Exige LF1 - Exclusive first pics!

[Bibs]

Launched today at the Canary Wharf Motorexpo. 81 available worldwide!

[Simon350S]

What's so special about it then?

[DAV1D]

Gallery and details here:

 

http://www.i-piston.com/lotus-exige-lf1/

 

Press Release:

 

 

This summer 81 Lotus Exige S cars will receive a Lotus F1^® Team inspired livery and interior trim to commemorate the number of grand prix victories held by the Lotus marque*.

Delivering race-car thrills on the road and track, the critically acclaimed supercharged 3.5l V6 Exige S is well known for its focussed dynamic performance, now, with a striking bespoke black and gold paint scheme with red accents and gold 17” front and 18” rear cast alloy wheels, the Exige LF1 leaves no doubt as to its heritage or indeed to its intention!

The Exige LF1 is a car that begs to be driven; inside the meticulously designed black and gold interior ensures that the driver and passenger environment evokes the spirit of competition, the sporty details a continuity of the Formula 1^® inspired scheme.

Exclusivity and performance are at the heart of the Exige LF1; each car will be individually numbered with its own limited edition carbon fibre build plate and loaded rich with extras such as the Exige Race Pack with Dynamic Performance Management system, two-piece high performance brake discs and high-performance Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tyres. For those drivers wanting to optimise their Exige LF1 optional Convenience Pack, heated seats and rear parking sensors are available.

Designed with Lotus fans firmly in mind, the Lotus Exige LF1 brings to life the iconic black and gold livery of the 1970s and 1980s. A blend of heritage and modernity, the Exige LF1 pays homage to the great Lotus Formula 1 cars of yesteryear yet incorporates the pallet and sophistication of today’s E22. Each of the 81 limited edition cars will sequentially celebrate a specific Grand Prix from car #1 commemorating Lotus’ first GP victory at Monaco in 1960 to car #81 marking Kimi Raikkonen’s win at Australia in 2013.

Not only will Exige LF1 owners be guaranteed an exclusive driving experience, but they will also automatically become Exige LF1 Members. Exige LF1 Membership offers a real Lotus F1 experience including a behind the scenes tour of the Lotus Cars and Lotus F1^® Team factories and a range of Lotus F1^®Team gifts and memorabilia.

Jean-Marc Gales, Group Lotus CEO explained, “Lotus’ DNA is borne of the Formula 1^® arena and with 65 years of motorsport racing experience, 40 of those in F1^® it’s fitting we celebrate our sporting origins and our race successes with the new Exige LF1. 81 limited edition cars, each one an acknowledgement to each of Lotus’ 81 Grand Prix wins, this car is intended for the truest of Lotus’ racing fans.”

The Exige LF1 makes its public debut during the second week of June, showcased in its right-hand drive guise at the Canary Wharf Motorexpo inLondon from Monday 9 June until Sunday 15 June and simultaneously in its left-hand drive European-spec at Le Mans 24 hours from Wednesday 11 June to Sunday 15 of June 2014.

Visitors to the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed can see the Exige LF1 on display from 26 until 29 June.

For more details about Lotus’ activities at these events please visit the ‘Events’ section of our website 4lot.us/events.

The Exige LF1 Special edition in detail 

Exterior:

Bespoke black and gold livery with red accents

 

Bespoke exterior badges incorporating 'LF1' logo

 

Exclusive black and gold 'Lotus' nose badge and wheel centres

Interior:

Bespoke trim in leather and technical fabric featuring black and gold design with gold contrast piping and stitching details

 

Embroidered 'LF1' logos on headrests and floor mats

 

Embroidered 'Lotus F1^®Team' logo on seat backs

 

Matt gold 5-spoke 17"/18" cast alloy wheels

 

Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo Tyres

 

Race Pack

 

Two-piece high performance brake discs

 

Red brake calipers

 

Air conditioning

 

Individually numbered limited edition carbon fibre build plate

 

Bespoke carbon fibre engine plate

Optional Equipment:

Convenience Pack

 

Heated seats

 

Rear parking sensors

The Lotus Exige LF1 special edition comes with the following Formula 1® package within the purchase price of the car:

• A factory tour for 2 people of the Lotus Cars production facility at Hethel
• A factory tour for 2 people of the Lotus F1^® Team headquarters at Enstone
• Collector’s edition owner’s pack including Exige LF1 Membership card entitling members to 20% discount on Lotus Originals and Heritage ranges and 10% off Lotus F1^® Team Replica collection
• Romain Grosjean 1:2 scale replica helmet
• Lotus F1^®car key fob
• Lotus F1^® Team USB stick

Performance:

Max Power

345 hp (350 PS) at 700 rpm

 

Max Torque

295 lbft (400 Nm) at 4500 rpm

 

0-60 mph 

3.8 seconds

 

0-100 km/h

4.0 seconds

 

Max Speed

170 mph (274 km/h)

 

Weight 

1176 kg

The Lotus Exige LF1 is available to customers in all Global markets (excluding the USA).

