Hey guys - there was a Typo...the Cup260 was on Slicks!!! It was actually amazing to find the V6 keeping up and in most cases faster, however as the V6's road tires went 'off' and the Cup260's slicks found the perfect temp on track, the battle switched and then it became pretty difficult to keep up. What was amazing is the 'new' straight line speed and driftability of V6...BUT, its come at a cost, weight that now gives the car alot of understeer (for a Lotus) and SO for that reason...its safer in most hands. We cant wait for the CupV6 - I hope that has solved the understeer, then we will have another brilliant track car from Lotus!
Nice car ! Same one on Pirelli Trofeo.... Lotus Exige V6 at Zolder just take care about DB limit at Zolder, full throttle=black flag. Antony Ashley I agree on the understeer, so I try to drive a little more in "Porsche" style. Camber settings are very limited on the standard suspension. Furthermore a lot of body roll. Have a Nitron 2 way suspension on it now (from Lotus motorsport) curious it copes better with the understeer and bodyroll.
Es ist doch wirklich sehr erstaunlich wie gut der alte Exige mit dem neuen V6 mithalten kann. Längstdynamisch scheint der mindestens 90 Ps schwächere 4 Zylinder mindestens ebenbürtig zu sein. Querdynamisch sowie auf der Bremse sogar schneller bzw. besser. Ist die Entwicklung mit größerem Motor und mehr Gewicht sogar bei Lotus in die falsche Richtung gegangen?
totally agreed man, i'm sure around a tighter, smaller, and more technical track, the old car would be quicker. there's nothing like the steering response, communication, and the connection of the older, sub 900kg cars. the 2ZZ-GE is arguably a more enjoyable motor combined with the light chassis. low weight and high revs go hand-in-hand to make a small sports car really special :}
supra1722 I love the 4 cyl Exiges but what you have written is not my experience at all. If anything the steering, communication and connection is even better on the V6. I have the Cup version but I still think this applies to the V6S. It is not ultimately as agile as the shorter wheelbase car and tyres and pads do not last as long but it is definitely more forgiving and progressive at the limit. It retains 90% of the what was great about the previous car. And the extra torque and more exotic V6 soundtrack gives more than 10% back.
DrPittenstein you're lucky to have experieced both, i've only experienced the older Exige S. i'm sure the extra torque throughout the rev range of the newer 6cylinder cars has a good feel to it; however i'm all about staying true to Colin Chapman's "philosophy" of making a good car- "less is more." of course the new car is still by no means heavy but it seems to me Lotus is trying to be something they aren't when they're increasing the size and weight of the cars adding larger displacement engines etc. and the agility you spoke about of the older cars is what makes me love them so much. that is what makes a Lotus- minimalist interiors for the most part, lightweight, a sorted chassis, a small shell, and an interesting borrowed engine. i wish they would have refined the older car a bit more, maintaining the weight and updating the high-strung 2ZZ-GE motor from Toyota a bit rather than redesigning the car and putting in a V6. why not leave that for the Evora? personally, what totally makes THE lightweight sports car aside from the driver involvement and agility is a small, high strung, high revving motor. i guess it all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day... nice talking to you!
supra1722 this is a common view among those who haven't driven the V6. I also love the 8500rpm rev ceiling of the 2ZZGE, I ride motorcycles so the higher revving the better for me. I'd love a V6 that could rev past 8k too but I'd probably be the only person who'd pay the extra for it, so I tried the V6 with an open mind and came away surprised. The motor is great and feels like its giving its all at 7200, in fact it sounds like its revving its nuts off. The interior is the same as before (which I like), the weight of the V6S is 160kg less than Peugeot 207 Gti, so all is not lost. More to the point the next lightest car with broadly similar performance and power is nearly 200kg more (Cayman S). My car the V6 Cup is another 66kg lighter still, so a full 250kg lighter than a Cayman - that's a very, very lardy motorbike. The 2ZZGE Exige reached its peak with the Cup 260 (which was brilliant but didn't sell in big numbers), it was time to move on and try something else. I for one am glad they did. I hope you get to try one soon. Until then you can come and check out my channel! Cheers! DrP
Weiter oben wird beschrieben dass die alte Exige mit Semislicks unterwegs ist, während die neue mit Straßenreifen fährt. Insofern macht der Vergleich bzw. das Video kaum Sinn.
Very nice video showing the older Exige and the new Exige taking turns leading back and forth.
Wow - that cup 260 is still serious! :)
I'm not sure which impressed my most, how well your drove the V6S or how easily you climbed inside it!
nice footage.
