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Latest Track Car From Lotus Offers ‘Straight Out Of The Box’ Thrills

Model Year 2008 Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260

Lotus Sport, the motor sport division of Lotus Cars Ltd, has unveiled the MY2008 Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260. A direct development of the 2007 Exige Cup Car, this year’s car has a revised engine management system to take the maximum power output to 257 hp (260 PS), up by nearly 5 hp (5 PS) over last year. Bespoke performance enhancements created to offer a car with even greater levels of handling and acceleration capable of taming Europe’s most challenging race circuits. The Exige Cup 260, once again represents Lotus’ most radical version of the Exige, with the track environment being its home and for 2008, the Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260 has full European homologation for road use (a must have for some competitive environments where a road legal car has to be entered). There are further product changes: all Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260 cars now have a number of the 2008 Model year improvements from the road versions of the Elise and Exige, namely:

• Instrument pack with new graphic design and expanded functionality
• New alarm/immobiliser + single integrated function key
• Variable Lotus Traction Control
• Variable Lotus Launch Control

In traditional Lotus style, weight saving is paramount. Weighing in at just 928 kg, the power to weight ratio is an impressive 271 hp / tonne (273 PS / tonne). Such a fantastic power to weight ratio alone of course does not make a superlative track car, so the Exige Cup 260 has a formidable list of standard equipment that includes Lotus specific LTS compound Yokohama A048R tyres, 4-piston AP Racing front brake calipers, adjustable dampers and anti-roll bar, the latest FIA 6-point roll cage and sports driver and passenger seats. The car can also be ordered as a Track version for track use only. The Track Version comes pre- fitted with an FIA approved 6-point roll cage, and 4-point harnesses. In addition, a wide range of motorsport specific options are also available with this version. Continue Reading »

Das neue BMW 1er Cabrio.

Offenfahren wird jetzt auch in der Kompaktklasse zu einem besonders intensiven Erlebnis. Das BMW 1er Cabrio bietet den Spaß am Fahren mit direktem Kontakt zu Sonne und Wind in einem neuen Format – faszinierend sportlich, elegant proportioniert und so offen, wie es nur ein BMW Cabrio sein kann. Der Zweitürer kombiniert seine dynamisch gestreckte Linienführung mit der überragenden Agilität des einzigen Kompaktfahrzeugs mit Heckantrieb. Neue Maßstäbe für sportliches Fahrvergnügen setzt dabei vor allem das Topmodell BMW 135i Cabrio, das vom 225 kW/306 PS starken 3,0 Liter-Reihensechszylinder-Motor mit Twin Turbo und Benzin-Direkteinspritzung angetrieben wird und äußerlich am leicht modifizierten, serienmäßigen M Aerodynamikpaket und der um 15 Millimeter tiefer liegenden Karosserie aufgrund des ebenfalls serienmäßigen M Sportfahrwerks zu erkennen ist. Ergänzt wird das Motorenangebot von einem weiteren Sechszylinder, der im BMW 125i Cabrio 160 kW/218 PS leistet, zwei neu entwickelten Vierzylinder-Antrieben mit Benzin-Direkteinspritzung und einer Leistung von 125 kW/170 PS im BMW 120i Cabrio beziehungsweise 105 kW/143 PS im BMW 118i Cabrio sowie von einem Vierzylinder-Diesel der neuen Generation mit 130 kW/177 PS für das BMW 120d Cabrio. Continue Reading »

The Most Extreme Exige Variant To-date

Geneva, Switzerland (6th March 2007), Lotus Sport, the race car performance arm of Lotus Cars Ltd, today unveiled the Lotus Exige GT3 concept road vehicle. With its debut at the 77th annual Geneva International Motor Show, the 275 PS (271 bhp / 203 kW) Exige GT3 is a bold, no-holds-barred, lap record-breaking, breathtaking performance machine that embraces all that is expected of a race-bred Lotus. Building on the Lotus racing pedigree, this concept car can deliver more grin-factor than ever before; there are no intended compromises and no limits except those that are self imposed by the driver. This is one concept that commands your full attention. Said Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer for Group Lotus plc: “The Exige GT3 concept road car is a fantastic showcase product from our race car performance division, Lotus Sport. The car’s racing background becomes immediately obvious from its aggressive stance, extreme width of rear track and innovative threedimensional rear wing. The foundation of all Lotus products is phenomenal handling and ride characteristics, but the Exige GT3 takes these into another dimension altogether where supreme road holding and outrageous acceleration come evenly matched with sensational stopping ability.” The Exige GT3’s pure bred racing brother will be again competing in the GT race arena in 2007, taking over the mantle from the hugely successful 2006 British GT3 Championshipwinning car. On road or track the Lotus Exige GT3 winning pedigree will continue in time honoured Lotus racing tradition. A new one-piece front clam-shell with fully masked front wheels and wheel arch venting leads the aerodynamically cleaned silhouette of this car. A menacing stance is enhanced by the aggressively flared rear wheel arches and aero-efficient three-dimensional rear wing and blended end-plates. The visual message is clear; this vehicle means business and the squat wide hindquarters symbolise the latent power harnessed within. Continue Reading »