Lotus Unveils Updates For 2006

[Mark H]

http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/12349.htm

 

Lotus unveils updates for 2006

 

Friday 4th November

 

Updates for Elise, Exige include cupholders

 

 

Lotus has updated the Elise and Exige for 2006. The 2006 model year (MY06) cars introduce new standard and optional equipment including lighter weight components, airbags, traction control and limited slip differential, enhanced trim, adjustable suspension and a new ProBax driver and passenger seat -- plus cupholders.

 

A new range of colours has been added, ranging from standard solid shades to metallic and fashionable lifestyle colours. The total number of colours available is now 21, excluding the bespoke custom option.

 

Details

 

The Elise and Exige ranges get more options at both ends of the scale: touring and sport. Four equipment packs are now available, two containing touring options -- enhanced trim and more luxury equipment -- and two containing sports options for track and race requirements. Touring and Sport Packs can be combined.

 

Light emitting diode (LED) rear lights with integrated reflectors are now standard. When compared to conventional filament bulb lights, LED brake lights illuminate 0.2 seconds quicker, equivalent to one Elise length at about 43 mph. The LED rear lights are also 36 per cent lighter at 0.6Kg than the conventional filament bulb lights.

 

Other changes include a new window seal fitted around the door that reduces the wind-noise into the cabin substantially, and a non-linear tachometer dial with the unit spacing between 3,000rpm and 10,000rpm being greater than the spacing between 0rpm and 3,000rpm.

 

Central locking is standard across the range.

 

Lightweight pedal box

 

The new cars get a new lightweight pedal box with steel pedal arms and extruded aluminium pads. It has an electronic (drive-by-wire) throttle for quicker and smoother, more linear engine response, reduced brake pedal ratio and improved pedal feel for the brake and throttle, according to Hethel. All three pedals have less travel and are better positioned for easier heel and toeing control on downshifts.

 

Wheels and tyres

 

Lotus-specific Yokohama Neova AD07 LTS tyres are now fitted to the Elise. These tyres have been extensively tested and developed by Lotus and Yokohama engineers and provide high levels of feedback to the driver, said Lotus. The Lotus Exige gets the ultra-high performance Yokohama Advan A048 LTS tyres.

 

ProBax Seats as standard

 

Lotus said it is the first car manufacturer in the world to introduce the ProBax seat. The MY06 Elise and Exige models both have seats specifically adapted and developed by NuBax for Lotus, which are claimed to significantly improve the postural position of the occupant's spine whilst seated. This not only results in an improved level of comfort, said Lotus, but also has significant medical benefits such as maintaining a natural curvature of the spine, and markedly improving the body's blood flow. Increased blood flow has been shown to enhance response times, raise alertness levels and reduce the onset of muscle fatigue. Tests with the new seats have shown an improvement in blood flow of up to 30 per cent over older seats.

 

Lotus' engineering boss Steve Swiftsaid: "We carried out extensive tests with people of various shapes and sizes in Lotus seats with ProBax technology and the results are extremely good. The seat padding and "cushion" have been specifically designed by NuBax, enabling us to use less foam and remove the pre-existing lumber mechanism. This has helped reduce weight, vital for Lotus of course, and increase the amount of useable space in the cockpit."

 

The seats are clad in cloth for the base and the sports pack Exige and Elise, and in leather for the Elise with the Touring Pack. The Touring Pack Exige is clad in a lightweight stain resistant suede-effect material.

 

Touring packs

 

The Touring Pack includes electric windows, full leather interior for the Elise in a choice of colours (black, cream, biscuit and red) or black suede effect interior with leather highlights for the Exige, full carpet set, high specification DAB Radio and CD/MP3 player, and sound and temperature insulation.

 

The Super Touring Pack includes the contents of the Touring Pack plus

 

    * Upgraded interior trim with driver and passenger airbags

    * High specification leather covered steering wheel

    * Front speakers located in the facia top panel

    * Engine start button

    * Trinket tray stowage unit

    * Cup holder

    * Leather handbrake sleeve

    * Leather handbrake gaiter and gear shift knob

    * Embroidered logo premium floor mats.

 

Sports packs

 

For both the Elise and the Exige, the Sports Pack includes twin oil coolers and switchable traction control -- see later for a full explanation.

 

The Elise also gets sports suspension with uprated Bilstein dampers and stiffer Eibach Springs, and ultra-lightweight split-type seven-spoke forged (6J) alloys wheels for use with the Yokohama Neova AD07 LTS tyres.

 

The Exige with the Sports Pack already has the sports suspension so in addition, is equipped with sports seats and a T45 steel roll-over hoop and harness bar for the aftermarket fitment of four point harnesses for track use only.

 

The Super Sports Pack includes the contents of the Sports Pack plus:

 

    * Ultra-lightweight forged split-type 7-spoke 6.5J alloy wheels, which Lotus claimed save a huge 1.2Kg of unsprung weight per corner compared to the already lightweight Elise and Exige cast wheels

    * Track suspension with Eibach springs and Bilstein one-way adjustable dampers, with a single adjuster for bump and rebound - and adjustable ride height

    * Adjustable front anti-roll bar

    * Double shear track control arm brace to help cope with the expected kerb abuse during hard track day driving.

