Exige Stealth

Lotus Cars unveils its latest special edition - the Exige Stealth, so called due to its dramatic matt black and carbon fibre theme, at the Tokyo International Motorshow on 21st of October 2009.

Limited to just 35 cars globally, the Exige Stealth is a serious looking car and enhancements to performance and a reduction in weight from the production level Exige S means that the this Exige demands to be driven by a serious driver. The name 'Stealth' reflects the dark character of this already fierce looking Lotus and its stunning soft-feel matt black paint finish gives this car an exceptional appearance.

Contrasting high gloss 'Phantom Black' triple stripes run the length of the car and a carbon fibre front splitter, oil cooler inlet vanes, side airscoops and rear spoiler enhance the stunning distinction between the different textures and exaggerate the tactile quality of the velvety touch to the matt black paint finish.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars said, "The Exige Stealth is a stunning vehicle which offers an adrenaline fuelled experience and is a real head-turner! Our Exige customers choose Lotus because we deliver thrilling performance and dynamic design and this special edition fits the bill on both counts."

Continuing the dark 'Stealth' appearance into the interior, carbon fibre is used extensively to compliment the exterior theme and to reduce weight. The seats and centre console are crafted from carbon fibre and the handbrake and gear knob have a special anodized treatment which leaves the metal with an anthracite colour finish. All carbon fibre components have been beautifully finished in high-gloss clear lacquer allowing the weave to remain exposed which gives the cabin a raw and racy ambiance.

Whilst there is no doubt that this is a visually stunning car, the Exige Stealth is not just about its looks – it begs to be taken on track, and its racing character encompasses poise, power and technology to make it a serious contender. Equipped with the most powerful engine in the Exige range and generating 260PS, the Exige Stealth achieves a top speed of around 245 km/h and reaches 0-100 kmh in just 4.1 seconds.

Other equipment fitted as standard to boost the Exige Stealth's track credentials include:

* Launch control to ensure optimum performance from a standing start

* Variable slip traction control, enabling the driver to tune the car to track surface conditions and their own driving style

* Ohlins 2-way adjustable dampers for personalised ride and handling characteristics

Roger Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director, highlighted the performance of the Exige Stealth, "There are very few cars in the world that turn in the performance of the Exige Stealth without the penalty of very high fuel consumption and emissions. As with all Lotus sportscars we offer the best of both worlds – a zero to 100 km/h time of just over 4 seconds and a CO2 figure of 199 g/km; all this is down to light weight and a strict adherence to Lotus' core brand values."

Considering the performance on offer, the Exige Stealth boasts impressive all round fuel economy with an Official European Combined Cycle figure of 8.5 litres/100 km and 6.5 litres/100 km on the Official European Extra Urban Cycle and emissions of 199 g/km of CO2.

Orders for the 'Lotus Exige Stealth' will be accepted from 21 October 2009 in Japan. This special edition will be available on the same basis in Europe, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia and Malaysia under a different name.