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101-672: The Lotus Exige / ɛ ɡ ˈ z iː ʒ / is a sports car made by the British company Lotus Cars from 2000 until 2021. Originally a coupé version of the Lotus Elise roadster, since the Series 3 the Exige has been the larger-engined model of the family, featuring a V6 engine in place of the Elise's straight-four . Convertible versions of both models are available. The original Exige

202-481: A 6500 rpm red line achieved by revised supercharger and ECU. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 178 mph (286 km/h). The interior is also stripped out and features necessary driver aids. The Exige Sport 380 weighs 1,076 kg (2,372 lb), thanks to the extensive use of carbon fibre on the exterior as well as the interior, the application of polycarbonate windows instead of traditional glass windows and

303-399: A Touring Plus package. It comes with a lightened, 15 kg (33.1 lb) air conditioning system, sports seats finished in black leather with a harness bar. It features an orange Exige logo on the seats and floor mats, door trims, centre console and stitching. The car also received Lotus Sport forged 5-spoke OZ Racing alloy wheels, body mods including a roof scoop to supply more air to

404-399: A controversial choice for a "purist" sports car. The Elan sold poorly and was discontinued after three years. The 1996 Lotus Elise , a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive roadster, was much more successful and remained in production until 2021. Roadsters enjoyed a resurgence in the mid-1990s, including the 1989-present Mazda MX-5 , the 1995-2002 BMW Z3 (succeeded by the 2002-2016 BMW Z4 ),

505-409: A definition. Insurance companies have also attempted to use mathematical formulae to categorise sports cars, often charging more for insurance due to the inherent risk of performance driving. There is no fixed distinction between sports cars and other categories of performance cars, such as muscle cars and grand tourers , with some cars being members of several categories. Traditionally,

606-515: A fire extinguisher, electrical cut-off, FIA carbon seats, air conditioning, and a removable steering wheel. The Exige 360 Cup has the following specifications as stated by Lotus: Revealed on 9 December 2015, the Lotus Exige Sport 350 is the replacement for the Exige S and the ultimate incarnation Lotus’ mid-engined V6 coupe. It is lighter and faster than the Exige S and is the next step on Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales' ladder to recovery for

707-638: A flying British flag body, developed by Lotus Design. The car was featured in Discovery Channel's How Do They Do It? series. The Stealth is a limited production run version of the Lotus Exige S with 1,796 cc (1.8 L; 109.6 cu in) supercharged and intercooled Inline-4 engine from Exige Cup 260 rated at 260 PS (191 kW; 256 bhp) at 8,000 rpm and 236 N⋅m (174 lb⋅ft) of torque at 6,000 rpm, matte black body colour, Phantom Black triple stripes that run

808-552: A newly designed rear transom panel which features two rear lights instead of four. The Lotus Exige Cup 380 is a more hardcore variant of the Exige Sport 380. Performance of the car remains the same as the Sport 380 but it features more aero components and a larger rear wing to produce more downforce at high speeds. The Exige Cup 380 generates 200 kg (441 lb) of downforce at its maximum speed of 175 mph (282 km/h);

909-399: A pressed-steel chassis, a gated 4-speed transmission, pushrod-actuated overhead inlet valves , a honeycomb radiator, low-tension magneto ignition , a long wheelbase, a low center of mass and a very effective suspension system. The overall result was a "safe and well-balanced machine" with a higher performance than any other contemporary production car. At the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup ,

1010-473: A price of $ 149,990. In 2008, the Exige S was replaced by the Exige S 240. Power output increased by 9% over the outgoing model to 240 hp (179 kW; 243 PS). The S 240 also received upgraded AP Racing brakes from the Exige Cup 240 and a larger roof scoop utilised by the Exige Cup 255. 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) times improved to 4.0 seconds. The S 240 base manufacturer suggested retail price

1111-427: A production Simplex 60 hp was entered only due to a specially-built 90 hp racing car being destroyed in a fire; the 60 hp famously went on to win the race. The 1910 Austro-Daimler 27/80 is another early sports car which had success in motor racing. The 27/80 was designed by Ferdinand Porsche , who drove the car to victory in the 1910 Prince Henry Tour motor race. The Vauxhall and Austro-Daimler —like

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1212-548: A top speed of 249 km/h (155 mph). The North American Exige was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006. According to Lotus, the standard Exige Series 2 model weighs 2,016 lb (914 kg) and has the following specifications: In February 2006, Lotus announced the Exige S model which used a supercharged Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine rated at 220 hp (164 kW; 223 PS). The S

1313-462: A track oriented version of the Exige S while the Exige Cup R is the track-only version of Exige V6 Cup. The Exige V6 Cup is offered for sale in the United States as a track only car. If purchased, US Lotus Dealers will only provide a bill of sale instead of a title. The vehicles were unveiled at the 2013 Autosport International motor show. Exige V6 Cup According to Lotus, the Exige Cup has

