-Travel 360 degrees and you will end up in the same place. Which is pretty much the story with the new Lotus Exige 360 V6 Cup, a microscopically altered version of the Lotus Exige V6 Cup. It has fractionally more power and will be produced as a limited edition of just 50.
The last bit is further evidence of Lotus’s new marketing strategy: to sell very small series of slightly different models. That said, 50 is still a measurable slice of the English sports car maker’s modest annual sales, which will probably be about 2000 cars this year. For perspective, that’s about the same as Porsche sells globally in three days. But then, exclusivity is a good thing, right?
-The changes that make the Cup 360 are modest. The 3.5-liter supercharged Toyota V-6 is claimed to produce an additional 10 horsepower, its 355-hp rating translating into 360 metric PS, hence the name. We’re also told it has a “bespoke lightweight front access panel, [and] new lightweight rear tailgate and louvered pane,” although Lotus’s official, 2492-pound curb weight is actually fractionally higher than the one previously claimed for the Cup V-6. The new car is designed to go racing, like previous Cup and Cup R versions of the Exige, with factory options including a full cage, a fire extinguisher, and a battery isolation system. Which is good news in the U.S. as the Exige (and its Elise sister) are no longer Federally approved for road use; if you buy one you’re going to be driving it on the track.
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-Other options include adjustable anti-roll bars, Ohlins race-spec shocks, and a red microsuede interior. Four exterior colors are offered: white, gray, silver, and black. U.K pricing starts at £62,995 including sales tax ($99,000 at current exchange rates), although there’s no official word on U.S. pricing or even whether the 360 will be sold here.
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While we wish Hethel the best of luck with its policy of producing modestly altered models as limited editions, the firm does seem to be biding time until the promised SUV arrives.
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