Lotus has confirmed details of the 145mph Lotus Exige S roadster, the fastest drop top the Norfolk-based manufacturer has ever built.
It will be the first Exige model to be offered with a factory-fitted soft-top roof and shares the same 3.5-litre V6 engine with the Exige S coupé.
The unit produces 345bhp at 7000rpm and 295lb ft at 4500rpm, meaning the Exige S roadster — which weighs 10kg less than the coupe at 1166kg — is capable of 0-60mph in 3.8sec and reaches 100mph from a standing start in 8.5sec. Its top speed has been reduced from the coupe’s 170mph to 145mph.
A six-speed manual gearbox will be offered from launch, but the Exige S could also be offered with the Norfolk-based firm’s Serial Precision Shift (SPS) paddle-operated automated manual transmission if demand is high enough. Fuel economy for the manual gearbox variant is a claimed 28mpg, with CO2 emissions of 236g/km.
As with the £52,900 hard-top Exige S, an optional race pack is available and adds track-optimised suspension settings and launch control. There are also two cabin options: one more comfort-oriented and the other more stripped down and sporty.
Lotus says the new drop-top, which is now available to order, completes the Exige line-up, alongside the Lotus Exige S, Exige Cup and Exige Cup R.
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Sell
this is th eone thats going to help lotus, semi-auto, open top, supercharger, america would be interested. i like it but then again a boxter s is similarly priced?
Good looking car
To me this is a much more sophisticated design from Lotus. However, (it's only a small detail, I know), but the wing mirror housings on the Elise, Exige etc. have never looked quite right to me. They date back to the Rover Metro I think. Updating the wing mirrors on this latest model would further enhance the overall design.
Londonist
Your cynical, sour, kick 'em while they are down, armchair expert attitude makes me puke. I think it's great that Lotus can produce a car like this despite the existence of people like you.