ilPistone.com: 2005 Lotus Sport Exige

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Lotus Sport, the performance division of Lotus Cars, has developed the new Exige, a direct motorsport derivative of the successful roadcar. The car has been taken from concept to reality in only six months thanks to several engineering partners. It was designed by Barney Hatt (Principal Designer for Lotus Design), under the direction of Russell Carr (Chief of Design).

The Lotus designed and engineered racecar was partly manufactured by RTN, the team responsible for the Le Mans winning Bentley. They were specifically responsible for producing a new lightweight carbon-fibre bodywork structure around the standard Exige chassis. An aerodynamically developed front splitter, carbon fibre rear diffuser and an adjustable carbon rear wing provide increased levels of downforce.

The Lotus Sport designed fully adjustable suspension system with double wishbones all round was fabricated and manufactured by Pilbeam. Power is provided by a 400 hp Swindon Racing Engines 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 in selected sportscar races in Asia. There are no plans as yet to build further examples of the Lotus Sport Exige but the base structure has been carefully designed to comply with key motorsport regulations around the world. Adhering to the key Lotus philosophy of performance through lightweight, the Lotus Sport Exige weighs in at just 850kg.

In Detail
-Dynamic suspension with adjustment for ride height, camber and castor, as well as adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars.
-Raychem 25 wiring harness incorporating Mil-spec connectors from Beru Formula 1 Harnesses.
-Stack display with integrated data recording.
-FIA approved 8-point roll cage has been bolted to the chassis, prior to the bodywork being fitted.
-Racing bucket seat, a six-point seat belt, prepared for using HANS Safety System, and a removable steering wheel (with quick-connect coupling).
-100 litre FT3 safety fuel cell (with quick refuelling system).
-Fully plumbed in electrical fire extinguishing system.
-AP Racing Discs & Calipers (Non-ABS).
-Swindon Racing Engines tuned GM racing engine w/Motec M600 management and a single mass stepped flywheel.
-F1-style airbox and air snorkel from the roof panel of the Sport Exige directly into the six carbon fibre air trumpets.
-Motec M600 electronic engine management system fitted inside the cockpit.
-Hewland NLT sequential six-speed dog type transmission connected to an AP Racing twin-disc cerametallic race clutch.
-OZ Racing Chrono single-piece cast magnesium rims w/single central wheel nuts & locking device.
-Lotus Design RTN â??Z-preg.â?? carbon fibre bodywork.
-Oil-cooler (oil-water heat exchanger) for both the engine and transmission.

Story by Lotus Sport, edited by Supercars.net