The Exige Sport 410 Is The Latest New(ish) Lotus
We know what you’re thinking: “Didn’t we just have a new Exige?” Well, yes, but this isn’t it. That was the Type 25, a special edition version of the Cup 430 - the Cup 430 being a replacement for the Cup 380. What we have today is the Sport 410, which supersedes the Sport 380. Still following?
Mounted in the middle we have the tried-and-tested, Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre V6, here good for 404bhp at 7000rpm and 310lb ft of torque from 3000-7000rpm. Not bad considering the car it powers has a dry weight of just 1054kg.
0-60mph takes 3.3 seconds, and after what Lotus dubs “fierce in-gear acceleration,” you’ll find yourself hitting a 180mph top speed.
After a little CFD modelling and wind tunnel time, Lotus came up with a tweaked aero package that generates 150kg of downforce. For context, the Sport 380 made 140kg, while the Cup 430 is good for a whopping 220kg.
The chassis is lifted straight from the Cup 430, which means it’s fitted with three-way adjustable Nitron dampers and Eibach adjustable front/rear anti-roll bars. The setup has been re-tuned to make the Sport 410 more suitable for the road, but make no mistake - this is still a very serious car, as evidenced by the super-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s you’ll find at each corner.
Like what you see? The Sport 410 will set you back £85,600, although you can easily push the £100,000 mark by ticking a few of the fancy carbonfibre option boxes.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Yeah I agree with everyone here…
I once considered buying an Exige, at that time the top-end no-special model being Sport 350.
In the end I figured that there would always be a “faster” Exige making mine obsolete in a matter of a year.
I was so right about this. It must be a big turn-off for existing owners.
Welp…I’m changing my profile pic