Now owned by the Chinese Geely, the small British sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars has just unveiled the most poisonous Lotus Exige ever – the Cup 430. The car that, guarantees the brand's CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, “we have always wanted to build and with which, we are certain, any Lotus enthusiast will be delighted”.
After the presentation of the Elise Cup 260 and Evora GT430, the last two special editions, Lotus now sets the bar higher in the Exige range as well, with the launch of a version that, although based on the same 3.5-liter V6. made by Toyota that drives the Exige 380, guarantees a substantial increase in power. More precisely, 430 hp, that is, an increase of 55 hp compared to the standard version. Also accompanied by more torque — 440 Nm in total.
A Lotus Exige that makes 3.2s from 0 to 100 km/h
Equipped as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, the Lotus Exige Cup 430 also announces accelerations from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds, to set a top speed of 290 km/h. Here too, an increase of 16 km/h compared to the standard version.
In terms of the exterior, the new special series features a new aerodynamic kit, which includes, among others, a new front splitter, new front grilles and a huge rear wing, which together guarantee a downforce of 220 kg. This, in a proposal that, thanks to the option for a body in carbon fiber, weighs no more than 1,056 kg. Contact with the floor is made through light alloy wheels that can be either red, black or silver, covered by Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, measuring 215/45 ZR17 on the front axle and 285/ 30 ZR18 on the rear wheels.
Fastest ever in Hethel
Also as a business card, the Lotus Exige Cup 430 announces a return to the Hethel circuit in just 1m24.8s, a time that makes this new proposal by the British brand the fastest ever on this historic circuit — faster, even, than the Lotus 3-Eleven!
On the other hand, unlike the most recent special series, the new Exige Cup 430 promises not to be as exclusive as these, and can even be ordered now, with prices starting at 99,800 pounds in the United Kingdom, 127,500€ in Germany and € 128,600 in France. For Portugal, where there is no official importer, prices are unknown.
