Lotus Exige Cup 430, the English keep adding more spice to their most popular model

It was last April when Lotus unveiled what until today was the most radical, special and spectacular version of the Lotus Exige, I am referring to the Cup 380 version, a version limited to just 60 units that lets you have a race car registered for road use. But now, once again, Lotus is putting even more meat on the grill with the new Exige Cup 430.

It is understandable that Lotus gives the Exige yet another twist, since this is its most popular model, raising the bar once more to make it even more radical. The Lotus Exige Cup 430 will be the most powerful model in the Exige range, a model that can also be registered for road use like the Cup 380, but with improvements over the latter that will make it even more formidable on the circuit’s tarmac.

Now getting into the guts of the Exige Cup 430, mechanically Lotus has opted to use the engine from the Evora GT430, but with a series of modifications that make it even more radical. This engine is a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, delivering 430 CV to the rear wheels and 440 Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. In this way it reaches 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds, while its top speed is set at 289 km/h. Braking is entrusted to two-piece brake discs and forged four-piston brake calipers signed by AP Racing.

Its aerodynamics have also been carefully refined, with a kit of exterior elements that reduce even further the 200 kg of downforce the Exige Cup 380 had, now settling at 220 kg for the Exige Cup 430. But all these elements, mostly made of carbon fibre, also help to lighten the car, along with the removal of other items deemed unnecessary for this vehicle, bringing its weight to 1,056 kg, just 1 kg less than the already lightened Exige Cup 380.

Once inside, we will only find the essential elements needed to drive, feeling almost as if we were in a race car, something for which the bucket-style seats with new seatbelt anchorage also deserve much of the credit. Although this sensation can be even stronger if we fit optional elements such as the FIA-homologated roll cage, airbag-free steering wheel, fire extinguisher and electrical cut-off safety controls.

Finally, and if all this is not enough as a calling card, it should be said that Lotus has already tested it on the Hethel circuit, managing to complete a lap in 1 minute and 24.8 seconds, which places it 1.2 seconds faster than the radical Lotus 3-Eleven Road. It will not be built as a limited edition, so it will reach many markets, although unfortunately for American buyers it will not be possible to homologate it for road use in the United States. In Europe it is already on sale, with prices set at £99,800 for the United Kingdom, €127,500 in Germany or €128,600 in France.