Last weekend the team headed down to The Concorde Club in Eastleigh, Hampshire. This is the first time that we have sponsored the event and it turned out to be an incredible day! Not only were we very lucky with the hot sun to be out all day but the event raised an astonishing amount of £15,246.56 for the amazing charity Naomi’s house Children’s Hospice. Naomi House first opened in 1997 to offer care and support to children who were not expected to live until adulthood.
Since then, they have cared for more than 1,000 children and families from across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex, Surrey and beyond.
Naomi House nursing and medical staff provide individualised nursing care that helps to enhance short lives and allows local families to make the most of their precious time with their children.
Whilst wondering around the show you will see a great selection of cars, treasured by their owners all willing to chat about their cars and what they have and do to maintain them, whilst relaxing and enjoying the show themselves. The show has a Ferrari and Super Car section, often sporting the newest Super cars on display for visitors to see. At intervals during the show, you will hear the ‘Sound Off’ competition and this is great to hear the rumble of V8 and V12 engines.
It was quite hard to miss us there with the big AIB marquee and colour matched Lotus Evora GT410 brought to the show by one of our clients! The team kept all the family happy with great value insurance for the adults and fun games for the kids with many prizes.
The show always attracts a lot of attention, and the show often gets celebrities attending to help support the show. This year Tiff Needell came to the show! Famous for his racing driving and many years on the hit motoring show ‘Fifth gear’. You will often see ‘The Stig’ at the show, although don’t expect him to talk to you, but he does enjoy sitting in people’s cars.
Whilst wondering around the show you will see a great selection of cars, treasured by their owners all willing to chat about their cars and what they have and do to maintain them, whilst relaxing and enjoying the show themselves. The show has a Ferrari and Super Car section, often sporting the newest Super cars on display for visitors to see. At intervals during the show, you will hear the ‘Sound Off’ competition and this is great to hear the rumble of V8 and V12 engines.
If you fancied a ride out in a car, then the show had Sporting Bears Charity running ‘dream rides’ for a donation to the show charity. You will be taken on a 10-mile drive to experience an array of different cars and is a must do for any visitor, so make sure you book your slot on the day next year as early as possible as places go quickly.
The Show Winners!
The ‘Richard Bailey Trophy’ is awarded each year to the car of the show. The trophy is in memory of Richard Bailey who has supported the show for many years!
This year’s winner of the trophy was awarded to the 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Drophead Coupe, the first Rolls Royce to ever get a V8 underneath the spirit of ecstasy!
The ‘Best Modern’ Winner went to the stunning Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
And the ‘Best Winner’ went to the car we all know and love from the James Bond movies, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5.
Enjoy some of our favourite cars of the show!
Lamborghini Diablo SV
Only fools and horse’s Reliant Robin
DeLorean DMC-12 from back to the future
Ford Capri 2.8 Injection
1989 BMW 325i
2004 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet
We want to thank all of you who came down and showed support for such a great cause and remember to give us a call on 02380268351 for any of your insurance needs!
In 1948, Colin Chapman CBE, founded one of the most iconic British racing car companies of all time. Lotus is profoundly known for, not only their Formula 1 team but for their 2 seater sports cars sold in the tens of thousands.
The Lotus Elan was the first Lotus road car to use a steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body. This style of construction was to be repeated in subsequent Lotus models for nearly three decades.
In 1971 the Elan +2S was upgraded to include the Big Valve engine and then renamed to the +2S 130. This stunning example of the +2S is owned by one of our clients. The vehicle has undergone a full nut and bolt restoration and resprayed by a Lotus specialist in Lagoon Blue with a contrasting silver metal flake roof. Alongside the full restoration and paint job, the car has had a full interior re-trim, making this look as good as the day it rolled of the factory line in Norfolk. In fact, with under a thousand miles on the clock this may be one of the best examples of an Elan left in the country. Unfortunately, it’s not known how many rolled out the RAF based factory; however, it is estimated at roughly 3,300 with under 1,000 left on the roads today.
Give our fantastic Quotes team a call for quote on your classic car! Call us on 023 8026 8351!
Our wonderful client Mr B has offered to share photographs showing his pristine Lotus Evora 410 GT.
This vehicle is one-of-a-kind built during the short of production of the Lotus Evora, Lotus made just 20 of these Evora GT 410 as a special set of Cars!
Not only is this vehicle 1 of only 20 built but Mr Bs has a Certificate of Vehicle Provenance showing this is the only one in the world built to the high-end specification noted in his policy.
