2005 Lotus Exige 240R Preview

However, in the case of the 240R, "stock" almost never makes the grade; Lotus Sport technicians wanted their special Exige to be

Lotus Sport technicians wanted their special Exige to be the performance equivalent of a 3.0-liter V6. (Photo: Lotus)

the performance equivalent of a 3.0-liter V6. Through Lotus' "Engine Downsizing" research, the development team was able to modify the engine through supercharging. Despite the base engine's high 8,500-rpm redline and compression ratio, very few changes were required to adapt the engine for forced aspiration. A low-pressure Eaton M62 supercharger, an air-to-air intercooler fed by the roof scoop, and a new intake manifold, plenum and induction system, are the only new components required.

Seeing as this model will most likely be used as a track car, Lotus has also upgraded its cooling system to deal with the extra strain of high-revs for long durations of time.

Lotus claims that the Exige 240R has a maximum power output of 243-horsepower at 8,000 rpm. (Photo: Lotus)

Dual oil coolers keep running temperatures low, while the new Accusump keeps pressure constant, even during the high G-forces of hard cornering.

With the supercharged engine, Lotus claims that the Exige 240R has a maximum power output of 243-horsepower at 8,000 rpm, with 174 lb-ft of torque developed at 7,000 rpm. The revised Lotus-T4 engine management system has also been reprogrammed to adapt to the additional power gains and the different power delivery. The computer has been altered to change the timing of the cam-change from the low-power to the hi-power shafts. The result: linear power delivery from just 4,000 rpm.