Lotus Exige Sport 350 introduced with added lightness

Lotus has announced a new variant for its Exige. The new Exige Sport 350 replaces the Exige S, and has been updated to be lighter and faster than before. It also adopts the ‘Sport’ naming designation, similar to the Elise Sport and Elise Sport 220.

Tipping the scales at just 1,125 kg, the Exige Sport 350 is 51 kg lighter compared to the previous Exige S. This weight loss is attributed to the introduction of a louvered tailgate panel, a lighter battery, engine mounts, centre console, with the latter featuring an exposed gearshift mechanism, HVAC pipework and optimised use of sound insulation.

Power still comes from a 3.5 litre supercharged V6 engine, providing 345 hp at 7,000 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. Paired with a heavily revised six-speed manual gearbox, the Exige Sport 350 will make the century sprint in 3.9 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 274 km/h.

A six-speed automatic (with paddle shifters) is also available here, capable of performing up-shifts in 240 miliseconds, while downshifts include an automatic throttle-blip when the car is placed in ‘Sport’ mode. With the auto box, the car does the 0-100 km/h sprint slightly quicker at 3.8 seconds, but is accompanied by a lower top speed (261 km/h) and a five kg bump in weight.

Beneath the metal, the Exige Sport 350 suspension setup now receives firmer dampers and a revised geometry to deliver better handling. This is aided by the car’s aerodynamic styling that produces 42 kg of downforce at 160 km/h. The Exige Sport 350 is capable of lapping Lotus’ Hethel track with a time of 1 minute 29.8 seconds, which is 2.5 seconds faster than the previous model.

Exterior features include LED headlights and tail lights and cast alloy wheels finished in gloss black, measuring 17 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear, wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres. The car’s front splitter, rear wing, front access panel, wing mirrors, rear transom, hard top and rear diffuser are finished in matte black, but can be repainted to another colour at no extra cost.

Inside, the Exige Sport 350’s cabin remains familiar with minor tweaks being introduced. The Lotus Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) system that allows drivers to opt between three modes – ‘Drive’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’, now gets larger switches with improved haptics.

Customers will also be able to select from a wide range of options as well. There are three trim pack offerings – Alcantara, leather, tartan, the latter of which is heritage theme that is a throwback to the Lotus Esprit S1, with a choice of red or yellow tartan. Other options include air-conditioning and a Clarion multimedia unit.

Performance-focused options include lightweight forged alloy wheels, plus cross drilled and vented two-piece brake discs. Select these two, and the Exige Sport 350 sheds even more weight, down to 1,115 kg. For aesthetic purposes, the brake calipers can be painted black or yellow as well.

The Lotus Exige Sport 350 goes on sale in Europe in February 2016, starting from 55,900 pounds (RM360,347), and will be available outside Europe, excluding North America from March 2016.

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