Mr B bought the car new in May 2021 and it has only covered 3200 miles!
We have this one-of-a-kind Lotus insured under a very special policy which offers; agreed value, choice of repairer, legal expenses cover up to £100,000, salvage retention and many more benefits which we offer here at AIB Insurance.
We value every classic car understanding the needs of each client and offer bespoke policies which cater to cover our classic car clients needs! If you have a Lotus or a classic car of your own call one of our specialist consultants on 02380 268351 for your bespoke quotation.
Thank you, Mr B, for sharing your wonderful example of the Lotus Evora 410 GT.
Today’s car of the day is the dazzling Lotus Elise S.
The Lotus Elise was originally set out to be named 111 (pronounced One Eleven) but last minute the Lotus chairman, Romano Artioli, decided to change the name to Elise after his granddaughter.
The Elise S, with its supercharged 1.8 litre engine is certainly quick; 0-60 takes just 4.2 seconds. Mr N’s Lotus Elise S is insured on a high net worth policy and came to us at AIB to ensure he got the best deal.
High net worth policies include agreed value, salvage retention, choice of repairer and legal cover expenses. This means Mr N can relax knowing that he has the choice of any Lotus approved garage that will only use Lotus approved parts for his car.
Do you have a high net worth vehicle that you would like to insure with us and know that you can rest easy knowing that it will be taken care of properly? Then give our specialist team a call for a bespoke quotation on 02380 268351.
If you also have a high net worth car and would like to share your photos with us, send them in an email to info@aib.co.uk.
The Emira is an all-new mid-engined premium sports car that perfectly embodies the ongoing transformation of the Lotus business and brand. It features all the hallmarks that the automotive world has come to expect from a Lotus – striking design, thrilling dynamic performance delivering best-in-class ride and handling, outstanding aerodynamics and an unrivalled experience ‘For The Drivers’.
All-new mid-engined sports car perfectly embodies ongoing transformation of iconic British sports car manufacturer
Striking design, delivering exotic supercar appeal in sports car segment
Inspiration from Lotus Evija hypercar clear in fluid surfaces and crisp feature lines
Developed on Lotus’ recently announced Sports Car Architecture
Two petrol engines available, including new-to-Lotus 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘i4’ from technical partner AMG
Much-loved and characterful 3.5-litre supercharged V6 from Exige and Evora to feature as ‘First Edition’ range-topper
Manual, automatic and Dual Clutch Transmission to maximise global appeal
Power output from 360 to 400 hp at launch
0-62mph (0-100km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds
Top speed of up to 180mph (290km/h)
Target weight of 1,405kg in its lightest form
Prices will start from under £60,000 (under €72,000)
Building on the legacy of the Elise, Exige and Evora, the Emira represents a quantum leap forward for Lotus. Those instantly recognisable brand signatures and core values have been combined with a paradigm shift in levels of practicality, comfort, functionality and technology.
Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars commented: “The Emira is a game-changer for Lotus. It stands as a beacon of everything we have achieved to date in the transformation of the business, the embodiment of our progress. It is a highly significant milestone on our path to becoming a truly global performance car brand.”
The Emira has been developed on a new lightweight bonded aluminium chassis, technology pioneered by Lotus and which remains an intrinsic part of the company’s sports car DNA. That innovative vehicle architecture is wrapped with a bold and sculpted design using cues clearly developed from the Evija. Key dimensions of the Emira are length 4,412mm; width 1,895mm; height 1,225mm; and wheelbase 2,575mm.
First customer cars will start to be delivered around the world from next spring. Powering the Emira will be a choice of two petrol engines, both globally respected for their performance characteristics. At launch, the first cars will be available as limited-production ‘First Edition’ models powered by the much-loved and Lotus-honed 3.5-litre V6 which cut its sports car teeth powering the Exige and Evora.
From summer 2022, the first new Lotus sports car engine for more than a decade makes its debut, with the Emira powered by AMG. The new-to-Lotus AMG unit is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘i4’ from the performance division of Mercedes-Benz.
Working with Lotus for the first time, AMG has come on board as technical partner on the Emira programme, with some fundamental changes made to the in-line four-cylinder set-up for its Lotus debut. Transverse-mounted and delivering rear-wheel drive, the unit has been modified with a new air intake system and new exhaust to suit the character of the Emira. The second engine is more familiar, the 3.5-litre supercharged Toyota V6 that is so loved by drivers of the Exige and Evora. Cars will be available with a manual, automatic and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).
