New Exige Sport 350

[Trevsked]

1 hour ago, Kalli said:

Cup360 is a raw Exige - no radio, plumbed in extinguisher, no sound insulation etc. 

Don't think you are correct there, I believe the 360 Cup has a radio, no extinguisher, no carbon seats and no harnesses, not really a Cup.

 

Trevor.

[Kalli]

True - just checked. Theyre available as options - I just assumed they were removed with the addition of the cup status. 

[Arun_D]

3 hours ago, Kalli said:

On what option? If you do that on the trip reader, it'll just reset to zero.

Let's see how good my memory is (the dimming one is correct as I did it last night in my Cup):

Press and hold with the trip mileage on = reset trip (obviously)

Press and hold on whilst showing the odometer (possible only with engine off but ignition on) = change time on clock

Press and hold whilst alternative speed reading is showing = adjust brightness level of binnacle and heater lighting. 

 

By the way, I love the colour of the car in your avatar, Tom. You want to hang on to that :-P

[LF1]

I would agree the last one is correct, I was in France when my dash fell into darkness when trying to change the clock, which likely means the clock one is right too as I was driving down the peage at the time which is why it would not work.

Proper off topic!

[Stubox]

1 hour ago, Trevsked said:

not really a Cup.

Quite right, bloody wannabe Cup.....??

[Bibs]

Just on my way home from Hethel having spent the day testing the Sport 350, full review and video hopefully tomorrow.  The exposed gear change is a work of art,  and lighter and has passes homologation so nothing will fall in there and get stuck

 

[Trevsked]

Missed you by a day then matey. Look forward to hearing your review :-)

 

Trevor.

[geartox]

The 350 Sport will be released in February 2016. I was hoping to see (and buy) the Exige 400 at Geneva Motor Show in March. It seems that It will not happen before 2017... I'm sure it's a pretty good car, but not the one I was expected.

[Bibs]

The choice was lighter or more power.

You may have heard this before... 

This car is 3kgs lighter than the Cup version, that's a very significant weight saving over the Coupe/Roadster.

 

[NedaSay]

Is this a swan song or is it the anticipated refresh? I thought Lotus was introducing a new "lower silled" Exige year after next, so I'm going to assume this is an end of life refresh before the significantly newer model but this looks really nice and that new gearshift mechanism looks meaty. I'm guessing the weightloss comes from the new Carbon reinforced composite and it's a massive loss... 

[Bibs]

The car won't get a lower sill. To retain the rigidity would require an extra 20kgs of bracing, won't happen. Bodywork contributes 12kgs to the weight loss... 

I've pages of notes from a 30 min presentation from JMG, a road drive, track session and final 30 min 1-2-1 with Jean-Marc to write up but essentially the Sport 350 is now the replacement to the Coupe and Roadster. There may be a roadster version available shortly, and the speed limiter may be removed as they're aware most people take the roof off the coupe anyway but they may not worry too much as let people crack on with that as the soft top is only 5% of sales.

[NedaSay]

2 minutes ago, Bibs said:

The car won't get a lower sill. To retain the rigidity would require an extra 20kgs of bracing, won't happen. Bodywork contributes 12kgs to the weight loss... 

Uh ok  thanks for the clarification, but where did they get the other 39kg? this car was never that fat to start with! 

[Bibs]

I've got it all written down, to the 100gm. Will be in my write up but it's nearly 1am and I've had an 16 hour day travelling and up in Hethel so you'll have to wait!

[Stubox]

7 hours ago, Bibs said:

 

This car is 3kgs lighter than the Cup version, that's a very significant weight saving over the Coupe/Roadster.

 

Thought the Cup was 60kg lighter than the S? This is 51kg lighter.

The rear panel is 12kg I assume so that's a nice chunk of weight, forged optional wheels another 5kg. Both would look nice on a current Cup?

I would assume though they bring out a Sport 350 Cup before the Exige 4xx though.

 

[Top cat]

I am pretty sure that colour is just MSG, the type of paint used means every time the light changes so does the shade of green. 

Not sure what they are thinking with the rear hatch though. The one off the 360 looks really good but that just appears to be some sort of insert inside the plastic outer. Looks out of place on the picture used on the Lotus web-site. Love the fact the wheels are lighter, this should be noticeable but again the design is meh!. 

Overall it has not got me excited certainly not got me wanting one. 

I really think Lotus need to take a look at the second hand market at the moment because in my opinion the arse is going to fall out of it soon. None are selling even the great value end, soon this has got to give and this will impact on people choosing to buy new. 

[Bibs]

Lotus have some,  if not the best residuals in the UK.

Speak to B&C and ask how sales are,  they're well into double figures every single month. 

[Top cat]

Murry's and B&C yes, they can sell a few second hand but you look at the the rest of the V6 sellers.  The second hand market is tiny Bibs, and the number of cars that is coming onto the market is far out stripping the sales. Ok the prices are just in line with other makes for newish second hand sports cars but Lotus has always been an exception to the rule and i think this will ultimately effect peoples choices when buying new. 

[quantum2000]

Is the forged wheel option the same as this?

[Top cat]

I believe it is Jeff. 

Calling Bibs. 

 

Have they fixed the lights on the switches for the air-con?

[LF1]

20 hours ago, Snoopy1969 said:

nice - but how does the Exige S Club racer fit in the range now?

I would say it is in answer to the fact that most CR (Elise and Exige) have all the comfort options added back in, for me the CR styling is way better than the standard car so I completely understand this. People want the Cup look with the Coupe comfort. I love the exterior changes, but not the interior.

[quantum2000]

So if you add the forged wheels and two piece disks you can get the weight down to 1115 kg.

Seems strange that, what will be the standard car is lighter than the new 360 cup (1130 kg)

My V6 CR came in at 1160 kg, with aircon, SuedeTex, Reversing sensors, full tank of fuel

 

Edited December 10, 2015 by quantum2000

[Arun_D]

25 minutes ago, Top cat said:

Murry's and B&C yes, they can sell a few second hand but you look at the the rest of the V6 sellers.  The second hand market is tiny Bibs, and the number of cars that is coming onto the market is far out stripping the sales. Ok the prices are just in line with other makes for newish second hand sports cars but Lotus has always been an exception to the rule and i think this will ultimately effect peoples choices when buying new.

On the contrary, even B&C have been struggling to shift 2nd hand V6s. I was to receive a better p/x for my grey V6S on the proviso they could shift one of their used stock V6s...but they're still sat there today, and have been there since before I ordered my Cup in mid-September.

New ones on 50:50...flying out the doors.

[LF1]

Are the brakes not the same as the V6 with Race pack as stands? When mine had the Nitrons fitted the car was weighed in at 1150 by Randy, not sure how much petrol.

[Snoopy1969]

30 minutes ago, T3Jn said:

I would say it is in answer to the fact that most CR (Elise and Exige) have all the comfort options added back in, for me the CR styling is way better than the standard car so I completely understand this. People want the Cup look with the Coupe comfort. I love the exterior changes, but not the interior.

Yes, fully understandable - but - when you look at Lotus Homepage - that they are not changing the CR Version, only the normal S, so I do not think someone will buy the heavier, non revised CR Version? MAythe als the CR will get the technical Upgrades in some time? 

[Arun_D]

12 minutes ago, T3Jn said:

Are the brakes not the same as the V6 with Race pack as stands? When mine had the Nitrons fitted the car was weighed in at 1150 by Randy, not sure how much petrol.

Brake choices are the same as normal V6S. Single piece discs as standard (which remain even with Race pack on V6S), or two piece optional.