British sports car manufacturer Lotus has unveiled their latest lightweight special edition model – the Exige Cup 380.
The Cup is an even more stripped down version of the Exige and the follow-on from the Sport 380. It uses the same 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine from the Race variation that produces 375bhp.
That impressive engine paired with the lightweight chassis – which has a dry weight of 1,057kg – means the Exige Cup can go from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 175mph. A six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard.
Using carbon-fibre bodywork panels to make it even lighter, the Lotus brand – who are well known for producing featherweight sports cars – has produced a car that is expected to be great both on the road and on track.
With aerodynamic sections added to the frame, such as a new spoiler, louvers to the front wheel arches, a race diffuser to the rear underside and aeroblades to improve air flow from the rear wheels. This helps to create 200kg of downforce at the top speed – 43 per cent more than on the Exige Sport.
Fitted especially with Michelin's Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, Lotus uses forged alloy wheels for further weight saving, and customers can choose to remove items to save even more weight, such as the airbags and adding a non-airbag steering wheel.
Customers can also choose to add an FIA compliant roll cage, race harness, electrical engine cut-off and fire extinguisher system so they can use the car is track events.
Inside, Lotus fits carbon-fibre sports seats with Alcantara trim and leather or tartan additions, an Alcantara steering wheel, carbon-fibre sills and improved graphics on the instruments.
Only 60 versions of the Exige Cup 380 are being built and each have a starting price of £83,000. All are available to be ordered now.