[AutoGuide.com]

The most exciting car in the Lotus lineup isn’t available in America. Or at least it’s not available if you plan to drive it on the street.

On display at the Lotus stand at the LA Auto Show, the Exige V6 Cup car is a track day special designed as a purpose built racecar. The unique package is essentially the front two-thirds of an older Elise/Exige chassis mated to the back one-third of an Evora.

Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 supercharged engine it boasts 345 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

SEE ALSO: 2013 LA Auto Show Coverage

Weighing in at a scant 2,447 lbs depending on the spec, the interior is pretty much gutted out as a race car should be. What you’ll get for $100,450 (including destination) is a lightweight bonded aluminum structure reinforced by an FIA approved roll cage. Outfitted with a fully independent suspension, Lotus ups the ante with a set of Eibach springs and Nitron two-way adjustable dampers. Braking performance comes courtesy of four-piston calipers with two-piece aluminum bell discs while you’ll be competing on a set of Pirelli Trofeo tires.

Interestingly enough, you can also pony up an extra $1,800 to nab yourself air conditioning if that’s your cup of tea. Diamond cut wheels in a 17- and 18-inch staggered sizing is available for $550 extra while the flashy motorsport paint will run you another $3,200. And considering that the paint investment isn’t cheap, an extra $550 will get you StarShield paint protection.

The Lotus Exige V6 Cup is eligible to race in the Lotus Cup Series in the USA, Europe, UK, Italy and Thailand.

See more Lotus Exige V6 Cup photos at AutoGuide.com

 

[w00tw00t]

Why couldn't lotus make this street legal in probably its largest market in the world?!!

 

[4380r]

Why couldn't lotus make this street legal in probably its largest market in the world?!!

The market is the 'largest' in that there are a lot of people here, but the actual market for this as a street car, at the price point it would have to be, compared to what its competitors would be, would likely not profitably offset the cost to federalize it.

Remember, when the Elise was introduced, there were waits for the car. Two years later, they were luck to sell a couple hundred.

For this Exige, once the initial demand is met in its first year, they wouldn't be able to give them away.

Lotus also has the issue of making mostly small changes to cars year over year, meaning new cars are competing with essentially the same lightly used cars for sale privately.

 

[rcollum]

$$$$$

Why couldn't lotus make this street legal in probably its largest market in the world?!!

The answer is, simple math. How much to federalize a new model? Millions. Divided by how many sales? Maybe dozens.

It's also the reason why the newer versions of the Elise & Exige 4-bangers are not sold here.

 

[ageshelin]

re: V6 Cup car

I think Lotus is starting to loose track of the market...

At least in NA there is so much to choose from.

What we have here is 345Hp and 2500lbs in track form or probably at most 345hp and 2800lbs in Federalized form for at least $100k

A 2014 Corvette is 460hp and 3200lbs Federalized, easy to maintain and out the door for $60k?

Track form (just strip the interior + headers) and the 'Vette is 2900lbs and 500hp for $75k. A used z06 is half... but that is another topic.

Otherwise, look at Cayman 340hp, 3000lbs under $100k.

Am I just missing something? or the excellent Lotus marketing and mistique!

Do not take me wrong. I love the Lotus concept. I think when they took it the wrong way... you see what happens, if one is rational.

Everybody is selling a 3000lbs 500hp conventional sports car. Corvette, Viper, Porsche, Nissan, Ford, etc. they have all bases and tastes covered from the low-tech Mustang, cheap BRZ to trackable 'Vette to exotic Ferrari's and Lambo's. Same formula. Even Miata has strayed and balooned.

What we need is 2000lbs (maybe a dream, but truly under 2500lbs) sports car with 300hp (my fingers wanted to type 400... ). This is the original Elige formula. There is nothing in the market for it.... if there is a market...

Anton

 

[Senna's Dad]

I would buy the federalized Exige V6 in a heart beat.

 

[ageshelin]

re: Federalized V6 Exige

For $125,000? Even if it weighed close to 3000lbs? Would You? and how many others?

Just trying to inject reality into the conversation.

Anton

I would buy the federalized Exige V6 in a heart beat.

 

[blankdan]

One thing that caught my eye in the above article - why is StarShield on this Exige $550 when on all other Lotus is ~$100? Are they covering the entire car in SS or using some special type of SS?

 

[lotus90]

For 100k I would buy Elise and evora. Make Elise track car and use for evora street.

 

[ramy w]

Someone please explain to me why this car would cost more than a fully loaded Evora S?

they removed the interior (passenger seat, probably leather from the drivers seat, stereo/GPS, speakers, carpet, headliner), AC, Headlights, turn signals, power windows, power locks, cup holder, and probably a host of other things that you can get in an EVORA S (which has the same powerplant). So you get 25% less car for 10% more money? And its not street legal. Sure you get a roll cage, adjustable suspension, maybe better brakes and track tires...but come on

 

[Copple]

Someone please explain to me why this car would cost more than a fully loaded Evora S?

they removed the interior (passenger seat, probably leather from the drivers seat, stereo/GPS, speakers, carpet, headliner), AC, Headlights, turn signals, power windows, power locks, cup holder, and probably a host of other things that you can get in an EVORA S (which has the same powerplant). So you get 25% less car for 10% more money? And its not street legal. Sure you get a roll cage, adjustable suspension, maybe better brakes and track tires...but come on

For the same reason people spend $30-50k more on a Porsche GT3 Cup car vs just picking up a street legal GT3 and doing the mods themselves.

And to answer a post above - I would hope that if the Exige V6 was legal here it would be in the $70-80k range (which is in line with some Euro conversions). For that money I think a lot of people would pick them up. For $125 I think you'd find only the few diehard fans standing in line. Sadly though, we won't have the chance.