 

In addition, the Elise with the Super Sports Pack has ultra high performance Yokohama Advan A048 LTS tyres and a motorsport specification T45 roll-over hoop which when fitted with a Lotus Sport aftermarket 6-point roll-cage is FIA race approved.

 

Standalone options

 

Lotus Traction Control and Limited Slip Differential: a switchable Lotus Traction Control System (LTC) is available for the first time on the Elise and Exige for 2006. The LTC works through the engine management system to reduce power when required to maintain traction.

 

Unlike many traction control systems, LTC has been tuned to complement the skills of the driver without taking over. The Lotus LTC is active above 5mph and operates much more quickly than many brake-based systems.

 

The system can be deactivated with an illuminated button which is located adjacent to the gear lever. A Torsen-type limited slip differential (LSD) is also available for tight and twisty driving (such as in auto tests). The LSD is only available if LTC has been specified and is not available by itself.

 

Air-conditioning: available as a cost option (standard in some markets); it weighs 15Kg

 

Body-coloured hard top: for the Elise for seasonal use.

 

New colours

 

A new range of colours has been added including a vivid aspen white, non-metallic British Racing Green, Chilli Red, high metallic Solar Yellow and Autumn Gold. The total number of colours now available is 21, excluding the bespoke custom colours.

 

Engine and engineering design

 

With a VVTL-i engine producing a maximum power output of 189bhp and 133.5lb-ft of torque, the Elise 111R sprints to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and 100 mph in 13 seconds before reaching a certified top speed of 150mph.

 

The Lotus Exige has similar straight line performance before reaching a top speed of 147 mph - slightly slower than the Elise due to the drag induced by higher levels of aerodynamic downforce, giving phenomenal cornering power, with around 42Kg of downforce at 100mph - the equivalent of the weight of a new-born rhinoceros!

 

Environmental concerns means the engine is fully Euro IV emissions compliant, and the Elise returns 32.1 mpg on the combined cycle, and 208 g/km of CO2 emissions.

 

Both new cars now get an oil cooler.

 

Prices

 

    * Elise: £27,995 (unchanged)

    * Exige: £29,995 (unchanged)

    * Metallic paint: £595

    * Lifestyle paint: £1,010

    * Air conditioning: £1,295

    * LSD: £995

    * LTC: £395

    * Touring Pack: £1,995

    * Super Touring Pack: £1,995

    * Sports Pack: £1,495

    * Super Sports Pack: £2,495

 

The MY06 cars are on sale now.

[Mark H]

New price lists and model info fromt he press releases.

Models_pr_download.pdf

Prices_pr_download.pdf

[simondann111s]

I find this all very confusing. Yesterday the Lotus web site had the new 240Cup car listed, I even printed a copy. Today it's gone, nothing. Except on SELOC where someone has quoted the road version price at a staggering £49,995

 

Won't be happy if it's true.

 

ROB You have PM & MLOC email (couldn't get your Pendragon email to work direct)

[simondann111s]

Thanks Rob,

 

happy chappy again..

[Rich111s]

With the help of a calculator, I've just worked out that a new 111r done to my perfect spec would cost a heavy £33,270 - Blimey!!

[Snapper]

Just to let you all know that Nick Whales has got a couple of the new 2006 Elises in their show room and they also have the 2006 Exige in as well.

 

Love the rear LED lights. I wonder what it would cost to upgrade mine?

[JohnnyM]

the seats look the same !? not a fan of the airbag steering wheel....

 

wonder how much to u/g to the LED rear lights !?

[Snapper]

I asked that...

 

I understand that Ian at NW's is currently looking into that.

[JohnnyM]

cool!

 

without having to trawl through pages of spec, how much heavier are the new cars with all that flab on ?

 

Johnny M

[Snapper]

It should now be as heavy as the Exige is and if it goes a little over the Exiges weight they will try and say it has the same down force

[Mark H]

New press images added.

[speedyK]

Anyone who hasn't driven the VX220 won't realise what the worst problem is with the new spec. Elise/Exige:

 

 

I am just soooooooo happy to have a simple, straightforward, "reach it and activate it when you want it and only when you want it" horn again on my Exige. That VX airbag wheel with the horn buttons in the thumbrests, now in the 2006 Lotus, is an absolute PITA. You are guaranteed to blow the horn when turning into a busy area with loads of onlookers (or on a skidpan when you are trying to impress with your car control skills) – result is you end up looking a real d*ckhead

 

Everybody who has had a VX has been there. It was criticised in the original road tests and I bet it is still just the same in the Lotus version

[Steve J]

Nick Whale has secured 4 of the 50 new Exige Cups to be released for the UK market. Apparently according to the letter that came through the post yesterday, I am elligable to buy one. Don't think they've been reading how much brakes, oil, tyres etc are costing us on the Exige at the moment otherwise they could have saved the price of a stamp

 

If I had loads of dosh it would be going on the new Esprit, not another S2.

[Mark H]

Yep same here, think it is just a mass mail not a specific campaign

[PeterField]

Yep same here, think it is just a mass mail not a specific campaign

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Awww, and there was me feeling special cos i'd had one too!