GENEVA — Lotus rolled out its redesigned 2010 Exige S at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. The new model goes on sale in Europe in May. Chief Executive Mike Kimberley nods to the "hard-core fan base around the world" that has purchased 5,000 Exiges since it came out in 2004.
The major change to the Exige S for 2010 is a restyled front end and a composite rear wing based on the one on the Exige GT3 concept shown at Geneva in 2007. The new larger wing aids airflow for better stability and reduced drag, says Lotus. Lotus design chief Russell Carr says the aerodynamic changes also add "even more visual drama."
The front appearance includes a larger air intake mouth and two larger side air intakes ahead of the front wheels. There's also a new aerodynamic splitter that wraps around the front end. Power is up to 240 horsepower for the standard Exige S, and 260 hp on the Exige Cup 260, a track car that debuted last fall at the 2008 Paris Auto Show.
Emissions on the new Exige are cut to 199 g/km of CO2 and fuel economy is a combined 27.6 mpg.
Inside Line says: The Exige is no lightweight for those who look for both road and track performance. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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