The new Lotus Exige is making its world debut simultaneously in Australia and in Switzerland, when the covers are pulled off the striking Chrome Orange cars on the 2nd March 2004, at both the Geneva and Melbourne International Motor Shows.

As with the new Elise 111R model announced at the Brisbane Motor Show earlier this month, Australia is the first market in the world to get this exciting new flagship model.

The original Exige, which came to Australia in limited numbers in 2001 and 2002, is now a true “collectable”. Of the 580 produced; only 8 were sold in Australia.

The new Exige will be slightly more plentiful, with Australia having an allocation of one car per month, into the foreseeable future.

Most significantly, the new Exige enters the market priced at $99,990, that's $30,000 less than its predecessor!

The new Exige is available in three versions, the standard car or, alternativel, as a Touring Pack or Performance Pack versions.

Either pack adds $7,000 to the price.

Later this year, a full motorsport version of the car will be announced.

Specifications on the standard Exige include:

• Fixed head coupe design
• 141 kW (189 bhp) DOHC Toyota VVTL-i 16 valve light alloy engine
• 6-speed manual gearbox
• Twin oil coolers
• Air-conditioning
• Track tuned 4-channed ABS brakes
• Cross-drilled brakes
• Sports suspension
• Unique 16-spoke wheels
• Yokohama Advan LTS AO 48 tyres
• Auxiliary driving lights
• 3-element rear diffuser with anodized finish
• Front bib spoilerRear wing, fixed to pop-up engine lid
• Carpet mats with passenger footrest
• Cloth seats, with acrylic capped door panels and cloth inserts in door panels
• Central door locking
• Blaupunkt Lausanne radio/CD
• Immobiliser and alarm, as on all models

• Fully carpeted interior floor with passenger footrest
• Bespoke full Alcantara interior trim
• Seats trimmed in Alcantara
• Alcantara door panels
• Carbon effect door inserts
• Glove instrument binnacle
• Black centre console
• Electric windows
• Sun visors
• Interior stowage net
• Blaupunkt Woodstock radio/CD

• 14 spoke forged aluminium wheels – lighter and stronger for competition use
• Alcantara/Carbon effect sports seats with Exige logo
• 4-point harness for track use
• Acrylic capped door panels with carbon effect door inserts
• Cross bar fitted to roll hoop
• Revised design rear bulkhead to suit cross bar installation

• FIA approved roll cage – 6-point bolt-in
• 4, 5, or 6-point competition harnesses
• A-frame to secure competition harnesses
• Corbeau or Recaro competition seats>Additional competition support struts
• Diagonal roof brace for track use
• Fitting kit for competition cage
• Adjustable suspension
• Sports Exhaust, level 1
• Sports exhaust, level 2

Please note that for the FIA approved cage to be fitted, the car must be ordered with the optional T45 roll hoop, as currently fitted to the Lotus Sport 111.

In fact, any Exige or Elise intended for serious competition use, should be ordered with the T45 roll-hoop. This is built into the chassis on line and cannot be retro fitted.

This includes cars intending to compete in events such as Targa Tasmania and Targa New Zealand.

In summary:

The new Lotus Exige is the new flagship of the Lotus range. Of all the Elise and Exige derivatives thus far, it provides the highest level of performance yet, in its guise as a standard road car.

Unlike its very focused predecessor, the new Exige is perfectly suited to every day driving, being considerably quieter inside and equipped with a highly efficient, albeit very light weight (15 kg) air-conditioning system.

Unlike the original version, it even has a boot!

Previous Lotus article: Lotus Elise

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