1414-465: Is a unique special livery for each model. Unlike many other Lotus Exige V6s, all body elements, including the roof, are painted. A Lotus Exclusive decal kit has been added to distinguish each model.The Type 25 would later inspire the creation of the Exige Type 49 and Type 79, based on the 430 version. The Lotus Exige Sport 380 is a track focused and more powerful version of the Lotus Exige lineup. It

1515-452: Is an iconic sports car of the early 1960s, due to its attractive styling and claimed top speed of 241 km/h (150 mph). The E-type was produced for 14 years and was initially powered by a six-cylinder engine, followed by a V12 engine for the final generation. In 1962, the MG B introduced a new era of affordable lightweight four-cylinder roadsters. The MG B used a unibody construction and

1616-483: Is known for their aftermarket automotive brake components, including calipers, drums , rotors, and brake lines. Brembo owns the foundries that produce their initial materials and supply the manufacturing plants. In all other markets, the company controls the entire production system—from raw materials through distribution. The company holds QS9000 and ISO 9001 certifications. A variety of Formula One teams, including Ferrari , use Brembo brakes. Brembo also supplies

1717-406: Is notable for using a three-seat layout, where the front row consists of a centrally-located driver's seat. The location of the engine and driven wheels significantly influence the handling characteristics of a car and are therefore crucial in the design of a sports car. Traditionally, most sports cars have used rear-wheel drive with the engine either located at the front ( FR layout ) or in

1818-520: The Audi RS 2 Avant . Ford Europe withdrew from the sports car market at the end of 1986 when the Capri was discontinued after a production run of nearly two decades. There was no direct successor, as Ford was concentrating on higher-performance versions of its hatchback and saloon models at the time. In 1989, a new generation of Lotus Elan roadster was released which used a front-wheel drive layout,

1919-541: The BMW 303 , Citroën Traction Avant and Fiat 508 — offered similar handling and comfort to the more expensive sports cars. Powerful, reliable, and economical (although softly suspended) American saloons began to be imported to Europe in significant numbers. Sports car ownership was increased through models such as the Austin 7 and Wolseley Hornet six , however many of these sports cars did not offer any performance upgrades over

2020-623: The Bentley Speed Six (1928-1930), with the former famously described by Bugatti's founder as "the fastest lorry in the world". Between the Great Depression and the World War II the pre-war era was a period of decline in importance for sports car manufacturers, although the period was not devoid of advances, for example streamlining . Cheap, light-weight family sedans with independent front suspension— such as

2121-478: The E indicates the "environmentally favourable bio-ethanol E85 fuel" powering the engine) as a limited number standard production car, and that it is simply a biofuels demonstrator. According to Lotus, the Exige 265E model has the following specifications: According to Lotus, the Exige GT3 model has the following specifications: The Angelo Lazaris is a version of Exige GT3 for the 2008 GT Championship, based on

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2222-762: The GP2 Series and the FIA Formula 2 Championship . Since 2010, Brembo has been an official whole brake supplier for the GP3 Series and the FIA Formula 3 Championship . Brembo is the exclusive supplier of braking systems for the MotoE World Cup . AP Racing brakes are currently used on GT500-class cars in the Super GT series as well as cars competing in the DTM . Brembo is the official brake supplier for

2323-520: The Jensen FF became the first sports car to use all-wheel drive . The Ford Capri is a 2+2 coupe that was produced from 1968 to 1986 and intended to be a smaller European equivalent of the Ford Mustang. A main rival to the Capri was Opel Manta , which was produced from 1970 to 1988. The 1973-1978 Lancia Stratos was a mid-engined two-seat coupe that was powered by a Ferrari V6 engine. This

2424-403: The 1905 Isotta Fraschini Tipo D, the 1906 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost , the 1908 Delage , the 1910 Bugatti Type 13 , and the 1912 DFP 12/15 . Early motor racing events included the 1903 Paris–Madrid race , the 1905-1907 Herkomer Trophy, the 1908-1911 Prince Henry Tour and the 1911–present Monte Carlo Rally . The Prince Henry Tours (which were similar to modern car rallies) were among

2525-426: The 1920s. The term initially described two-seat roadsters (cars without a fixed roof), however, since the 1970s the term has also been used for cars with a fixed roof (which were previously considered grand tourers ). Attributing the definition of 'sports car' to any particular model can be controversial or the subject of debate among enthusiasts. Authors and experts have often contributed their ideas to capture

2626-495: The 1921 Coppa Florio . Another approach— such as that used by Morris Garages— was to convert touring cars into sports cars. The first 24 Hours of Le Mans race for sports cars was held in 1923, although the two-seat sports cars only competed in the smallest class, with the majority of cars entered being four-seat fast touring cars. "This race, together with the Tourist Trophy Series of Races , organised after

2727-404: The 1948 Ferrari 166 S . A new concept altogether was the modern Gran Turismo class from Italy, which was in effect unknown before the war: sustained high-speed motoring from relatively modest engine size and compact closed or berlinetta coachwork. The 1947 Maserati A6 1500 two-seat berlinetta was the first production model from Maserati. In Germany, the motor industry was devastated by

