Lotus Announces its Exige Sport 350

Lotus recently reintroduced the “Sport” moniker, and it apparently isn’t done rolling out new models with the name. Today, the sports car manufacturer announced the latest addition to its sports line, the Exige Sport 350.

» Related: Lotus Lightens up the Elise With the Sport and Sport 220 Models

Like the other members of the revived Sport lineup, the Exige Sport 350’s main focus is weight loss. Specifically, this new version of the Exige is 51 kg (112.4 pounds) lighter than the Exige S by way of composite body panels, a louvered tailgate panel, a lightweight battery, lightened engine mounts, a lighter center console with an exposed gearshift, lightened HVAC ducts, and special sound-deadening material. This not only makes this new Sport model quicker, but it also makes it nimbler in the corners.

The result is a sports car that checks in at just 1,125 kg (2,480 pounds) and is powered by a supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 345 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine pairs with a standard manual transmission for a 0-to-60 sprint time of just 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph. These numbers represent a 0.1-second decrease to 60 mph and a 25 mph increase in top speed when compared to the Exige S. Pair the supercharged V-6 with the optional six-speed auto with paddle shifters, and the 0-to-60 time falls to 3.6 seconds.

A lighter body is not all that went into this British rig, as Lotus also retuned its suspension. It installed a set of firmer dampers, revised the geometry of the suspension for optimal handling, and lowered it a bit. Also chiming in is the Sport’s revised aerodynamics, which add 93 pounds of downforce at 100 mph. All of these mods are difficult to measure on the open road, but Lotus did mention that the lightening and retuned suspension result in a 2.5-second-faster lap around its test track when compared to the Exige S.

If 112 pounds isn’t enough weight loss for you, Lotus does offer several lightweight options, including forged-alloy wheels, cross-drilled two-piece rotors, four-piston calipers, air conditioning, a lighter in-car entertainment system, carpeting, and sound insulation. With all of the lightening options checked, the Exige Sport 350’s curb weight plummets to 1,115 kg (2,458 pounds).

The Exige Sport 350 will hit dealers in February 2016 and its roadster version will arrive in March 2016. The base model will start at £55,900 ($84,864), but pricing is not available for the roadster.