 

[quantum2000]

Saw this at the factory last week and had a brief look around, had bespoke embroidery on the seats, plaque on the supercharger cover, Two piece brake disks, gold wheels, the photo really doesn't do it justice, looks fantastic!

[Bazza 907]

That look absolutely fantastic

[Ja5on]

Stunning, price?

[The Pits]

Looks stunning on David's site, some lovely details, you got a scoop there David, great work! 

[Kimbers]

That looks awesome!

[quantum2000]

Now on Lotus website, inc price

http://www.lotuscars.com/racing/exige-lf1

[Bibs]

Proper camera shots and video to follow, just back from the Motorexpo

 

 

 

[Ja5on]

Very tempting.

Not sure I'd be as keen taking a limited edition on track though.....

[Simon350S]

It's only really paint though no?

Not hugely special and by no means irreplaceable.

[Ja5on]

Paint and interior.

Suppose it all depends if you want to own a car that's limited to 81 units.

It does look awesome, but I think I would be more interested if there was a bit of a power hike or something.

[Bibs]

I've asked if they'll add a 'T' to make it the TLF1

 

[fmxa]

They need to stop dicking around putting new stickers and interiors on existing models and focus on some new cars. It's just a shame they didn't do this last year when the F1 Team was winning races vs this season when they can barely finish a race ... Still, does look nice

[Simon350S]

Totally agree.....

[Bibs]

By all accounts almost half of the LF1's are sold already, not bad for a bit of paint. New cars cost hundreds of millions remember, Lotus isn't rolling in cash and does need to sell cars.

[Stirling_Villeneuve]

It's not to my taste ( I preferred the more old school JPS and Jim Clark type editions ) but you can't blame them for using the F1 link. 81 cars sold in a matter of hours is pretty damn amazing especially given recent sales figures. 

[diego]

christ not another paint job and a plaque.... have they learnt nothing with the short-ism approach ? 

 

put +15hp, a sports manifold and adjustable suspension just so it tops the cayman gts and by a nice margin and sales roll in.... because it maintains brand superiority ..... ! 

 

this is a mugs car imho.... and achieves nothing at all.... plenty of mugs out there but not enough to significantly help the p&l ...  and that's why its utterly pointless .....

 

Edited June 10, 2014 by diego

[TLF News]

Click for full article

 

[diego]

sorry totally disagree here... its faffing about passing paper to yourself. 

 

yes 'allegedly' its sold another 81 cars or rather stole a good % of sales from their own product ie the exige v6. hardly something to bang on about. 

 

lotus finally made hay with a great product the v6 exige that dominates its sector. they need to develop that... not sit on it. 

 

go faster stripes do not maintain brand superiority.... more of this while the nearest rivals get power upgrades and facelifts etc diminish the v6s position. simples....  

 

its schoolboy economics imo.... a more powerful v6 and evora would bring in completely new sales as well as build on existing sales. it would keep the v6 on the pinnacle and add to brand superiority. do it with a limited warranty  if you have to but they need to do it or fall behind .... again. 

 

different proposition entirely.  

[The Pits]

I agree with Diego that Lotus must evolve the winning formula they've stumbled across. However, perhaps not quite so soon. Something towards the end of the year would seem about right for me, which may well be on the cards. Lets hope it is, but that's entirely in the hands of the Malaysian accountants who appear to be obsessed with controlling costs.

 

I think buyers are only just beginning to return in decent numbers, the Bahar/Proton saga sucked out what little confidence the average sports car buyer had in Lotus. Only total diehards and Lotus fanatics bought a Lotus in 2012/2013. The thought of handing over £60k to a company on the brink is not very appealing for most people. But now, as the memory of the debacle begins to fade and to many people's amazement Lotus are still producing cars, great ones at that, the buyers are coming back. After all, GT3 performance for Cayman money is a proposition that's hard to ignore. Add in Porsche having their own debacle over the 991 GT3 which is sending values of the 997 GT3RS through the roof and suddenly a good looking, very capable trackday car for £55k is looking quite attractive. So I think let people come back to Lotus this year. Deliver properly on what they've got. Sort out any remaining issues with the car and with production and then push on with both power and weight reduction for 2015.

 

As for the LF1, I don't like the name, it promises a bit too much perhaps, but there are some lovely detail touches. It's going to look jaw dropping in reality I'm sure. I also like the whole idea of each car representing a victory, which one would I like to own? 79 presumably must be Senna's last win for the team. I wouldn't mind that one. A good topic for discussion.

