Lotus Sport, the performance division of Lotus Cars Ltd., has developed the new Lotus SportExige, a direct motorsport derivative of the successful Lotus Exige.

   The Lotus designed and engineered racecar was part manufactured by RTN, the teamresponsible for the Le Mans winning Bentley, using the latest motorsport techniques andprocedures to produce a lightweight yet strong carbon-fibre bodywork structure around thestandard road-going Lotus Exige Aluminium extruded and bonded chassis.

   The Lotus Sport designed fully adjustable suspension system with double wishbones all roundwas fabricated and manufactured by Pilbeam. Power is provided by a 400 hp Swindon RacingEngines tuned GM 3 litre V6 racing engine linked to a Hewland sequential six-speed gearbox,with AP-Racing providing the braking system.

   This one-off racecar has been built for a South East Asian client and is expected to race inselected sportscar races in Asia. There are no plans as yet to build further examples of theLotus Sport Exige but the base structure has been carefully designed to comply with keymotorsport regulations around the world. Adhering to the key Lotus philosophy of performancethrough lightweight, the Lotus Sport Exige weighs in at just 850kg.

   The whole project, conducted in complete secrecy has taken less than 6 months and the carwill run for the first time at the 2½ mile Hethel test track in mid January.

   Chris Arnold, General Manager for Lotus Sport explains the philosophy behind the Lotus Sport Exige:

   “The Lotus Sport Exige is a competition car developed directly from the road going Exige. Theracecar uses the existing tub with only minor modifications, and careful design has enabledLotus Sport to package an upgraded powertrain assembly whilst maintaining an equivalentweight to the existing road car. When this package is combined with further improvements tosuspension and bodywork, it produces a fantastic looking car with great track potential.

   The car has been taken from concept to reality in only six months and I thank all ourengineering partners and the staff at Lotus who have worked so hard on this fantastic project.”

   As the Lotus Sport Exige is, at present, a one-off racecar, a price cannot be given for theracecar package.

Chassis and suspension systems

   The Lotus Sport Exige is directly developed from the road-going Lotus Exige that was unveiledat the Geneva Motorshow in 2004. The heart of the Sport Exige is the bonded and extrudedAluminium Chassis, the technology for which was first introduced in the Lotus Elise in 1995.The Exige chassis, which is also used in the Lotus Elise 111R, is the latest development of thisaward winning structure and weighs 68kg and has a torsional stiffness of 10500 Nm/degree.Made up of 25 separate extrusions, and bonded with an epoxy adhesive, the chassis in theLotus Sport Exige is an exceptionally stiff, strong and lightweight structure. This Lotustechnology is so world-leading that it has been used on other non- Lotus products includinghigh performance production front-engined V12 and V8 GT cars.

   An FIA approved 8-point roll cage has been bolted to the chassis, prior to the bodywork beingfitted.

   Double wishbone front suspension is mounted to the same suspension hard points as theroad-going Lotus Exige, whilst the rear suspension picks up to a revised rear subframe.However, being a full racecar, there is adjustment for ride height, camber and castor, as wellas adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars. Coil springs are mounted over Ohlins ST44 3-wayadjustable dampers front and rear.

The Body

   Lightweight “Z-Preg.” carbon fibre bodywork was specially manufactured for Lotus by RTN, theteam responsible for the Le Mans winning Bentley. These panels (front clam, “A” panel, bodyside and sill, roof, engine cover and rear clam) have been made using an innovative lowtemperature curing process. The moulds were taken directly from the Sport Exige styling “clay”and the resulting carbon fibre panels are race-ready without having to rely on the costly toolingprocess used in current carbon fibre technology. This is thought to be the first time that thistechnology has been used on such large carbon fibre panels.

   An aerodynamically developed front splitter, carbon fibre rear diffuser and an adjustablecarbon rear wing provide increased levels of downforce. The interior of the Lotus Sport Exigeis similar to the standard Exige, but the standard roadcar wiring harness is replaced with a fullRaychem 25 system incorporating Mil-spec connectors from Beru Formula 1 Harnesses.Conventional fuses are replaced with circuit breakers, and a Stack display with integrated datarecording is fitted as standard.

   A racing bucket seat (driver side only) is mounted as right hand drive to optimise weightbalance through right hand corners (most circuits run clockwise). A six-point seat belt,prepared for using HANS Safety System, and a removable steering wheel (with quick-connectcoupling) is included in the interior package.

   The composite energy absorbing crash structure used on the standard road cars is alsocarried over to the Lotus Sport Exige. This glass fibre composite structure, around five timesmore energy absorbing than the equivalent steel component, also houses the larger waterradiator and provides efficient cooling and air ducting over the carbon front clamshell.

   A 100 litre FT3 safety fuel cell (with quick refuelling system) is mounted behind the driver andin front of the engine (as with the road-going Exige). A fully plumbed in electrical fireextinguishing system completes the body package.

Brakes

   AP Racing provides the non-ABS braking system, which includes the pedal box (with brakebalance bar and cylinders). AP Racing also provides the powerful six piston brake calipers atthe front and four piston brake calipers at the rear. These calipers are mated to vented discs(344 mm diameter at the front and 330 mm diameter at the rear).

Rims and Tyres

   Ultra lightweight OZ Racing Chrono single-piece cast magnesium rims (8.8J x 17 ET40 at thefront and 11.25J x 18 ET50 at the rear) are shod with Yokohama tyres (250/610-17 at the frontand 280/650-18 at the rear).

