Lotus Sport, the racing arm of Lotus, has unveiled its race-bred Exige GT3 concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show. The stripped out racer is powered by a high-revving 1.8L four-cylinder motor sourced from Toyota with an Eaton M62 supercharger bolted on. Final output is 271bhp (203kW) at a lofty 8000rpm and 190lb/ft of torque at 7000rpm. The 0-60mph sprint takes just 3.9 secs, while top speed is electonically limited to 160mph.

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Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch with a lightweight aluminium C64 six-speed gearbox at the driver’s disposal. An open type limited slip differential is fitted as standard as well as a switchable traction-control system that reduces engine power rather than applying the brakes when it detects slip. It is intended that the Lotus Exige GT3 concept road vehicle will be further developed into a full production car for limited markets, to go on sale in late 2007 with an estimated price tag of between £50,000 and £60,000.

Lotus has also used the Geneva show to release its Luxury Touring Pack Option for its Europa S. The package, designed exclusively for the larger GT model, comes with saddle tan leather on almost every interior surface with matching brown carpet, an engine start button and a solid Walnut and Tulip wood gearknob. Exterior additions include tinted windows, body coloured front driving lamp surrounds, and silver highlights for the grille. The package is available from April 2007 priced at €1,750 in Europe, with prices in other markets to be announced shortly.

Follow the jump to read the detailed press release and view images of the luxury equipped Europa S.

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Press Release:

Lotus Launches the Exige GT3 Concept Road Vehicle

UNLEASHED! The Most Extreme Exige Variant To-date

Geneva, Switzerland (6th March 2007), Lotus Sport, the race car

performance arm of Lotus Cars Ltd, today unveiled the Lotus Exige GT3

concept road vehicle. With its debut at the 77th annual Geneva

International Motor Show, the 275 PS (271 bhp / 203 kW) Exige GT3 is a bold,

no-holds-barred, lap record-breaking, breathtaking performance machine that

embraces all that is expected of a race-bred Lotus.

Building on the Lotus racing pedigree, this concept car can deliver

more grin-factor than ever before; there are no intended compromises and no

limits except those that are self imposed by the driver.

This is one concept that commands your full attention.

Said Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer for Group Lotus plc:

"The Exige GT3 concept road car is a fantastic showcase product from

our race car performance division, Lotus Sport. The car's racing background

becomes immediately obvious from its aggressive stance, extreme width of

rear track and innovative three-dimensional rear wing. The foundation of

all Lotus products is phenomenal handling and ride characteristics, but the

Exige GT3 takes these into another dimension altogether where supreme road

holding and outrageous acceleration come evenly matched with sensational

stopping ability."

The Exige GT3's pure bred racing brother will be again competing in

the GT race arena in 2007, taking over the mantle from the hugely successful

2006 British GT3 Championship-winning car. On road or track the Lotus Exige

GT3 winning pedigree will continue in time honoured Lotus racing tradition.

A new one-piece front clam-shell with fully masked front wheels and

wheel arch venting leads the aerodynamically cleaned silhouette of this car.

A menacing stance is enhanced by the aggressively flared rear wheel arches

and aero-efficient three-dimensional rear wing and blended end-plates. The

visual message is clear; this vehicle means business and the squat wide

hindquarters symbolise the latent power harnessed within.

That power is provided by the same charge-cooled supercharged engine

that the GT3 race car employs, producing 275PS (271bhp / 203kw) driven

through ten inch rear wheels with 255 width tyres making the final

connection to the road. Max speed (257kph / 160mph) and peak torque have

been electronically limited but acceleration is left untouched and

unimpaired. The up-rated front brakes and brake pads all round ensure that

on road or track this car's stopping ability is more than capable of

harnessing its acceleration performance.