09Across the Emira range, power output will between 360 and 400bhp at launch, with 0-62mph (0-100km/h) acceleration in less than 4.5 seconds and top speeds of up to 180mph (290km/h). Maximum torque will be 430Nm and CO2 emissions will start below 180g/km. The car has a target weight of 1,405kg in its lightest form, and prices will start at less than £60,000 (less than €72,000).
Manufacturing will take place at Lotus’ famous home in Hethel, Norfolk, following more than £100million of new investment in the company’s UK facilities. The highly skilled operations teams will be supported by new processes and technologies to enhance production efficiency, volume capability and overall quality.
This article was provided by our friends at www.thelotusforums.com – the Lotus official communication partner.
The car of the day today is the wonderful Lotus Elan + 2.
Mr B has a fantastic policy with agreed value, choice of repairer and also salvage retention through ourselves here at AIB.
The Elan +2 was introduced in 1967 with a longer wheelbase and 2 rear seats. 5,200 Elan +2were made. The Elan +2 ceased production in 1975. Because of its successful design and rigorous attention to cost control on the body, chassis, engine and transmission, the Elan went on to become Lotus’ first commercial success, reviving a company stretched thin by the more exotic and expensive to build Lotus Elite enabling funding of the Lotus success in racing over the next ten years.
Thank you for sending these lovely photos Mr B!
We specialise in classic car insurance so remember to call us on 02380 268351 for all your classic car needs.
Lotus is launching a new Certificate of Provenance programme, revealing the first recipient as a stunning and celebrated Turbo Esprit that was the final ‘company car’ of Lotus founder Colin Chapman.
Vehicle provenance documents and highly desirable Lotus collectables now available to Lotus owners worldwide
First recipient is a stunning 1981 Turbo Esprit, authenticated as Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s last ‘company car’
UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher also drove it, further increasing its provenance
Recently acquired by Lotus, the Esprit will be restored and join the company’s collection
The 1981 model, which wasalso driven by UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during a visit to Norfolk, has recently been acquired by Lotus. Following a sympathetic restoration it will join the company’s collection.
The new Certificate of Provenance is designed to appeal to owners of Lotus cars from any era. They could buy one for themselves or receive it as a gift from friends or family. It is delivered in a distinctive ‘For The Drivers’ Lotus presentation box, which contains:
The Certificate of Provenance – printed on premium paper, this provides a summary of the car’s details including the VIN, paint colour and specification. The certificate also notes the date on which the car completed its production at the Hethel factory and was passed to the Lotus sales team.
The Build Specification Letter – drafted using detailed vehicle information from the Lotus archive*, this document provides more in-depth information about the car, including its engine, transmission, standard features and optional extras.
A personalised letter to the customer signed by Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, thanking them for their purchase and updating them on the transformation which is taking place at Lotus.
The three documents are presented in a simple black envelope placed inside the presentation box. Beneath it is a selection of Lotus collectables, including an aluminium plaque engraved with the owner’s name and information from the Certificate of Provenance; a leather Lotus keyring; a carbon fibre bookmark featuring the brand’s nine most significant motorsport laurels; a presentation tin of four badges; and a Lotus ink pen.
The Certificate of Provenance is available worldwide through Lotus retailers. In the UK it costs £170 + postage. Prices in other markets may vary.
The 1981 Lotus Turbo Esprit has the UK registration plate UVF 464X and was first registered to Lotus on 1 August of that year. Its own Lotus Certificate of Provenance reveals it was allocated to company founder Colin Chapman for his exclusive use. Following Chapman’s death in December 1982, it was sold by Lotus in July 1983 and has been in private hands ever since, covering just 11,000 miles and regularly maintained.
Finished in metallic Silver Diamond paint with ‘Turbo Esprit’ decals, the factory-fitted optional extras include a full red leather interior, air-conditioning and a Panasonic audio system integrated into the headliner.
However, the specification is completely unique as it has several features added at the request of Chapman to improve his own driving comfort and enjoyment. These include power steering – it was the first Esprit ever to have this technology – plus modified and lowered suspension, modified brakes and BBS Mahle lattice alloy wheels.
On 5 August 1981 the car was used by Chapman to promote the latest Lotus range to the then UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, when she toured Norfolk. After landing at Norwich Airport and talking to Chapman, she sat behind the wheel and drove it round the site’s private roads. Local media reported that she had said: “I was tempted to drive away in it.”
Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, commented: “What better way to launch our Certificate of Provenance than by showing how it has validated the celebrated history of an iconic and unique Turbo Esprit. The Lotus archive is a fully catalogued database of information and can provide a wealth of insightful facts on any Lotus car from any era. It’s the perfect gift for a Lotus owner anywhere in the world.”
Speaking about the unique Turbo Esprit, he added: “This is an iconic and unique car from the Lotus back catalogue, personalised by our founder Colin Chapman and with a truly fascinating provenance. It deserves its place in our collection and we’re looking forward to showing it off.”
Lotus and newly promoted Premier League football team Norwich City Football Club have today announced a new multi-year global partnership. The collaboration sees the state-of-the-art training facility renamed The Lotus Training Centre, and the all-new Academy building renamed The Lotus Academy. Lotus branding will feature on the first-team ‘walk-out’ jackets, on all Academy shirts from the Under-23s squad through to the Under-9s, and on pitch-side branding at the Carrow Road stadium.
The partnership is announced on the eve of the Canaries’ first game of the 2019-20 Premier League season against Liverpool at Anfield. The agreement sees two long-standing Norfolk brands coming together as they each enter a new and exciting phase on the global stage, and with the local community at the heart of their ambitions.
Lotus is embarking on a major global transformation. Last month it unveiled the world’s first fully electric British hypercar and most powerful production car, the Evija, which is designed, engineered and produced at Lotus’ headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk.
The launch of Evija is the first visible step in Lotus’ plan that will see the company invest significantly over the next few years, to expand its product range and become a global premium performance car brand. Lotus has been making cars at Hethel, to the south of Norwich, since 1966 and currently employs around 1,200 people in the region.
Lotus and Norwich City Football Club have released an entertaining film featuring owner Delia Smith and former player Darren Huckerby to mark the start of the partnership.
Simon Clare, Executive Director, Global Marketing, Lotus, said: “Lotus is a brand born for and out of performance and competition, so this partnership is perfect for both parties. Together Lotus and Norwich City Football Club share core values – commitment, passion, focus, hard work, a winning mindset – and the success that flows from them.
“This partnership joins two iconic Norfolk brands as they accelerate on to the global stage together. Both share a desire for innovation and, as we herald a new era together, we are incredibly excited about playing a part in the development of Norwich City Football Club and its talent. Today we are investing in that future.”
All Lotus branding reflects the company’s new corporate identity, which features a revised roundel and new typeface for the wordmark. Simon Clare explained: “We’ve looked back at the original Lotus roundel and thought about Colin Chapman’s philosophy – to simplify and add lightness. We’ve applied that to create a new roundel, taking the weight out of the lettering and adapting the spacing. We’ve also straightened the word ‘Lotus’ so it’s consistent with the Lotus wordmark.”
Ben Kensell, Chief Operating Officer at Norwich City Football Club, said: “This is a momentous deal for us. We’re so thrilled to partner with one of the most iconic and high-profile brands, not just in Norfolk, but across the UK and internationally. I’m proud that our resurgent Club is partnering with Lotus at a time when it is relaunching its brand into a new and exciting future. The synergies between our two businesses are striking, and for our Academy players to be proudly wearing a shirt that has such a well-loved logo on is really special.”
Unlimited in every sense, the new series production Exige Cup 430 is Lotus’ wildest incarnation of its fire-breathing, point-to-point two-seater sports car.
New to the Exige, the Cup 430 sees the introduction of a savage, high-performance engine installation, mated to a new supercharger and chargecooler, designed specifically for the unique demands of this vehicle. A development of the powertrain recently used on the phenomenal Lotus Evora GT430, it’s perfectly paired with a newly-designed body, which delivers enhanced aerodynamic performance to reveal the model’s true potential. The result is a strikingly different beast of pure performance, that’s not for the faint of heart.
• New engine installation, delivering 430 hp and 440 Nm
• New design generating 220 kg of downforce
• 407 hp per tonne provides unrivalled performance
• 0-60 mph in 3.2 secs, dry weight from 1,056 kg
With 55 hp, or 13%, more power than the limited production Exige Cup 380 model it succeeds, and 220 kg of downforce, it’s a monster of a car. Compared to the Exige Sport 350, it has 24% more power and generates the same downforce at 100 mph as the Exige Sport 350 does at its maximum speed of 170 mph.
