Details emerge on 2011 Lotus Scura

Lotus' dark side has been released in the form of a lightweight and powerful special edition Exige. Its called the Scura and it has been all the hype this past week for car lovers everywhere. Just hours after its world debut at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show, we now have actual pictures and concrete details.

The Exige Scura will use the noisy, but potent supercharged engine from the current Exige. This one will have 257 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed manual transmission with an updated and stronger racing clutch.

This should provide enough grunt to get the Scura to 60mph in four seconds flat. However, with its new mechanical and suspension improvements, the Scura will be more at home on a road course, rather than the drag strip.

The biggest bombshell of this new edition Lotus is the paint job. Its a flat (matte) black with black racing stripes and it rides on black alloy wheels. The body and interior are adorned with bits of black carbon fiber to lower curb weight and enhance the dull color choice by the people at lotus.

Interstingly, we've learned that this matte black paint is more of a soft rubber coating than the typical hard, metallic paints we are all used to seeing and feeling. Lotus says it is based on interior dashboard materials.

With a price tag equivalent to $75,000 U.S. dollars, it wont be cheap. Lotus originally planned on building only 35 of the Scura editions, but engineering director Roger Becker said they will need to build more because as those 35 are already pre-sold.

Other features of the Scura Exige include a new carbon fiber front air splitter, oil cooling inlet vanes, a launch control system, variable limited slip traction control settings, and adjustable dampeners (from the suspension gurus at Ohlins).

The possibility of this factory racecar coming to the U.S. gained momentum today at the Tokyo Motor Show, where Becker said they have not ruled out selling it in the states.

With its Darth Vader styling and tuned-up four cylinder, the Exige Scura should be the most anticipated Lotus to own ever.