Lotus unveils Exige Sport 410 20th Anniversary edition

British sports car manufacturer Lotus has unveiled the Exige Sport 410 20th Anniversary edition to celebrate the rollout of the Exige Series 1, which was launched in 2000. Production of the Series 1 ended in 2004 when it was replaced by the then new-generation Series 2. The 20th Anniversary edition has a number of internal upgrades that pay tribute to its predecessors. It is priced at £79,900 (S$139,000).

Director of vehicle attributes at Lotus, Gavan Kershaw, said that the Exige has set new levels of ability ever since the first car in the series was introduced. The 20th Anniversary edition will now set a new standard for Lotus race and road cars. It perfectly illustrates the company’s core focus on performance through handling, aerodynamics, and use of lightweight materials. He claimed that he has won races with each version of the Exige. 

Lotus head of product marketing, Ema Forster, said that the 20th Anniversary builds upon Exige’s unmatched performance and handling. The new vehicle is meant for the track, and at the same time, bread for the road, she added.

The paint scheme of the 20th Anniversary edition comprises retro-inspired colours. These include Calypso Red, Chrome Orange, and Laser Blue. The optional colours include Motorsport Black, Arctic Silver, and Saffron Yellow. A 20th Anniversary logo with the silhouette of Series 1 is positioned on the rear bumper and front fenders. The car sports a body-coloured roof, rear wing, side air intake pods, and a black ‘shark fin’ stone chip protector. 

The standard equipment of the Lotus Exige Sport 410 now includes cruise control, forged ultra-lightweight alloy wheels, DAB digital radio with Bluetooth support, and Alcantara multifunction steering wheel. All these equipment were earlier available as options. The car gets three-way adjustable Nitron dampers, a tailgate, and a front access panel. 

The Lotus Exige Sport 410 20th Anniversary edition retains the turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 petrol motor which produces 410 bhp at 7,000 rpm and 420 Nm peak torque at 3,000-7,000 rpm. Lotus claims that the vehicle can reach 0-100 kmph in 3.4 seconds. The car’s top speed, according to the company, is 290 kmph.

The Exige series has been traditionally designed, engineered, and hand-built by the British automaker at its Hethel workshop in Norfolk. It is sold as a completely built-up (CBU) unit in all countries.