Lotus Exige S Type 72 – F1 Inspiration for the Road
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23rd April, 2010
Limited edition Exige S Type 72 celebrates Lotus’ most
successful F1 car of all time, the Lotus Type 72 Formula One car, which achieved 20 Grand Prix
victories between 1970 and 1975.
- Limited edition Exige S, just 3 examples destined for Australia
- Celebrating the most successful Lotus F1 car of all time
- Iconic Lotus colours with a Performance Pack, a Sport Pack and LSD as standard.
- 0-100 km/h in 4.5 secs, 8.5 l/100 km, 199 g/km CO2
As the Lotus name re-enters the world of Formula One, Lotus Cars Australia has announced that it has
secured three Exige S limited edition vehicles for the Australian market, the Lotus Exige S Type 72.
The limited edition Exige S celebrates one of the most successful F1 car of all time, the Lotus Type
72 Formula One car, which achieved 20 Grand Prix victories between 1970 and 1975.
The Lotus Type 72 was driven by such Lotus greats as Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie
Peterson and Jacky Ickx and won three Formula One Constructors’ Championships (1970, 1972 and 1973) and
two Drivers’ World Championships (the first being won by Jochen Rindt in 1970 and the second by Emerson
Fittipaldi in 1972).
The Type 72 features a number of enhancements that draw on the history of Lotus racing.
The colour scheme of the Exige S Type 72 commemorates the famous and highly recognisable black and
gold Lotus Type 72 livery and is finished by the same sign writer who painted racing cars for Team
Lotus. The exterior of the Exige S Type 72 features unique black and gold light weight wheels and is
finished with hand-painted gold Type 72 and Exige S logos.
The Australian Lotus Exige S Type 72 vehicles come with a Sport Pack and a Performance Pack as
standard, along with a Limited Slip Differential. Each car comes with a special build plate
commemorating one of the F1 car’s 20 Grand Prix victories.
The Sport Pack includes a bespoke high quality interior, with black microfibre ProBax sports seats
with gold stitching and Type 72 logo. Other Sport Pack additions are twin oil coolers, a T45 steel main
roll hoop and an adjustable front anti-roll bar.
The Performance Pack offers a further 20 hp over the standard Exige S whilst it includes the Lotus
Variable Slip Traction Control System, front AP Racing four piston brake calipers with 308 mm discs, a
full length roof scoop and an uprated clutch plate and clutch cover.
Performance through light weight has long been a Lotus philosophy and the Lotus Exige S Type 72 is
no exception. The 935 kg Exige S Type 72 is a supercharged mid-engined sports car that is at home on
the race track as it is on the open road. The intercooled engine with VVTL-i technology ensures
impressive performance all the way to the rev limiter at 8,500 rpm allowing the car to sprint to 100
km/h in 4.5 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 235 km/h.
All Lotus cars offer outstanding handling and performance, and the Exige is no exception offering
excellent dynamics and great driver involvement. Lotus ride and handling gives an inspiring driving
experience and the mid-engined layout of the Lotus Exige S Type 72 offers fantastic balance and
agility.
Luke Bennett, Operations Director for Lotus Cars Limited stated:
Clive Chapman, Director of Classic Team Lotus said: “The Type 72 was a very significant car for
Team Lotus and indeed for the world of F1. It was a revolutionary design that pioneered the use of
side-mounted radiators to achieve its distinctive ’wedge’ profile, which delivered a significant
aerodynamic advantage. Furthermore, by minimising unsprung weight and using a torsion bar, rising
rate suspension, tyre performance was excellent. The Lotus Type 72 design was so advanced that it was
competitive for an extraordinary six years.”
Lotus Cars Australia has secured just 3 examples of the Lotus Exige S Type 72 for Australia. The
car is priced at $109,990 plus dealer delivery and the various statutory government charges, thus
offering an exceptional value proposition considering the cars specification and the exclusivity.
With the Performance Pack as standard on the Exige S Type 72 comes a power output is 179 kW, a 10
per cent improvement over the Exige S. Torque also increases from 215 Nm to 230 Nm. Upgraded fuel
injectors and a new ECU allow the supercharged engine to reach greater heights.
The engine is a 1.8 litre supercharged intercooled four-cylinder. Features include twin-overhead
camshafts, 16 valves and VVTL-i variable cam timing and lift, along with a distinct, characteristic
supercharger whine.
A six-speed close-ratio C64 gearbox is standard and the Performance Pack provides an upgraded
heavy duty clutch kit including a strengthened clutch and pressure plate.
Putting this extra power to the ground will be assured through mechanical and electronic traction
aids. A torque-sensing limited-slip differential is standard on the Lotus Exige S Type 72.
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The car is fitted with Lotus Sport adjustable traction control. Developed from the Lotus Sport UK GT3
motor sport programme, the advanced electronic system utilises a driver-adjustable control knob to dial-in
one of 18 preset levels of traction control intervention. This allows for the ultimate in driver control
in any road condition, wet or dry.
This system also utilises electronic launch-control where the driver can dial in the desired revs,
floor the throttle and it will hold at the determined point until the clutch is released for perfect
starts every time.
Lotus is already known for its outstanding stopping power, and the Exige S Type 72 is even more
effective with AP four-piston callipers on the front with 308 mm two-piece front vented discs. On the rear,
new Brembo single-piston callipers work on 288 mm rotors. Pagid brake pads are fitted all around.
Maintaining its track focus, the Sport 240 is fitted with grippy R compound Yokohama A048 LTS tyres,
195/50x16 front, 225/45x17 rear. It also benefits from a BS4 T45 steel roll-over hoop and struts.
Even the air-conditioning system is designed for performance. Weighing just 15 kg for the entire system,
the air-con uses an advanced clutch that automatically turns the compressor off when it senses full throttle
to preserve maximum performance.
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