Lotus Reveals Its Latest Exige That Has Been On A Diet

The carmaker, Lotus claims it is saving the "hardest until last" - with the new Exige 350 Special Edition, based on the "most extreme Exige to date".

The new Exige 350 weighs 26kg less than the Exige Sport 350, but has the same supercharged 3.5-litre V6 that makes 345bhp. All the weight saving has helped the car accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 170mph 273km/h.

Lotus has helped save weight on the car by using special panels, a lighter battery, and optimised sound insulation. The car also gets a new lightweight centre console that leaves the gear shift mechanism exposed.

The new special edition Exige is available with a six-speed manual gearbox only, and bits like the revised front panel, sculpted body, and the car's rear wing help gain better aerodynamics.

The flat underbody and rear diffuser add 42kg of downforce to the car at 100mph (161km/h). Firm suspension and better geometry help with better handling, while new tailgate lowers the Exige's centre of gravity.

The new Lotus Exige 350 Special Edition comes in four colours, namely Essex Blue, Old English White, Dark Metallic Grey and Motorsport Black.

All the colour options mentioned come with contrasting stripes on the body, red brake calipers covered by lightweight alloy wheels, and many other details finished in matte black.

Standard equipment in the special edition Exige includes cruise control, floor mats, and an infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, which can be specified.

Speaking about how much the special edition Exige 350 costs, prices start at £61,900, or an Indian equivalent of Rs 52.5 lakh.