2828-499: The 1980 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft and Giro d'Italia automobilistico marathon. The Montecarlo was a basis for the silhouette racing car , Lancia Rally 037 . In the 1970s, turbocharging began to be adopted by sports cars, such as the BMW 2002 Turbo in 1973, the first Porsche 911 Turbo in 1975, and the Saab 99 Turbo in 1978. Turbocharging became increasingly popular in the 1980s, from relatively affordable coupes such as

2929-452: The 1980–1986 Renault Fuego and 1992–1996 Rover 220 Coupé Turbo , to expensive supercars such as the 1984-1987 Ferrari 288 GTO and 1987-1992 Ferrari F40 . In the late 1980s and early 1990s, several manufacturers developed supercars that competed for production car top speed records . These cars included the 1986–1993 Porsche 959 , 1991–1995 Bugatti EB 110 , 1992–1994 Jaguar XJ220 and 1993–998 McLaren F1 . The 1980-1995 Audi Quattro

3030-506: The 1990s, all-wheel drive has become more common in sports cars. All-wheel drive offers better acceleration and favorable handling characteristics (especially in slippery conditions), but is often heavier and more mechanically complex than traditional layouts. Examples of all-wheel drive sports cars are the Lamborghini Huracan , Bugatti Veyron , and Nissan GT-R . Rear engine layouts are not typical for sports cars, with

3131-454: The 1995-2002 MG F , the 1996–present Porsche Boxster and the 1998–present Audi TT . Brembo Brembo N.V. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive parts that most notably produces brakes and rims, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles . Its operational head office is in Curno , Bergamo , Italy , while Amsterdam , Netherlands, is the company's legal seat. Brembo

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3232-704: The Automotive Brake Components division of Hayes Lemmerz. The approximately €39.6-million sale included approximately 250 employees and production facilities in Homer, Michigan and Apodaca, Mexico . An official press release on May 21, 2014, announced an €83-million expansion of the Michigan facility. Later that year, on December 2, Brembo also announced plans to invest €32 million into a 31,500-square-meter production facility, projected to produce two million aluminum calipers annually. The expectation

3333-478: The British sports car maker. The Toyota 3.5-litre supercharged V6 underneath is unchanged, though. It still produces 345 hp (350 PS; 257 kW) at 7,000rpm and 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) at 4,500rpm. However, Lotus has been through the Exige S, stripping weight wherever possible, tweaking the chassis and generally fettling the entire package. The initial plan had been to fit the Evora’s 400 bhp engine to

3434-555: The Elise). In February 2005, Lotus announced a limited production run of 50 Exiges, using the Toyota engine with a supercharger . This increased the power output to 243 hp (181 kW; 246 PS). These models were only available in yellow or black, representing the colours of Lotus Sport, and are badged 240R. They have a projected 0–97 km/h (60 mph) time of 3.9 seconds and 0–161 km/h (100 mph) of 9.9 seconds, with

3535-671: The European race car that competed in the FIA GT3 category. It featured the 1.8-litre engine based on the Exige S road car rated at 355 PS (261 kW; 350 hp) at 7,000 rpm and 305 N⋅m (225 lb⋅ft) at 6,000 rpm, increased frontal area to accommodate the wider track, revising the front radiator inlet and outlet areas, reducing the cross-sectional areas of both, extending the nose forward by approximately 3 cm (1 inch), bodywork extending 8 cm rearward, widening 10 cm (3.9 inches) and losing almost 3 cm in height at

3636-482: The Evora GT430's powertrain, modified to fit in the smaller Exige. The car body can produce 220 kg (485 lb) of downforce. The Cup 430 is 19 kg (42 lb) lighter than the Sport 380 due to the use of carbon fibre in body panels and interior and a titanium exhaust. The gearbox allows quicker gearshifts than the previous model. The Cup 430 is not offered with an automatic gearbox. The Exige Cup 430 has

3737-456: The Exige S, and 230 N⋅m (170 lb⋅ft) thanks to upgraded fuel injectors and a new engine control unit . 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) times improved to 4.2 seconds, and the top speed increased to 249 km/h (155 mph). At the time, the Sport 240 was the fastest Lotus ever sold in Australia . The Sport 240 in fitted with Lotus Sport adjustable traction control, developed by from

3838-513: The Exige, but in doing so it would have meant the engineers could not get the car below the 1,200 kg target weight set by Gales. And its weight loss that has been the key focus, with 51 kg taken out of the car reducing the kerb weight to 1,125 kg. The manual gearbox has been heavily revised, giving more precise and quicker shifting. The gearshift mechanism uses light weight machined and cast aluminium components which are so technically aesthetically appealing they are no longer hidden within

3939-645: The LF1 which adds features such as air conditioning. 'Convenience Pack' is optional with  trinket tray divider, USB connection and cup holder. Other options available are heated seats and rear parking sensors. Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales stated "Lotus’ DNA is borne of the Formula one® [ sic ] arena and with 65 years of motorsport racing experience, 40 of those in F1® ;[ sic ] it’s fitting we celebrate our sporting origins and our race successes with