Lotus’ expertise in lightweight design has played its part in reducing the overall dry weight by 12 kg to 1,059 kg, with the vehicle down to 1,056 kg in its lightest configuration. This, combined with the dramatic jump in raw power, raises the Cup’s power to weight from 355 hp / tonne (Cup 380) to 407 hp / tonne.
With 430 hp at 7,000 rpm and 440 Nm (325 lbft) of torque from 4,000 rpm, 0-60mph is dispatched in 3.2 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds) with a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h). Helping to harness all that power, the Cup 430 benefits from a comprehensive range of new aero elements. A new ultra-lightweight front clam with unique carbon fibre ducts has wider radiator apertures and a new mesh pattern grille to provide a more combative aspect and to allow for a new front splitter and air curtain mechanism to reduce drag. The lightweight rear clam panel supports the larger, straight motorsport wing to increase downforce without impacting upon the car’s overall drag coefficient. The new design front and rear clam panels are 6.8 kg lighter than those on any other Exige.
Focused fairly and squarely on aggressive track performance and point-to-point supremacy, the new Lotus Exige Cup 430 is capable of covering the Hethel circuit in 1 minute 24.8 seconds – the fastest production car to lap the famous circuit – 1.2 seconds faster than the Lotus 3-Eleven (Road).
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “This is the car that we have always wanted to build, and I am sure that all Lotus enthusiasts will be delighted with the end product. As well as a significant power hike, the Cup 430 has benefited from extensive development in areas essential to Lotus’ DNA, in order to ensure that the full potential of the Exige’s incredible chassis can be exploited. This car has no rivals – inside or outside of its price bracket – and it’s no exaggeration when we say that nothing can keep up with this Exige on the road or track.”
Lotus’ most extreme Exige packs the company’s most potent powertrain into its smaller vehicle architecture to provide a level of performance that is a step beyond what most drivers can exploit. The car’s distinctive and aggressive new styling perfectly matches the character of the new Exige Cup 430.
Signalling the most motorsport focused models in Lotus’ range, the Cup variants are centered on only the essential. Extending this philosophy to its limit, the new Cup 430 is at the apex of the Exige line-up – with only a track-only racer capable of exceeding the car’s abilities.
With the Exige already regarded as the standard for purity of purpose, Lotus’ engineers have built upon this benchmark, ensuring that the application of more power is complemented by a class-leading handling balance, characterised by precision and tactility.
At the heart of the car lies Lotus’ most formidable engine, a 3.5-litre supercharged and charge cooled V6 producing 430 hp and 440 Nm.
Unapologetically aggressive, the Exige Cup 430’s 220 kg of downforce is developed through the careful management of airflow under and over the car. Vital in keeping the Cup at the top of timing sheets, it’s designed to make the most of 440 Nm (325 lbft) of torque delivered from 4,000 rpm, and delivering the lowest of lap times not matter the track. This not only includes the new front clam panel, incorporating a new design of splitter and carbon fibre air blades, but also the high mounted rear wing. The new body introductions combine form and function, with the new hybrid carbon composite panels not only saving weight, but also delivering the car’s distinctive new styling and aerodynamic set up.
Balancing downforce over the entire car was a priority with, when compared to the Exige Cup 380, a greater percentage of downforce allocated to the front to ensure accurate high-speed turn in (36% increased to 45%). The new front splitter with trailing lip helps separate and speed airflow under the car and the inclusion of new air curtain elements into the front clam panel efficiently moves air though to the front wheel cavities to help reduce turbulence and drag generated by the front wheels. The front louvers reduce the pressure within the front wheel arches, increasing downforce. The cut-out sections behind the rear wheels, also reduce wheel arch pressure, whilst the new lightweight aluminium diffuser is 1 kg lighter. Crowning all of this is the carbon fibre straight rear wing, raised higher to further boost downforce, clearly signaling the car’s aggressive intent and pursuit of aerodynamic excellence.
As you would expect, the intense use of ultra-lightweight carbon fibre only adds to the overall performance, as well as reinforcing the Exige Cup 430’s physical presence. The hand-made composite components include front splitter, front access panel, roof, diffuser surround, large aperture air-intake side pods, one-piece tailgate and the race derived rear wing.
Scratch the surface of the Cup’s capabilities, and you’ll find its motorsport-derived credentials. In addition to revised steering arm geometry, to increase bump steer, the car’s handling characteristics can be altered via the introduction of new Nitron three-way adjustable dampers (adjustable for rebound and low and high-speed compression, giving the ability to fine tune the damping) and Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, both as standard.