Hey guys - there was a Typo...the Cup260 was on Slicks!!! It was actually amazing to find the V6 keeping up and in most cases faster, however as the V6's road tires went 'off' and the Cup260's slicks found the perfect temp on track, the battle switched and then it became pretty difficult to keep up. What was amazing is the 'new' straight line speed and driftability of V6...BUT, its come at a cost, weight that now gives the car alot of understeer (for a Lotus) and SO for that reason...its safer in most hands. We cant wait for the CupV6 - I hope that has solved the understeer, then we will have another brilliant track car from Lotus!
I have a V6 and the understeer can be cured by dropping the front tyre pressures a little bit, then it turns in like an Exige should do.
Nice car ! Same one on Pirelli Trofeo.... Lotus Exige V6 at Zolder just take care about DB limit at Zolder, full throttle=black flag.
Antony Ashley
I agree on the understeer, so I try to drive a little more in "Porsche" style. Camber settings are very limited on the standard suspension. Furthermore a lot of body roll. Have a Nitron 2 way suspension on it now (from Lotus motorsport) curious it copes better with the understeer and bodyroll.
The difference with the Semi-Slick is bigger then I thought. What a difference a tire makes.
Great driving :-) How I miss my GTR :-(
What's happend with the fourth gear?
So the Cup 260 punches well vs the new Exige.
Tyres aside here I still find the S2 more agile in the bends due to being lighter.
Nice driving, but the helmet cam made me a little motion sick!
Es ist doch wirklich sehr erstaunlich wie gut der alte Exige mit dem neuen V6 mithalten kann. Längstdynamisch scheint der mindestens 90 Ps schwächere 4 Zylinder mindestens ebenbürtig zu sein. Querdynamisch sowie auf der Bremse sogar schneller bzw. besser.
Ist die Entwicklung mit größerem Motor und mehr Gewicht sogar bei Lotus in die falsche Richtung gegangen?
totally agreed man, i'm sure around a tighter, smaller, and more technical track, the old car would be quicker. there's nothing like the steering response, communication, and the connection of the older, sub 900kg cars. the 2ZZ-GE is arguably a more enjoyable motor combined with the light chassis. low weight and high revs go hand-in-hand to make a small sports car really special :}
supra1722 I love the 4 cyl Exiges but what you have written is not my experience at all. If anything the steering, communication and connection is even better on the V6. I have the Cup version but I still think this applies to the V6S. It is not ultimately as agile as the shorter wheelbase car and tyres and pads do not last as long but it is definitely more forgiving and progressive at the limit. It retains 90% of the what was great about the previous car. And the extra torque and more exotic V6 soundtrack gives more than 10% back.
DrPittenstein you're lucky to have experieced both, i've only experienced the older Exige S. i'm sure the extra torque throughout the rev range of the newer 6cylinder cars has a good feel to it; however i'm all about staying true to Colin Chapman's "philosophy" of making a good car- "less is more." of course the new car is still by no means heavy but it seems to me Lotus is trying to be something they aren't when they're increasing the size and weight of the cars adding larger displacement engines etc. and the agility you spoke about of the older cars is what makes me love them so much. that is what makes a Lotus- minimalist interiors for the most part, lightweight, a sorted chassis, a small shell, and an interesting borrowed engine. i wish they would have refined the older car a bit more, maintaining the weight and updating the high-strung 2ZZ-GE motor from Toyota a bit rather than redesigning the car and putting in a V6. why not leave that for the Evora? personally, what totally makes THE lightweight sports car aside from the driver involvement and agility is a small, high strung, high revving motor. i guess it all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day... nice talking to you!
supra1722 this is a common view among those who haven't driven the V6. I also love the 8500rpm rev ceiling of the 2ZZGE, I ride motorcycles so the higher revving the better for me. I'd love a V6 that could rev past 8k too but I'd probably be the only person who'd pay the extra for it, so I tried the V6 with an open mind and came away surprised. The motor is great and feels like its giving its all at 7200, in fact it sounds like its revving its nuts off. The interior is the same as before (which I like), the weight of the V6S is 160kg less than Peugeot 207 Gti, so all is not lost. More to the point the next lightest car with broadly similar performance and power is nearly 200kg more (Cayman S). My car the V6 Cup is another 66kg lighter still, so a full 250kg lighter than a Cayman - that's a very, very lardy motorbike. The 2ZZGE Exige reached its peak with the Cup 260 (which was brilliant but didn't sell in big numbers), it was time to move on and try something else. I for one am glad they did. I hope you get to try one soon. Until then you can come and check out my channel! Cheers! DrP
Weiter oben wird beschrieben dass die alte Exige mit Semislicks unterwegs ist, während die neue mit Straßenreifen fährt. Insofern macht der Vergleich bzw. das Video kaum Sinn.
Interesting comparison. For Exige V6 Cup track videos check out my channel. Maybe we can compare my Cup to your V6 S at Spa next year?
Prefer the older more raw Exige personally