4040-498: The Lotus Sport UK GT3 motorsport program. The system features a driver-adjustable control knob with 18 different presets of traction control as well as electronic launch control . The Sport 240's brakes were also upgraded, with AP Racing four-piston callipers with 308 mm (12.1 in) two-piece vented discs and braided hoses on the front, and Brembo single-piston callipers with 288 mm (11.3 in) rotors in

4141-468: The Mercedes Simplex 60 hp— were production fast touring cars. The 1912 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII is also considered one of the earliest sports cars, as it was a "purpose built, high performance, two-seater production automobile". The model was named after King Alfonso XIII of Spain , a patron of the car's chief designer and an enthusiast for the marque. Other early sports cars include

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4242-505: The S 240 and S 260 received distinctively new and enlarged rear spoilers mounted to the rear clam instead of the motor bay cover. The Exige 265E is a factory-built version of an Exige S optimised to run on E85 fuel, which is 85% ethanol . The higher octane of this biofuel allows for a higher compression ratio and/or more supercharger boost . In this model, which saw the ECU re-mapped as well as upgraded injectors and fuel pump to cope with

4343-435: The Toyota engine designation of 2ZZ-GE . Compared to the Series 2 Elise, it has a front splitter, a fibreglass hardtop roof with roof scoop, a rear engine cover, and rear spoiler. The sole purpose of these aerodynamic additions to the base Elise is to create more downforce (almost 45 kg (100 lb) of downforce at 161 km/h (100 mph) in the Exige versus 5.9 kg (13 lb) at 161 km/h (100 mph) in

4444-479: The car appeared during the next year or two, all conforming to the same basic design and earning for themselves a reputation second to none for fast and reliable travel. The 60-h.p. cars were announced late in 1902. The cars were possessed of a very real performance superior to anything else which could be bought at the time... and the model achieved an almost invincible position among the fast cars of its day. The Sports Car: Development and Design The basis for

4545-405: The car design is optimised for dynamic performance, without any specific minimum requirements; both a Triumph Spitfire and Ferrari 488 Pista can be considered sports cars, despite vastly different levels of performance. Broader definitions of sports cars include cars "in which performance takes precedence over carrying capacity", or that emphasise the "thrill of driving" or are marketed "using

4646-558: The collaboration between the Lotus factory and Road Racing Center, this exclusive version was only distributed in Europe for the best lotus EU customers. Often referred to as the "GT3 Touring of Exiges," it features all the body elements of the Cup and 380 Carbon Edition versions while retaining the original rear wing for a more understated look. Based on the second-generation Exige V6, it was one of

4747-642: The company has more than 10,634 employees within Italy and at branches in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US. As of 2019, Brembo was present in 14 countries worldwide. In October 2024, Brembo acquired Öhlins Racing for $ 405 million. Brembo specializes in performance braking systems and components as well as conducting research on braking systems. Brembo sells over 1,300 products worldwide and

4848-448: The coupe. To accommodate the V6 engine, the new model is approximately 25 cm (9.8 inches) longer and 5 cm (2.0 in) wider (exterior bodywise) than the model with the inline-four engine , being 4,052 mm (159.5 inches) long, 1,802 mm (70.9 in) wide (not counting the mirrors) and 1,130 mm (44.5 in) tall. The drag coefficient is 0.433. The Exige V6 Cup is

4949-456: The details of the victory number the which it represents. Car #1 commemorating Lotus’ first Formula one® victory at Monaco in 1960 to car #81 marking Kimi Räikkönen’s win in Australia in 2013. 'Race Pack' is standard with four mode Lotus dynamic performance management system (DPM), launch control, exhaust bypass valve override switch and optimised suspension. 'Premium Pack' is also standard on

5050-411: The development of performance cars such as the 1910 Vauxhall Prince Henry , 1910 Sunbeam 12/16 , 1910 Talbot 25 hp , 1910 Straker-Squire 15 hp and 1913 Star 15.9 hp . Following the halt in sports car production caused by World War I , Europe returned to manufacturing automobiles from around 1920. It was around this time that the term 'Sports Car' began to appear in the motor catalogues, although

5151-400: The early 1920s, the cost to produce a racing car was not significantly higher than a road car, therefore several manufacturers used the design from the current year's racing car for the next year's sports car. For example, the 1921 Ballot 2LS based on the racing car that finished third at the 1921 French Grand Prix. The Benz 28/95PS was also a successful racing car, with victories including

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5252-463: The exact origin of the name is not known. The decade that followed became known as the vintage era and featured rapid technical advances over the preceding Brass Era cars . Engine performance benefited from the abandonment of " tax horsepower " (where vehicles were taxed based on bore and number of cylinders, rather than actual power output) and the introduction of leaded fuel , which increased power by allowing for higher compression ratios . In