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[skxf430]

I would pick up a street legal V6 Exige in a heart beat. The Exige Cup has been available for almost a year now, and I think only a couple have been sold so far. The public doesn't relate to the Cup because there isn't even a street legal version to be had.

Lotus' business model in the US seems completely upside down. And, how many Evoras are sold each year?

For Lotus not to offer a pure sports car in the US is a serious flaw.

 

[Leojmcca]

For $125,000? Even if it weighed close to 3000lbs? Would You? and how many others?

Just trying to inject reality into the conversation.

Anton

I agree. Look at the new Viper. They redesigned the car and increased the price to a similar price point $130K for the car you would want. First year sales will likely be 426 cars. Now that all the guys who had to be the first kids on the block have one, I think they"ll be lucky to sell another 300 next year at this price point or unless they make a major model addition like adding a convertible or ACR (track version)

 

[pray4mojo]

I think Lotus is starting to loose track of the market...

At least in NA there is so much to choose from.

What we have here is 345Hp and 2500lbs in track form or probably at most 345hp and 2800lbs in Federalized form for at least $100k

A 2014 Corvette is 460hp and 3200lbs Federalized, easy to maintain and out the door for $60k?

Track form (just strip the interior + headers) and the 'Vette is 2900lbs and 500hp for $75k. A used z06 is half... but that is another topic.

Otherwise, look at Cayman 340hp, 3000lbs under $100k.

Am I just missing something? or the excellent Lotus marketing and mistique!

Do not take me wrong. I love the Lotus concept. I think when they took it the wrong way... you see what happens, if one is rational.

Everybody is selling a 3000lbs 500hp conventional sports car. Corvette, Viper, Porsche, Nissan, Ford, etc. they have all bases and tastes covered from the low-tech Mustang, cheap BRZ to trackable 'Vette to exotic Ferrari's and Lambo's. Same formula. Even Miata has strayed and balooned.

What we need is 2000lbs (maybe a dream, but truly under 2500lbs) sports car with 300hp (my fingers wanted to type 400... ). This is the original Elige formula. There is nothing in the market for it.... if there is a market...

Anton

Alfa Romeo 4C is the closest thing price at under $60k with 240bhp and a Federal weight of what is guessed to be ~2500lbs. Hard be believe that to make them road legal in the US they had to add ~500lbs of safety.

 

[tvacc]

One thing that caught my eye in the above article - why is StarShield on this Exige $550 when on all other Lotus is ~$100? Are they covering the entire car in SS or using some special type of SS?

I don't know how much you paid for your starshield, but when I bought my 2005 Elise in Feb/05 I seem to recall it was close to a grand on my car.

 

[+TSRAGR]

Someone please explain to me why this car would cost more than a fully loaded Evora S?

Mostly exclusivity, but it's also a much lower production run than the Evora. The price will naturally be north of what we consider to be its real value.

 

[ervsch]

And to answer a post above - I would hope that if the Exige V6 was legal here it would be in the $70-80k range (which is in line with some Euro conversions). For that money I think a lot of people would pick them up. For $125 I think you'd find only the few diehard fans standing in line. Sadly though, we won't have the chance.

At a $70-80k price point I'd be making a beeline to Gator Motorsports to order one. Above that though I'm out of the market. Twice what I paid for my Elise in 2005, I'm ok with that - and I'm ready for a replacement.

I get the point that like the Viper, the first year sales would be "the" sales volume, but hopefully there would be enough of us at that price point to make it worthwhile for Lotus. Announce it, hype it to us, make us wait a couple of years... it worked for the Elise.

 

[ervsch]

What we need is 2000lbs (maybe a dream, but truly under 2500lbs) sports car with 300hp (my fingers wanted to type 400... ). This is the original Elige formula. There is nothing in the market for it.... if there is a market...

Anton

Or maybe that...

 

[4380r]

At a $70-80k price point I'd be making a beeline to Gator Motorsports to order one. Above that though I'm out of the market. Twice what I paid for my Elise in 2005, I'm ok with that - and I'm ready for a replacement.

I get the point that like the Viper, the first year sales would be "the" sales volume, but hopefully there would be enough of us at that price point to make it worthwhile for Lotus. Announce it, hype it to us, make us wait a couple of years... it worked for the Elise.

How did it 'work' for the Elise? Isn't a car company in business to sustain itself, preferrably sustain growth. Lotus was able to, over a couple of years, sell more cars in the U.S. than ever, but what did it get them in the long run?

The Elise and Exige are gone, and are they even selling 100 new Evoras per year here? Have you seen how many Evoras, new and used, are for sale in all the various outlets? Even here, when people inquire about buying a new Evora, they come here and ask if anyone knows of a dealer giving steep discounts. When your audience only wants your product on the cheap, you won't last long.

Big problem with the Elise, and would likely be so with this car if it were legal, is that Lotus cannot afford drammatic upgrades to cars year over year. So after one short year the 2006 Elises were competing with new car prices against an ever growing number of low mileage used Elises for sale that were essentially the identical car that were being sold for many thousands less than new.

 

[ervsch]

How did it 'work' for the Elise? Isn't a car company in business to sustain itself, preferrably sustain growth. Lotus was able to, over a couple of years, sell more cars in the U.S. than ever, but what did it get them in the long run?

Absolutely correct - it didn't work for Lotus because they had the unrealistic notion that the Elise/Exige would keep selling at the '05/06 numbers. On top of that the Evora was the wrong car - not competitive or exciting enough to create its own niche. And, the long rumored Esprit will be way out of my league if it ever comes.

Lotus needs exciting products that drive a market - that make me want to buy a new one every few years. Again, I understand the expense and effort of bringing the Exige S to the market. As it is now though, what would you have Lotus do lotusforsale - just give it all up and fold?