supercar ownership.
Brett Fraser

[Fire It Up]

uhm, good.

[giant_mtb]

I really like the 240R's.

[BMWDave]

I really like the 240R's.

Dont we all  

[Raghavan]

i like the regular one better.

[R33 GT-R]

It's tight.

[giant_mtb]

It's tight.

Tight like that new sig.  :o      

[R33 GT-R]

It's tight.

Tight like that new sig.  :o    

Boo Ya!

 

[Secret Chimp]

I don't understand why they give this thing a different name when it's just an Elise variant.

[giant_mtb]

I don't understand why they give this thing a different name when it's just an Elise variant.

240 is probably for the HP (243) and the R is probably for racing.  That's the only reason they name it different that I can think of.  If they just called it the Elise 240R that would work just as well...but oh well.

[RS200]

Exige has always been the race-car type of Elise. I want this car so so bad it's disgusting. With a pulley and a few other doo-dads, it could hit at least 30hp more. Whatever happened to the other Exige Sport, the one with the light-weight, high-revving 400hp Chevy V6?

[giant_mtb]

Exige has always been the race-car type of Elise. I want this car so so bad it's disgusting. With a pulley and a few other doo-dads, it could hit at least 30hp more. Whatever happened to the other Exige Sport, the one with the light-weight, high-revving 400hp Chevy V6?

Is that the stripped-down one?

[SJ_GTI]

Coupe = Exige
Open Top = Elise

[Raghavan]

Exige has always been the race-car type of Elise. I want this car so so bad it's disgusting. With a pulley and a few other doo-dads, it could hit at least 30hp more. Whatever happened to the other Exige Sport, the one with the light-weight, high-revving 400hp Chevy V6?

Is that the stripped-down one?

yes. the ultra fast one.

[TBR]

Coupe = Exige
Open Top = Elise

Yep, so according to Raza's definition of sports car the Exige is a grand tourer.  

[R33 GT-R]

Only if taken to the 3rd power.

[Raza]

I don't understand why they give this thing a different name when it's just an Elise variant.

240 is probably for the HP (243) and the R is probably for racing.  That's the only reason they name it different that I can think of.  If they just called it the Elise 240R that would work just as well...but oh well.

There've been 111S and the 111R, so the R has been around.  The Exige is fundamentally different than the Elise since it's got a hard top, a larger fixed wing, and more power.  It's a different car than the Elise.  The CL is essentially an S class coupe, but it's got a different model designation.  The Elise and Exige are at least as different as those two are.  One's a sports car, one's a GT/track car.

[giant_mtb]

Exige has always been the race-car type of Elise. I want this car so so bad it's disgusting. With a pulley and a few other doo-dads, it could hit at least 30hp more. Whatever happened to the other Exige Sport, the one with the light-weight, high-revving 400hp Chevy V6?

Is that the stripped-down one?

yes. the ultra fast one.

Is that the one that only has like half the body panels?