5353-531: The excitement of speed and the glamour of the (race)track" However, other people have more specific definitions, such as "must be a two-seater or a 2+2 seater" or a car with two seats only. In the United Kingdom, early recorded usage of the "sports car" was in The Times newspaper in 1919. The first known use of the term in the United States was in 1928. Sports cars started to become popular during

5454-401: The expiration of "smart" airbags exemption, and due to Toyota stopping production of its 2ZZ-GE four-cylinder engine. To mark the end of an era of Lotus Exige production, Lotus created the Exige S 260 Final Edition, exclusively for North America. With power upgraded to 257 hp, and a high level of standard equipment, the Exige S 260 Final Edition was available in multiple colour choices from

5555-472: The first supercars . Other significant European models of the 1960s and 1970s which might be considered supercars today are the Ferrari 250 GTO (1962-1964), Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (1963-1964), Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (1966-1968), Maserati Ghibli (1967-1973), Ferrari Daytona (1968-1973), Dino 246 (1969-1974), De Tomaso Pantera (1971-1993), Ferrari 308 GTB (1975-1980) and BMW M1 (1978-1981). In 1966,

5656-528: The first World War by the R.A.C. , appealed to the public imagination and offered to the manufacturers of the more sporting cars an excellent opportunity for boosting sales of their products." The classic Italian road races— the Targa Florio , and the Mille Miglia (first held in 1927)— also captured the public's imagination. By 1925, the higher profits available for four-seater cars resulted in

5757-499: The first to be delivered with the renowned open-gated gearbox. The Type 25, under the covers, is an Exige 430 Cup - the most extreme of all Exiges produced. The Lotus Exige Type 25 is easily recognisable by a numbered plaque located in front of the passenger seat. It also incorporates aerodynamic carbon elements from the Cup versions, particularly the side skirts, front spoiler, mirrors, and rear bumper. All units are equipped with nearly every factory option, but what truly sets them apart

5858-478: The following specifications according to Lotus: Sports car A sports car is a type of car that is designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling , acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving, and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1910s and are currently produced by many manufacturers around the world. Definitions of sports cars often relate to how

5959-485: The following specifications: Exige V6 Cup R The Lotus Exige V6 Cup R has the following specifications according to Lotus: The Exige LF1 was launched at the 2014 Canary Wharf MotorExpo . It  celebrates the company’s Formula one® heritage. A total of 81 cars were made, each one corresponding to a Formula one® victory over the course of the 40 year history Lotus has in the sport.   In their official press release Lotus announced "The Lotus Exige LF1 brings to life

6060-542: The front access panel and louvered rear tailgate. The rest of the body uses the V6 Cup's aero package that produces 93 pounds of downforce at 100 miles per hour. Improved brake discs are hidden behind Motorsport Red wheels, and each car comes with a numbered build plate. They're eligible to race in the Lotus Cup series, and for those really wanting to hit the track, the options include adjustable anti-roll bars, Öhlins dampers,

6161-640: The full Lotus colour range. Only 30 examples of this Exige were built, all for the North American market. At the Frankfurt 2011 motor show , the 2012 version of the Exige S was announced. It features a supercharged 3.5 litre V6 engine (from the Evora S ) rated at 345 hp (257 kW; 350 PS). In 2013, a roadster version was introduced with only minor changes to the design for the removable top. The engine and performance were virtually unchanged from

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6262-637: The iconic black and gold livery of the 1970s and 1980s." Finished in Motorsport Black with red and gold tri-stripes, painted red detailing to the rear wing, front splitter and mirror plinths. Sport seats in ebony leather with black technical fabric Inserts and gold contrast stitching and piping. Gold embroidered Lotus roundel to the headrest and Lotus F1® Team logo to the seat back. Exclusive carbon fibre 'Lotus Performance' engine plate. Black and gold Lotus nose badge and wheel centres. Every car has an individually numbered carbon fibre build plate showing

6363-446: The intercooler, two bespoke colour choices (Blaze Orange and Sapphire Black), and limited edition badging. The Blaze Orange models received blacked out highlights including the front splitter, rear wing endplates, wheels and a rear beaver panel infill around the taillights. The Sapphire Black models received a Chrome Orange front splitter and rear wing endplates. The Sport 240 went on sale at the 2007 Australian International Motor Show at

6464-573: The late 1920s were AC Cars , Alfa Romeo , Alvis , Amilcar , Bignan and Samson, Chenard-Walcker , Delage , Hispano-Suiza , Hotchkiss , Mercedes-Benz and Nazzaro . Two cars from the Vintage Era that would influence sports cars for many years were the Austin Seven and MG M-type "Midget". Successful sports cars from Bentley during this era were the Bentley 3 Litre (1921-1929) and

6565-539: The length of the car, carbon-fibre front splitter, oil cooler inlet vanes, side air scoops and rear spoiler, seats and centre console made from carbon fibre, anodised handbrake and gear knob in anthracite colour, carbon-fibre components in high-gloss clear lacquer finish, Lotus Launch Control, Lotus Traction Control, variable-slip traction control, Öhlins 2-way adjustable dampers, Eibach Springs with variable-height spring platforms, matt black lightweight forged wheels with Yokohama 048 LTS tyres, ride height adjustment to reduce

