Lotus Exige GT3 in Melbourne
March 14, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
The car which can keep up with Porsche GT3 Cup cars, Lamborghini Gallardos and Aston Martin race cars, the Lotus Exige GT3, has received a power boost and is ready for an assault on the supercars at the 2008 GT Championship (prior to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend).
The best and easiest way to describe this car, is to call it the world’s fastest Lotus. Not only does it have a top speed of 320km/h, but that comes from a highly modified 1.8-litre Toyota engine!
The engine is the same as the one found in the Exige S road car. The difference is more tune and extreme aerodynamic aids to keep the car steady at high speed.
“We wanted to give it a freshen-up over the off season, so we used the opportunity to update to the 2007 spec and the performance improvements it offers. We’ve been doing some 20 hour days and the guys have put in a lot of effort just to get it to the F1 support race this weekend.” said Angelo Lazaris, the car’s owner
Owning the world’s fastest Lotus does tend to attract the attention of Lotus itself, and they have sent along Russel Gibbons from Lotus Sport UK. Gibbons was a key member of the Lotus Exige GT3’s success in the 2006 British GT championship.
The Exige GT3 weighs less than a ton and puts out 261kW (at 7000rpm) and 305Nm (at 6000rpm). An absolutely remarkable feat from the 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine. So remarkable, in fact, that it’s worth talking about.
The power figure shows a massive 89 percent increase over base specification, which results in 148kW per-litre! To put that into perspective, a Holden Commodore SS road car comes in at just 45kW/litre while the Bugatti Veyron manages 92kW per-litre!
What ever you have planned this weekend, cancel it, because you don’t want to miss the 2008 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix (on ten).
Print it: 
To bad Angelo cannot drive. He is a struggling and so is the car. The only way it can keep up is by serious tweaking, which makes the car last no longer than a 13year old. Also when driver skill comes into it, well it is microscopic. You defiantly won’t see this car at the front of the grid. Ever.
Just look on Natsoft and everything I have said is supported. An aesthetically pleasing car. But not a true front-runner.
Bloody Quick for a tiny and still not super powerful car!
I suppose since C/A scammed me on the MotorShow tickets [and failed to mention my diesel/cancer link]
I think the ethical thing to do would be to supply[pick up at gate] me 1 x adult general admission ticket to this weekends GP in Melb., and all will be forgiven! :-)
Cheers and God Bless,
F-0
I like it
VERY VERY nice indeed !
\”comes from a highly modified 1.8-litre Toyota engine!\”
Is that saying its still Naturally Aspirated ?
You’ve got to admire Lotus engineering. Stands to reason that Proton cars should be decent handlers!
No, It is supercharged
Hahaha 1.8L boosted Toyota engine has same power as a 4L XR6T
alot less torque tho
@TP
Derp derp derp, it weighs 400kg less.
A Stock Exige will run a 1/4 mile in 12 seconds, and do 0-100kmph in 4.5 seconds.