New Lotus Exige Sport 420 Final Edition

The Exige Sport 420 Final Edition has been launched to celebrate the Exige’s final year of production. First launched in 2000, the Exige has become the genre-defining definition of a race car for the road.

As standard, it features the most extensive list of interior and exterior features ever. The biggest change is the all-new TFT digital dashboard with the choice of two screens, one with a conventional set of dials and the other a race car-style with digital speed read-out and an engine speed bar.

The steering wheel is of a new design and clad in leather and alcantara. It features a flat base to create better leg clearance for taller drivers and to aid ingress and egress. Every car comes with a Final Edition build plaque, plus new seat trim and stitch patterns.

A new selection of colours has been introduced for the Exige Sport 420, harking back to some of the iconic colour schemes from Lotus’ past. They are split into two; Select, which includes Daytona Blue, Fire Red, Metallic Orange and Motorsport Black; and Hertitage, which includes Racing Green, Nightfall Blue, Essex Blue and Calypso Red.

It is powered by a 3.5-litre supercharged V6, with a baffled sump, mounted in a lightweight and rigid chassis that provides thrilling acceleration and instant response. Pure unassisted steering offers exquisite feedback and vivid communication at all speeds. The car benefits from its own, bespoke version of Lotus’ pioneering, bonded aluminium chassis, a unique rear subframe and forged aluminium double wishbone suspension at the rear.

The Exige Sport 420 Final Edition gains an extra 10bhp and replaces the outgoing Sport 410. It is the fastest Exige available, topping out at 180mph, with 0-60mph completed in 3.3 seconds. With its light weight of 1,110 kg and 420hp (giving a power to weight of 378bhp per tonne) and 427Nm from the supercharged and chargecooled V6 engine, coupled with a flat torque curve and maximum power available to maximum revs, the Exige is regarded as the most complete driving car of its class.

The list of standard equipment is impressive. Front and rear Eibach anti-roll bars are adjustable and the three-way adjustable Nitron dampers allow for different high and low speed compression settings. The car rides on 10-spoke Anthracite lightweight forged alloy wheels (7.5J x 17” front, 10J x 18” rear) with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (215/45 ZR17 front and 285/30 ZR18 rear). Stopping power comes from AP Racing brakes with forged, four-piston calipers and two-piece J-hook brake discs. With a higher thermal capacity and improved bite, these discs offer improved debris clearance and reduced vibration for more consistent pedal feel and greater, fade-free performance.

Technical Specifications

ENGINE

Type – Supercharged V6, 24 valve, dual VVT-i, water-cooled
Displacement – 3456cc
Max. power – 313 kW @ 7000 rpm
Max. torque – 427 Nm @ 2600 – 7000 rpm
Power-to-weight – 282 W/kg

TRANSMISSION

Gearbox – Sports ratio 6-speed manual transmission
Differential – Electronic Lock

PERFORMANCE

Top Speed – 290 km/h
Acceleration – 0-100 km/h 3.4 s
Power to weight ratio – 282 W/kg

BODY & CHASSIS

Chassis – Lightweight aluminium extruded and bonded
Body – Lightweight composite
Suspension – Eibach coaxial coil springs, front and rear
Nitron 3-way adjustable dampers

STEERING & BRAKES

Steering System – Unassisted rack and pinion steering with 2.86 turns lock-to-lock
Brake System – AP Racing four-piston calipers
Brake Callipers – Red painted
Performance Aids – Hydraulic Brake Assist [HBA]
Performance Aids – Electronic Brake Distribution [EBD]
Performance Aids – Cornering Brake Control [CBC]
Performance Aids – Driver selectable ESP modes – Drive/Sport/Race

WHEELS

Wheels – Gloss black forged alloy wheels [17″ front and 18″ rear]
Tyres – front Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 215/45 R17
Tyres – rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 285/30 R18

DIMENSIONS

Length – 4,084mm
Width – 1,802mm
Height – 1,129mm
Weight – 1,110kg
Fuel Tank Capacity – 48 litres

CONSUMPTION & EMISSIONS

Fuel Consumption l/100 km:
Low 16.8
Medium 9.9
High 8.5
Extra high 9.4
Combined 10.2
CO2 Emissions (combined) – 230 g/km