6666-629: The majority of MotoGP teams; the Gresini squad used Nissin brakes during the 2014 season. Brembo was also an official brake supplier for the IndyCar Series from the 2012 season until the 2016 season; during the 2017 season, Brembo supplied calipers only. During the next season , Brembo supplied entire braking systems to all Spark Racing Technology Gen2 cars in Formula E . Since 2005, Brembo has been an official brake caliper supplier for

6767-518: The mass-produced cars upon which they were based. The highest selling sports car company of the 1930s was Morris Garages , who produced 'MG Midget' models of the M-Type , J-Type , P-Type and T-Type . The K3 version of the K-Type Magnette was a successful racing car, achieving success in the Mille Miglia , Tourist Trophy and 24 Hours of Le Mans . The Bugatti Type 57 (1934-1940)

6868-537: The middle of the vehicle ( MR layout ). Examples of FR layout sports cars include the Caterham 7 , Mazda MX-5 , and the Dodge Viper . Examples of MR layout sports cars are the Ferrari 488 , Ford GT , and Toyota MR2 . To avoid a front-heavy weight distribution , many FR layout sports cars are designed so that the engine is located further back in the engine bay, as close to the firewall as possible. Since

6969-544: The most common layout for sports cars was a roadster (a two-seat car without a fixed roof). However, there are also several examples of early sports cars with four seats. Sports cars are not usually intended to transport more than two adult occupants regularly, so most modern sports cars are generally two-seat or 2+2 layout (two smaller rear seats for children or occasional adult use). Larger cars with more spacious rear-seat accommodation are usually considered sports sedans rather than sports cars. The 1993-1998 McLaren F1

7070-418: The new Exige LF1. 81 limited edition cars, each one an acknowledgement to each of Lotus’ 81 Grand Prix wins, this car is intended for the truest of Lotus’ racing fans." Limited to 50 examples, Lotus Exige 360 Cup was revealed on 14 August 2015. The car is powered by a 3.5-liter supercharged Toyota V6 delivering 355 hp (360 PS; 265 kW). On the outside, these Exiges wear new lightweight pieces for

7171-422: The new fuel type, the brakes have also been upgraded to four-piston AP Racing callipers with increased diameter 310 mm (12.2 in) sport brake pads mated with drilled and vented discs at the front. Brembo single-piston sliding rear callipers with 282 mm (11.1 in) diameter discs are fitted at the rear. Lotus says it has no intention to build the 265E ( 265 indicates the approximate horsepower and

7272-809: The notable exception of the Porsche 911 . The front-wheel drive layout with the engine at the front ( FF layout ) is generally the most common for cars, but it is not as common among traditional sports cars. Nonetheless, the FF layout is used by sport compacts and hot hatches such as the Mazdaspeed3 . Sports cars with an FF layout include the Fiat Barchetta , Saab Sonett , or Opel Tigra . The ancestor of all high-performance cars had its origin in Germany. The 28-h.p. Cannstatt-Daimler racing car of 1899

7373-456: The philosophy of achieving performance through minimizing weight and has been rated as one of the top 10 sports cars of the 1960s. The Elan featured fibreglass bodies, a backbone chassis, and overhead camshaft engines. A different style of roadster was the AC Cobra , released in 1962, which was fitted with V8 engines up to 7.0 L (427 cu in) in size by Shelby . The Porsche 911

7474-423: The production of two-seat sports cars being limited to smaller manufacturers such as Aston-Martin (350 Astons built from 1921 to 1939) and Frazer-Nash (323 cars built from 1924 to 1939). Then by the late 1920s, the cost of producing racing cars (especially Grand Prix cars) escalated, causing more manufacturers to produce cars for the growing sports car market instead. Significant manufacturers of sports cars in

7575-405: The rear deck, body parts produced in lightweight ZPREG carbon fibre using an innovative mould-making process that features room temperature curing rather than an oven, elimination of roof scoop that fed cooling air to the engine's intercooler, change to a water-to-air intercooler. The vehicle was unveiled in round three of the 2008 GT Championship. The Union Jack is a version of Lotus Exige S with

7676-503: The rear of the car, a Roger Becker numbered plaque, monochrome Lotus badges, structural shear panel (which increases the lateral stiffness of the rear subframe by 30%) and air conditioning. The vehicle went on sale in September 2010, and ended at the end of 2010 in Europe due to changes in legislation and the introduction of "Euro 5" Type Approval which does not apply to vehicles with 1.8-litre 2ZZ VVTL-i engines. The RGB Special Edition

7777-431: The rear. Pagid Racing brake pads are fitted all around. The suspension utilises one-way adjustable dampers with adjustable ride height and an adjustable front sway bar . The Sport 240 comes equipped with R compound Yokohama A048 LTS tyres, 195/50x16 in the front, and 225/45x17 in the rear. It also includes a BS4 T45 steel roll-over hoop and struts. The interior also receives its fair share of upgrades, including elements of

