Discussion
Ok, totally new to the Lotus world..and from across the pond, (excuses first of course), and a lazy American, so here goes. I am interested in these lotus things and was surfing around the web and found what is referred to as the "lotus sport exige" and understand it to be a production race car of sorts. Absolutely stunning car!! So my question is about the bodywork..this thing appears obviously remarkably similar to the USA available elise and exige which I have only seen once in person, but the rear end of this "sport exige" seems different - a bit stretched, and frankly makes the thing look very proportional and much better in my humble opinion. I do generally like the regular production model cars, but the bug butt in the air look is definitely there. So, first of all is the body (butt end) of this sport exige in fact different or is the spoiler position and camera angle of the photos I looked at deceiving me? Second of all is it at all practical to modify the USA exige or elise to get the look of this "sport exige"?
For what its worth the website that I am looking at the sport exige is as follows:
www.seriouswheels.com/top-2005-Lotus-Sport-Exige.
Anyway, thanks and happy new year!
For what its worth the website that I am looking at the sport exige is as follows:
www.seriouswheels.com/top-2005-Lotus-Sport-Exige.
Anyway, thanks and happy new year!
The lotus sport exige was a one-off carbon-fibre bodied exige with a V6 engine, hewland sequential gearbox and about 400 bhp. Everything on the car was built for maximum speed and handling. It was made for a client in the far east for a GT racing series. Serious money! The chassis was longer and wider at the rear. The track and wheelbase are increased and larger wheels used (17 front, 18 rear). The overhangs on the wheelarches are consequently larger as well.
The car is a beauty. However, apparently there will be a number of changes made to the standard exige late next year, many of which will mirror the lines of the sport exige. They will build another for you if you like, but it would probably be about £200000.
So in reply: yes the body is different.
2) The proportions are different as well, so v difficult to emulate. Wait for the facelifted exige later next year.
>> Edited by shangani on Wednesday 28th December 22:07
The car is a beauty. However, apparently there will be a number of changes made to the standard exige late next year, many of which will mirror the lines of the sport exige. They will build another for you if you like, but it would probably be about £200000.
So in reply: yes the body is different.
2) The proportions are different as well, so v difficult to emulate. Wait for the facelifted exige later next year.
>> Edited by shangani on Wednesday 28th December 22:07
Thanks for the comments..are there any pics of the future models of the exige/elise's anywhere? My pocketbook is just a tad shy to purchase the sport exige, so will have to wait to see if that styling gets incorporated into the regular production models. Not afraid to cut and paste however...
Lotus in their typical style will only release pics when a model is in production. A number of people connected with lotus have hinted at the changes. Generally the idea is to make the exige look far more different to the elise - and more like the lotus sport exige.
>> Edited by shangani on Thursday 29th December 07:51
>> Edited by shangani on Thursday 29th December 07:51
Yes, I've just checked American websites and all Elises do have just one wiper. Quite early on in the design phase it was seen as stylistically preferable by the chief designer, Julian Thompson. Richard Rackham made it fit and all production Elises have had a single wiper.
However, the one in the photo stows upright rather than to one side. This is very common in modern racing cars to minimize drag - even some of the Metros in my championship run like this
However, the one in the photo stows upright rather than to one side. This is very common in modern racing cars to minimize drag - even some of the Metros in my championship run like this
RobM77 said:
Yes, I've just checked American websites and all Elises do have just one wiper. Quite early on in the design phase it was seen as stylistically preferable by the chief designer, Julian Thompson. Richard Rackham made it fit and all production Elises have had a single wiper.
However, the one in the photo stows upright rather than to one side. This is very common in modern racing cars to minimize drag - even some of the Metros in my championship run like this
Yeah sorry
I ment the upright position, what do you have to change when you want that too...or is it to lot in the way of sight... GTRene
shangani said:
Gotcha - Though I have no idea how you do it - should just be a change to the motor gearing surely. Anyway, I have to admit I never thought about the wipers before.
Tricky one that... With pantograph wipers it is a simple change, because you are wiping across 90 degrees in the same manner, just going the opposite way! However, the Elise has a single wiper scribing almost 180 degrees so it is a bit trickier... the first wiper movement needs to cover half the span that the standard motor would!
Yes, I should imagine that the wiper would get in the way of vision if mounted like that for road use!
lawrence5 said:
They are talking of a wide body and wide track exige. Likely be a cup option and europe only.....
Yeah..that is kinda what I am figuring out too, been snooping around various auto sites, seems to be a lot of rumours as to the direction of the exige in particular stepping away from the elise. Be interesting to see, but I would guess (hope)that Lotus would take note of the magnificent looks of that "sport exige" produced from what I understand to be the basic tub and mid section. Hopefully, we can get it in the US, but we are mired down in this muscle car revival right now.
I dunno the new Charger looks pretty good when you come from a country of 1.2ltr hatchbacks !!
You can always get the bits shipped stateside if needed. It would be funny to smoke some teen in a mustang with a stock elise. Have all the power in the world but a lightweight mid engined car will launch quicker. 0-30mph the elise is the same as a McLaren F1 1.9sec
You can always get the bits shipped stateside if needed. It would be funny to smoke some teen in a mustang with a stock elise. Have all the power in the world but a lightweight mid engined car will launch quicker. 0-30mph the elise is the same as a McLaren F1 1.9sec
Well I guess having grown up thru the muscle car era..just got tired of it, big heavy boats with a ton of power. Good for smoking the tires, but lord help you if you need to go around a corner. Tend to like the european roadster types. Anyway, smoking a mustang or two from the stoplight would be fun. I always have my 999 in the garage if I need a little boost.
gooby said:
Clarksons review of the mustang!!!
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12529-17
Thanks, that was a great read!! I will send it on to some of my friends who will surely buy me a ticket out of the country!
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