Powertrain: Engine and Transmission

   A narrow angle V6, 2,998 cc Swindon Racing Engines tuned GM racing engine is mountedlongitudinally in the Lotus Sport Exige. The naturally aspirated 24-valve engine produces 400hp (296 kW or 405 PS) at 7,750 rpm and 294 lb.ft (398 Nm or 40.6 kgm) of torque at 6,500 rpmand has a maximum engine speed of 8,250 rpm. When the light weight of the Lotus SportExige is taken into consideration, the power to weight ratio is a phenomenal 470 hp / tonne(0.351 kW/kg or 476 PS/tonne). The engine itself weighs 157 kg.

   Breathing is via an F1-style airbox and air snorkel from the roof panel of the Sport Exigedirectly into the six carbon fibre air trumpets.

   The dry-sump engine, with a bore of 86 mm and stroke of 86 mm is water cooled and alsouses an oil-water heat exchanger to efficiently cool the oil. The whole engine is controlled by a Motec M600 electronic engine management system fitted inside the cockpit.

   The power is transferred from the engine to the rear wheels via a single mass steppedflywheel, AP Racing twin-disc cerametallic race clutch and Hewland NLT sequential six-speeddog type transmission (with in-line shift mechanism). The gearbox itself is cooled through anoil-water heat exchanger. A limited slip differential (separate power and brake ramp angles)completes the powertrain package.

Design

   The one-off racecar has been designed by Barney Hatt (Principal Designer for Lotus Design),under the direction of Russell Carr (Chief of Design). Taking the already aerodynamic roadgoing Exige, Hatt designed the Lotus Sport Exige with the requirements to carry the design ofthe Exige and the brand attributes of Lotus into a competitive racecar.

   Russell Carr explains the work needed to design the Lotus Sport Exige: “The objective was tocreate a dramatic design and to take into account aerodynamic criteria to produce a race carthat was not only competitive but also stunningly good looking. General motorsport regulationsalso had to be adhered to so the fact that the resulting racecar looks like a natural competitionevolution of the road going Exige is a testament to the purity and effectiveness of the originaldesign.”

Dimensions

   The Lotus Sport Exige is slightly longer (350 mm) and wider (100 mm) than the road-goingExige to accommodate the larger engine, wider track, longer wheelbase and to optimise theaerodynamics. The length is mainly from the cockpit rearwards but the short rear overhangdesign of the road-going Exige is maintained.

Technical Specifications

    Engine
• Narrow (56°) angle V6 engine, water-cooled
• 2,998 cc, stroke 86 mm, bore 86 mm.
• Max. power: 400 hp (296 kW or 405 PS) at 7,750 rpm
• Max. torque: 294 lb.ft (398 Nm or 40.6 kgm) at 6,500 rpm
• Max. rpm: 8,250 rpm
• Four valve technology
• Oil-cooler (oil-water heat exchanger)
• Dry-sump lubrication
• SRE Multi-roller barrel throttle bodies
• F1 style airbox and air snorkel
• Motec M600 electronic engine management system
• Required fuel quality: 98 octane super unleaded
• Race exhaust: multiple pipe manifold, open exhaust
• No catalytic converter

Transmission
• Hewland sequential six-speed dog type transmission, straight cut gears
• In-line shift mechanism
• Gear ratios: Crown wheel & pinion gear 9:35
– 1st gear 12:36
– 2nd gear 15:33
– 3rd gear 18:30
– 4th gear 20:26
– 5th gear 24:26
– 6th gear 26:24
• Oil-water heat exchanger
• Single-mass flywheel
• AP Racing twin-disc cerametallic race clutch
• Limited slip differential (separate power and brake ramp angles)
• Rear-wheel drive

Chassis
• RHD race vehicle developed from Lotus Exige road car
• Lotus bonded aluminium chassis and composite crash structure
• Bolted on 8-point roll cage (in accordance with FIA-Regulations 2004)
• Three-point AP Racing air jack system

Bodywork
• Weight optimised and widened Exige
• Lotus Design RTN “Z-preg.” carbon fibre bodywork
• Aerodynamically developed front splitter and rear diffuser
• Adjustable carbon rear wing
• Racing bucket seat (driver side only)
• Six-point seat belt, prepared for using HANS Safety System
• Removable steering wheel (with quick-connect coupling)
• Electrical fire extinguishing system
• 100 litre FT3 safety fuel cell with quick refuelling system
• Total weight of bodywork excluding doors ~ 44 kg

Suspension
• Double wishbone front suspension with spherical bearings
• Adjustable front anti-roll bar
• Non-PAS
• Double wishbone rear suspension with spherical bearings
• Adjustable rear anti-roll bar
• Ohlins ST44 3-way adjustable dampers
• Coil over damper springs front and rear
• Suspension adjustable for ride heights, camber and castor

Braking system
• Non-ABS system
• AP Racing pedal box with brake balance bar and AP Racing cylinders
• Aeroquip style brake lines
• Front AP Racing six piston brake calipers
• AP Racing vented discs diameter: 344 mm
• Aluminium disc bells, race brake pads
• Rear AP Racing four piston brake calipers
• AP Racing vented discs diameter: 330 mm
• Aluminium disc bells, race brake pads

Rims/Tyres
• OZ Racing Chrono single-piece cast magnesium rims:
• F - 8.8J x 17 ET40
• R - 11.25J x 18 ET50
• Yokohama tyres
• F - 250/610-17
• R - 280/650-18
• Single central wheel nuts with locking device

Electrical System
• Motec M600 engine management
• Stack display with integrated data recording
• Raychem 25 system wiring looms and Mil spec connectors
• Red Top battery: 12 Volt, 50 Ah
• Twin Bosch fuel pumps with change over switch
• Floor mounted carbon fibre centre switch console
• Circuit breaker switches (no fuses)
• 120 Ah Alternator

Source: Lotus Press Release