7878-446: The ride height from 130 mm (5.12 in) to 120 mm (4.72 in), lightweight flywheel, sports-type clutch plate, heavy-duty clutch cover, C64 six-speed gearbox (with an aluminium casing) and Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit). Orders for the 'Lotus Exige Scura' began from 21 October 2009 in Europe, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia and Malaysia. The vehicle

7979-443: The road cars) and a front splitter were added. Both front and rear bodywork clamshells were widened to accept a wider wheel track. The Series 1 was built until 2001. 604 examples in total were made and the car was not replaced until the Series 2 of 2004. In 2004, the Series 2 Exige was introduced. It features a naturally aspirated 1.8 L 16-valve DOHC Toyota / Yamaha engine that is rated at 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) with

8080-558: The sporting events of the period, bringing renown to successful entrants. The Prince Henry Tours started the evolution of reasonably large and technically advanced production sports cars. In England, the development of sporting cars was inhibited by the Motor Car Act 1903 , which imposed a speed limit of 20 mph (32 km/h) on all public roads. This led to the 1907 opening of the Brooklands motor circuit , which inspired

8181-408: The sports car is traced to the early 20th century touring cars and roadsters , and the term 'sports car' would not be coined until after World War One. A car considered to be "a sports-car years ahead of its time" is the 1903 Mercedes Simplex 60 hp , described at the time as a fast touring car and designed by Wilhelm Maybach and Paul Daimler . The Mercedes included pioneering features such as

8282-476: The sports car, but also the most important and diverse technical developments [and] very rapid and genuine improvement in the qualities of every modern production car; assisted by new design and manufacturing techniques a consistently higher level of handling properties has been achieved." In Italy, a small but wealthy market segment allowed for the manufacture of a limited number of high-performance models directly allied to contemporary Grand Prix machines, such as

8383-646: The time. The company entered into a supply contract with Alfa Romeo in 1964 and became Moto Guzzi 's brake component supplier in 1966. In the 1980s, Brembo also began supplying brakes to BMW , Chrysler , Ferrari , Mercedes-Benz , Nissan , and Porsche . Brembo went public on the Milan Stock Exchange in 1995. In 2000, Brembo purchased the UK-based racing brake and clutch manufacturer AP Racing (a former division of Automotive Products ). On November 9, 2007, Brembo's North American subsidiary acquired

8484-426: The top speed is reduced due to excess downforce and more drag. It features a more stripped out interior in order to save weight and other light weight carbon fibre components, Lotus states a lowest possible dry weight of only 1,057 kg (2,330 lb). On 9 November 2017, Lotus unveiled the most powerful version of the Exige to date called the Exige Cup 430, producing 430 PS (424 hp; 316 kW) and using

8585-550: The transmission tunnel but exposed through an open-gate design, further reducing weight. The Roadster variant is revealed in 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Like the coupé, the car features a carbon fibre tailgate and side intakes, and there’s also a lightweight battery and engine mounts. The Lotus Exige Type 25 is a limited edition of just 25 units, 10 of which were right hand drive, paying tribute to Colin Chapman's legendary single-seater Lotus 25 , driven by Jim Clark in 1963. Born from

8686-478: The war, but a small number of manufacturers returned it to prominence. In 1948, the Porsche 356 was released as the debut model from Porsche. The significance of the Porsche 356 and its successors was described in 1957 as "future historians must see them as among the most important of mid-century production cars". The 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is another significant car from this era. The 1961 Jaguar E-Type

8787-434: Was $ 65,690. The Exige S 260 produced an additional 7% power output over the S 240 resulting in 260 PS (256 hp; 191 kW). Even with a full fuel tank, extensive use of weight-saving materials such as carbon fibre reduced the vehicle's gross weight to 916 kg (2,020 lb) compared to 942 kg (2,077 lb) in the S 240. It can accelerate from 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) in 4.0 seconds. After 2009, both

8888-415: Was a pioneering all-wheel drive sports car. The 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo (993) saw the 911 Turbo model switch to all-wheel drive, a drivetrain layout that the model uses to this day. The BMW M3 was released in 1986 and has been produced for every generation since. The 1993-1996 Mercedes-Benz W124 E36 AMG was the mass-produced AMG model. Audi's equivalent division, called "RS", was launched in 1994 with

8989-447: Was achieved in 4.7 seconds and 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds. The first generation Exige bodywork was based on that of the Series 1 Elise, which was produced from 1996-2000, although the Elise was updated soon after the introduction of the Exige. The Exige added a non-removable hardtop, "fastback", kamm-tail style rear bodywork with a tinted transparent engine cover and a pylon-mounted rear wing. Front air intakes (blanked on