The end-plate mounted three-dimensional rear wing is highly

efficient and fully complements the widened and flattened rear deck shape in

reducing the overall drag as well as maintaining front to rear downforce

balance. The performance of this car will amaze and reward all drivers with

incredible road holding (developed with the help of its 2-way Ohlins

adjustable dampers together with Lotus Sport adjustable front stabiliser bar

and rear suspension double-shear track control arms) and stunning

acceleration.

Simply put, the Lotus Exige GT3 will redefine your concept of a road

car by re-affirming that unique proposition that is, above all else, a

Lotus.

It is intended that the Lotus Exige GT3 concept road vehicle will be

further developed into a full production car for limited markets, to go on

sale in late 2007 with an estimated price tag of between £50,000 and

£60,000.

The Lotus GT3 in more detail

Engine

The supercharged and intercooled 1796 cc engine in the Lotus GT3 has

a maximum power output of 275 PS (271 bhp / 203 kw) at 8000 rpm and a torque

figure of approximately 258 Nm (190 lb/ft) at 7000 rpm. This significant

amount of extra power and torque now available together with the VVTL-i

variable cam system ensures that there is a smooth and linear surge of power

from low engine speeds all the way to the maximum 8000 rpm. The Roots-type

Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning

that it does not require the use of the engine's oil) is run from the

crankshaft and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation. Four

high capacity injectors and an up rated fuel pump add additional fuel under

hard acceleration or high speed driving.

An Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit) is included in the whole

package as an oil reservoir back-up for extreme track use ensuring that,

under those conditions, the engine oil pressure remains constant.

Twin oil coolers complete the powertrain package.

Transmission

A sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfer the

engine power and torque to the lightweight aluminium C64 six-speed gearbox -

with the same perfectly spaced ratios as the Exige S. An open type limited

slip differential is fitted as standard. The Lotus switchable traction

control system (LTCS) works through the engine, reducing power to maintain

traction; it is active above 8 kph (5 mph) and reacts much more quickly than

many brake-based systems.

Chassis Structure

Lotus designed lightweight structure of epoxy bonded aluminium alloy

extrusions with crash structure, extruded aluminium door beams, integral

steel seat-belt support structure and lightweight galvanized steel rear sub

frame incorporating a structural shear panel.

Body

GT3 derived one-piece front clamshell and wide track rear clamshell

with full length roof scoop design taken from the Cup Exige 255. New full

width rear wing with integral end plates mounting to rear clam. Race style

full width front splitter; standard Exige door and body sides retained.

Multi element rear diffuser with carbon option.

Wheels & Tyres

5-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels (front 7Jx16 and rear

10Jx17) are shod with Lotus Sport specific Yokohama A048 R LTS tyres (front

195/50 R16 and rear 255/40 R17), designed to maximise grip and achieve the

ride and handling targets set by Lotus.

Brakes

The brake system includes 308 mm diameter 2 piece aluminium belled

cross drilled and ventilated front discs and 288 mm diameter cross-drilled

and ventilated rear discs. AP Racing two-piece radially mounted 4 piston

calipers at the front and Brembo single sliding piston at the rear. Pagid

RS14 sports brake pads all round. High grade silicone brake fluid;

stainless steel braided brake hoses. In addition, the proven Lotus track

tuned servo-assisted four-channel ABS system enhances braking performance

and minimises stopping distance without taking over from the skill of the

driver.

Suspension

Fully independent suspension utilising unequal length wishbones;

Öhlins 2-way adjustable dampers with coil over springs and Lotus Sport

adjustable front anti-roll bar. A rear double shear track control arm brace

is provided to cope with the expected kerb abuse during heavy track day

driving.

Performance

0-60 mph 3.9 secs (estimated)

0-100 km/h 4.0 secs (estimated)

0-100 mph 9.8 secs (estimated)

(0-160 km/h)

Maximum Speed 160 mph (257 km/h) - electronically limited

Max Power 275 PS (271 bhp / 203 kw) at 8000 rpm

Max Torque 258 Nm (190 lb/ft) at 7000 rpm