 

But it's a very nice looking V6S for Cup money. For track day addicts the Cup is definitely the way forward. For Lotus F1 fanatics who might do the odd track day and have already got a wardrobe full of Lotus F1 team wear, this is Christmas come early!

[Simon350S]

Meh......

Bibs, appreciate the work that's gone in to the videos, photos and report and the time you've taken out of your life to bring this news o us but I ant help feeling you put a lot more effort in than Lotus themselves did creating this sticker job.

There is simply nothing special about this car in my eyes.

They didn't have to develop a new car, I think we all know how feasible that is at present, but come on. A little bit of imagination wouldn't go amiss.

A little engine work, maybe some special shocks and springs, a carbon front lip and rear spoiler? Full wrapped carbon sills? A full special interior, not just some gold stitching? Full leather dash like they did in a few of the Europas?

Something, just a little imagination please.....

[diego]

How much does it cost a cash strapped Lotus to add some go faster stripes?

 

How much does it cost Lotus to develop an extra 50 BHP??

 

I'm sure the chaps are working their arses off trying to gain extra power or less weight behind the scenes. Its just it takes time and costs so much money. In the meantime I don't see the problem with exploiting your brand. I don't think this exercise is damaging to the brand?

 

Buddsy

 

agree ... nothing wrong with a marketing exercise... but as jonny points out the name promises quite a lot. i didn't like the sports racer title on what was a heavily specced car only either. 

 

you will notice that the krauts do this marketing job properly, a notional hp rise is enough to change the fundamentals to make a limited run car more desirable (and quicker). brings in completely new business and gets those with existing cars to upgrade. does the LF1?  

 

i always laughed at the boxter spyder with a bloody tent as roof as a usp oh and nice suspension, quick geo and that all important notional hp rise. it was hailed as the best thing since sliced bread. wouldn't touch one with yours frankly so each to their own but you cant argue it wasn't a genuine and more desirable upgrade that was quicker / more fulfilling (if you are into a real sports car) than standard item. the press went nuts .... great publicity, comparisons to a mini gt3 etc thus pushing the cayman product into a new performance realm. performance superiority.  

 

not sounding funny here but the V6 exige is the absolute t1ts already but it can be made even better, no doubt. its a parts bin special that as it happens is imho probably the best car they have ever made ..... there is the opportunity here to mayweather porsche again.... 

 

is the LF1 going to make me trade in my exige v6 for one? no..... would all existing purchasers of the LF1 have considered a specced V6S or CUP. probably .....and therefore bar a small marketing exercise  (who says DB is dead!) is it really achieving anything at all? 

 

i suspect lotus are petrified of warranty claims on a 400bhp V6S or CUP with a shorter pulley and loads of heat soak. fair enough .... but a revised induction system, manifolds, rear box and map would add only 20bhp or so -akin to the cayman GTS / R..... that would be enough to change the fundamentals to make something potentially new and prevent claims. I cant see that creating a gt3 mobile bonfire   

 

btw - nice precis jonny. nail on the head.... 

Edited June 10, 2014 by diego

[The Pits]

We all want to see Lotus move forward, but the reins are very tight at the moment and to their credit Lotus are very thorough about development, they're not ones for cranking up the power without revising the suspension, brakes, maybe even tyres, DPM would need to be recalibrated and so on. Done properly, a faster Exige with carbon bits would probably need intercooling, LSD, gearbox, it would be an incredible car but it would be a big investment and cost a lot more than the current Exige S - then everyone will start moaning about the price! I'd argue Lotus would be better off putting that money into making the Elise lighter and finding some more exciting engines for it. The Elise should be the big volume driver but it's not selling at all well. The concept ain't broke, it's still a thing of inherent genius, it's just the execution that needs fixing.

 

The LF1 is nice, if they shift another 81 cars then that's alright with me. But we shouldn't give it a hard time just because we want to see more from Lotus. I'm sure more is coming. The ship has been steadied, it's time for them to think about investing wisely. But the truth is any investment is a huge gamble for a company of limited resources. Porsche can afford to get lots of things very wrong. Lotus can't. I bet the Evora still owes them tons of money.

As for the Germans doing it properly not sure I can agree! They've been restricting the early models just so they can offer these dubious 10bhp increases, what a crock! Imagine if Lotus had launched the Exige with 320bhp just so they can release a series of slightly more powerful versions every year? I'd rather they didn't start with that crap. I for one am glad they didn't care about protecting the Evora's flagship status and gave us the full 345 from the start.

Interestingly Porsche have just announced 80 Martini special edition 911s. It's more expensive than a GT3. No more power than a Carrera S. That's no example to follow. What a rip off! Martini should be paying the drivers for the sponsorship!!! Load of....