9090-460: Was also made available in North American markets as a 2007 model. According to Lotus, the Exige S model, weighing 2,057 lb (933 kg), has the following specifications: In 2007, Lotus released the Exige Sport 240, limited to 6 units for the Australian market only. The output from the 1.8L Supercharged Inline-4 was increased to 179 kW (240 hp; 243 PS), a 10% increase over

9191-684: Was an unusual arrangement for a car used to compete in rallying, nonetheless it was very successful and won the World Rally Championship in 1974 , 1975 , and 1976 . The Lancia Montecarlo was produced from 1975 to 1981 and is a mid-engine two-seater, available as a coupé or a targa-top. It was sold as Lancia Scorpion in the USA. Its racing variant, Montecarlo Turbo, won the 1979 World Championship for Makes in its division and overall for 1980 World Championship for Makes and 1981 World Endurance Championship for Makes . Montecarlo also won

9292-627: Was another significant sports car of the pre-war era and is now among the most valuable cars in the world. The T57 was successful in sports car races, including winning the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans and 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans . Another successful Bugatti sports car was the Bugatti Type 55 (1932-1935), which was based on the Type 51 Grand Prix racing car. The decade following the Second World War saw an "immense growth of interest in

9393-509: Was established in Paladina , Italy, on January 11, 1961, by Emilio Bombassei and Italo Breda (father and uncle, respectively, to the current Chairman Alberto Bombassei ). The company was named after the Brembo river . Bombassei lived in a village on the coast of the river before moving to Milan. Soon after Brembo was formed, it specialized in disc brakes , which were imported from the UK at

9494-484: Was initial operation by 2016 and full operation by the end of 2018. On March 5, 2015, Brembo's deputy chairman, Matteo Tiraboschi, reported the company's 2014 sales growth of 15% up to €1.8 billion and a net profit increase of 45% to €129.1 million. He also reported the company was exploring acquiring assets, with a focus on the automotive and aviation sectors. The company's corporate headquarters are in Stezzano, and

9595-512: Was launched in 2000 with a naturally aspirated 1.8 L Rover K Series Inline-four engine in VHPD (Very High Performance Derivative) tune. It is rated at 177 hp (132 kW; 179 PS) at 7,800 rpm in standard form. There was also a "track spec" version with 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) available. The car has a five-speed manual gearbox, and a claimed top speed of 219 km/h (136 mph). 0–97 km/h (60 mph)

9696-694: Was produced until 1980. Other successful lightweight roadsters include the Triumph Spitfire (1962-1980) and the Alfa Romeo Spider (1966-1993). The Fiat X1/9 (1972-1989) was unusual for its use of a mid-engine design in an affordable roadster model. A late entrant to the affordable roadster market was the 1975 Triumph TR7 , however by the late 1970s the demand for this style of car was in decline, resulting in production ceasing in 1982. The original Lotus Elan (1962-1975) two-seat coupe and roadster models are an early commercial success for

9797-675: Was released in 1964 and has remained in production since. The 911 is notable for its use of the uncommon rear-engine design and the use of a flat-six engine . Another successful rear-engine sports car was the original Alpine A110 (1961-1977), which was a successful rally car during the Group 4 era. In 1965, the BMW New Class Coupes were released, leading to the BMW 6 Series which remains in production to this day. The Lamborghini Miura (1966) and Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (1967) mid-engined high-performance cars are often cited as

9898-635: Was sold in Japan as 'Lotus Exige Stealth'. The Exige Stealth was unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo International Motorshow . The RGB Special Edition is a version of the Lotus Exige S commemorating Roger Becker, the former Director of Vehicle Engineering for Lotus. It includes Toyota's supercharged 1.8 litre 2ZZ VVTL-i engine rated at 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp), Lotus ultra lightweight forged alloy wheels, Performance pack, Sport pack, Touring pack, choice of four body colours (Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow & Carbon Grey), Roger Becker's signature on

9999-624: Was unveiled at the 2010 LA Auto Show . The Final Edition is a limited version of the Lotus Exige for the North American market, commemorating the end of the Exige's production. It includes an engine rated at 261 PS (192 kW; 257 hp), matte black body colour, black Alacantara sport seats and a uniquely numbered plate for each car. Only 25 were made. The Final Edition was unveiled in Pebble Beach Week 2011. Production of North American version of Exige ended in August 2011 after

10100-465: Was unveiled on 23 November 2016. Lotus' CEO, Jean-Marc Gales describes it as, "The Exige Sport 380 is so good, that it is no longer the best in class, it’s now in a class of its own", and it fulfils this statement by taking on some of the powerful and expensive super cars both on the track and the streets. The 3.5-litre, super-charged V6 engine is now uprated and produces 375 hp (380 PS; 280 kW) and 410 N⋅m (302 lb⋅ft) of torque with

10201-417: Was without a doubt the first attempt to give real performance to a road car. Many of its features, such as a honeycomb radiator and gate gear change, were continued on the much improved version which Paul Daimler designed in 1899-1900. This was of course the famous Mercedes. It also laid down standards of chassis design which were to be followed, almost unthinkingly, for the next thirty years. Several variants of

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