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The Lotus Exige (pronounced: ex-seej) is a two-door, two-seat sports car made by Lotus Cars. It is essentially a coupe version of the Lotus Elise, which is a roadster.
The original Exige was launched in 2000 and had a 1.8 L Rover K Series engine. It produced 170 bhp in standard form and 190 bhp in the VHPD version. Compared to the Elise, it had wider wheel arches, a front splitter, a large rear spoiler and a fiberglass roof.
In 2004, the Series 2 Exige was introduced. It features a 1.8 L Toyota engine that produces 189 bhp.
In February 2005, Lotus announced a limited production run of 50 Exiges, using the Toyota engine with a supercharger, that increases the power output to 243 bhp. These vehicles are only available in yellow or black, representing the colors of Lotus Sport, and are badged 240R. They have a projected 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 3.9 seconds and 0-100 mph (0-160 km/h) of 9.9 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h) at a cost of £44,000.00 (approximately $76,500.00 or €65,000.00). [1]
The North American Exige was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January, 2006. In February, 2006 Lotus announced the Exige S model which used a supercharged Toyota engine producing 218 bhp.[2] The S was also made available in North American markets as a 2007 model[3].
According to Lotus, the standard Exige Series 2 model has the following specifications:
Engine:
Toyota Supplied, 1796 cc I-4, DOHC with VVTL-i (variable valve timing with lift intelligence)
Bore/Stroke 82 mm/85 mm
190 hp (142 kW) @ 7800 rpm
138 ft·lbf (187 N·m) @ 6800 rpm
Compression ratio: 11.5:1
Transmission: 6-Speed, Close Ratio with Single-Plate Dry Clutch
Weight: 2016 lb (914 kg)
Performance:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 4.7 seconds
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 12.9 seconds
Top speed: 147 mph (237 km/h)
Fuel consumption: 24 city / 29 highway
* The sports car that Richard Gere borrows at the beginning of Pretty Woman is a Lotus Esprit.
* An Esprit is featured in Basic Instinct.
* A Lotus Europa 'John Player Special' is used in the climatic car chase in 11 Harrowhouse (1974).
Nineties:
* An Esprit was driven by Richard Grieco in the movie "If Looks Could Kill".
The very technical Britishness of Lotus cars meant they were an obvious choice for the character of James Bond when not in his usual Aston Martins:
* A Lotus Esprit S1 was featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. It possessed all of the usual Q refinements, including surface-to-air missiles and rear-firing adhesive sprayers to blind pursuers. The main feature of the car was, however, its ability to transform into a submarine. Once transformed, it could unleash depth charges, harpoons and a smoke screen. Though not mentioned in the final film, the car was nicknamed "Wet Nellie".
* A Lotus Esprit Turbo was featured in the movie For Your Eyes Only. This vehicle was cosmetically similar to the S2, but mechanically different, as it exhibited no submarine capabilities (there are gadgets implied, but not seen). It was most notable for its remarkable security system, which detonated and destroyed the car when Gonzales' henchman broke the driver's window in an attempt to break in. Q Branch provided a second Turbo to Bond — in burgundy instead of white — later in the movie.
* A Lotus Formula 3 was featured in the unofficial Bond film, Casino Royale (1967), this souped-up car is driven, very briefly, by Evelyn Tremble (Peter Sellers), one of several agents given the code name James Bond 007.
source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Cars |
