The Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25 is a limited edition version of the Lotus Exige Cup 430. It references the famous Type 25, the Lotus race car that dominated the 1963 Formula 1 season.
Limited to 25 units, Lotus says that the special Exige sports a raft of exotic and unique features as well as specially commissioned heritage documentation. It’s “ensured instant collector status,” Norfolk adds.
Here’s why the Type 25 is a notable F1 car. Competing from 1962 to 1967, it abandoned existing conventions and was the first F1 car to use a fully stressed monocoque chassis design, reinforcing Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s reputation as a ground-breaking engineer. It led directly to the Lotus Type 33 and Type 49 race cars, themselves championship winning designs.
Winning three races in its first year at the hands of Jim Clark, the Type 25 just missed out on the Constructors’ Championship in the final race. The Type 25 came good in 1963, winning seven of the ten championship races, with seven pole positions and six fastest laps. It brought home the first Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships for the Lotus team.
The Exige Cup 430 Type 25 is finished in metallic Lotus Racing Green or Old English White, with contrasting pinstripes on the front splitter, front access panel, new and unique bargeboards, roof panel and rear wing, as well as unique decals on each rear buttress.
Inside, the Type 25 edition’s carbon race seats are trimmed in black Alcantara and feature bespoke trim, with a custom stripe for the head and backrest as well as new contrast double stitching, matched in the door panels and face-level vents. Body colour inserts can be found on the seats, transmission console, air con panel surround and window switches; mixed with carbon fibre elements. In a nod to the F1 car, there’s a wooden gear knob.
It’s nowhere as spartan as a race car though. Air con, a single-DIN head unit with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, a full carpet set and floor mats are standard; although owners can choose to delete items in the name of saving weight.
No changes under the body – the Exige Cup 430’s 3.5 litre V6 with an Edelbrock supercharger and charger cooler is good for 430 hp and 440 Nm of torque from 4,000 to 6,800 rpm. 0-100 km/h is done in 3.3 seconds on to a top speed of 290 km/h. 407 hp per tonne, 220 kg of downforce and dry weight from 1,056 kg means it laps the Hethel circuit in just 1 minute 24.8 seconds.
Available as standard with a (lovely open gate) six-speed manual, the Exige Cup 430 also includes a variable traction control function (six-position rotary switch), Nitron three-way adjustable dampers, Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres and forged four-piston AP Racing brake calipers.
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The Lotus Exige have English DNA but use a heart from Japan(toyota engine) & needed Chinese $$$ to relaunched its career. That a true global car.
And French CEO.
The magic is in the sweet 3.5 litre V6 engine.
Lotus, Geely > all
Heres a car whose RV will be above selling price.
I am very confused now.. Lotus is like an orphan.. everyone has a hand on it.. even Tony Fernandes.. now the Chinaman… but nobody really wants it
tony had no hand in it. he was just granted licensing rights to use the lotus name for his F1 venture and the “chinaman” you’re talking about is probably the most powerful man in the automotive business in China today.
Yes more powerful than Elon Musk..because Proton sales has dropped another 50% since Chinaman became CEO !…. It’s magnanimous to hire people who are blind as staff… but staff who follows blindly .
It’s rather pathetic
Lotus Geely Volvo > all
Seems like Lotus has been getting better and better now
Lotus has at last found their niche market. Coming out with endless limited editions.
Despite limited or not the edition, Lotus cars still looks and drive good even after years and years…. it’s definitely a collector item!!
Yes, agreed. It is very well managed now.
DRB made the right choice to hire Jean-Marc Gales