The substantial Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (215/45 ZR17 front and 285/30 ZR18 rear) are fitted to ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels, available in red, black or silver as standard.
The faster the car, the better the brakes need to be, and the Exige Cup 430 uses some of the largest calipers and rotors of any Lotus road car. With forged, four-piston AP Racing brake calipers and new performance two-piece, J-hook brake discs (with higher thermal capacity) front and back, the system is designed to give improved bite and debris clearance and reduce distortion and vibration and to deliver consistent pedal feel and stopping power lap after lap.
The Cup 430 also comes with a tremendously strong, yet light, T45 steel roll over bar, new seatbelt anchorage frame (saving 1.2 kg), a Lithium-Ion battery and front towing eye as standard, as well as a host of options including, a dealer fit FIA compliant roll cage, electrical cut-off and fire extinguisher controls, airbag deletion and a non-airbag steering wheel.
Key to the Cup’s potency is the Exige’s newly-developed powertrain. Based on the benchmark engine from the recently launched Evora GT430, it features an Edelbrock supercharger and water to air charge cooler to generate more power through cooling the higher pressure charged intake air. Specifically developed for the Exige, the engine’s calibration allows for a redline of 7,000rpm, helped in part by a new intake system and larger throttle body. In order to handle the extra power, a new oil cooler configuration and uprated clutch are required.
Available as standard with a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission, the Exige range features Lotus’ acclaimed open-gate manual gearbox design. Precisely aligned for fast and seamless shifts, it has recently established itself as a favourite of Lotus customers. To transfer the increased power and torque from the engine to the gearbox, a new 240 mm diameter clutch has been fitted (up 12 mm compared to the Exige Cup 380) which increases the clutch surface area by 11%.
Engine note and tone also play big parts in the Cup’s repertoire. With the new induction and supercharger configuration, and a high-flow titanium exhaust system as standard, the Cup 430 sounds like no other Exige at speed. In addition, the titanium exhaust removes 10 kg from beyond the rear axle.
The Lotus Exige Cup 430 includes a variable traction control function, linked directly to the ECU. The six-position rotary switch is located on the steering column, and only active with ESP switched to off, with five pre-set traction levels (1%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% slip) as well as “off”, displayed via the instrument cluster.
The composite concept continues into the Cup’s cabin with visible-weave, handmade sections including a new lightweight carbon fibre binnacle surround, Lotus’ bespoke carbon race seats, with new lightweight seat runners, and carbon door sills. Colour keyed inserts for the revised lightweight sports seats, transmission console, HVAC surround and window switches are also standard, along with a centre console, door cards and dashboard trimmed in Alcantara®, with leather or tartan as a no cost option, along with contrast stitching and an Alcantara® steering wheel. In total, the lightweight interior of the Exige Cup 430 is 2.5 kg lighter than on the Cup 380.
All the lightweight standard items help reduce the total mass by 29 kg which more than offsets the increase in weight from the chargecooler and cooling system (+15 kg), new higher rated clutch (+0.8 kg) and wider brake discs (+1.2 kg) resulting in an unladen weight of 1,093 kg and 1,059 kg dry. By selecting the airbag deletion option, the customer can take the lightest possible dry weight of the Exige Cup 430 to 1,056 kg.
For owners wanting to brand the new Exige their own, the Cup 430 can be personalised through Lotus’ Exclusive programme. Combining traditional British craftsmanship with modern design, the service inspires customers to spend time tailoring the character of their Lotus with a comprehensive array of options. Since its introduction this has proved increasingly popular, with over 25% of all new cars undergoing some form of personalisation.
Launching the new Lotus, Jean-Marc Gales said, “The Exige continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of performance, agility, aerodynamics and rapid covering of ground from A to B in a production road car. There isn’t another car on sale that can match the new Exige Cup 430; it will go down as a ground-breaking car in the history of Lotus.”
The Exige Cup 430 is available as a series production car and can be ordered now, priced £99,800 including VAT (UK) and €127,500 (Germany) and €128,600 (France).
Here at AIB we offer exceptional bespoke insurance cover for Lotus owners and understands that owning and driving a Lotus is a unique experience and deserves one-of-a-kind insurance call us now on 02380 268351 for your Lotus insurance!
AIB Launch Classic Car Offering
AIB is proud to announce the launch of our non-standard per...
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