Lotus Exige V6 Automatic

[C7Steve]

Will the automatic be better for power upgrades, as I have heard that the original box was the weak link on that front?

http://www.lotuscars.com/gb/news/corpor ... -automatic

"Offering the involvement of a manual paddle-shift with all the convenience of an automatic, the Exige S Automatic comes with a 6-speed transmission that has been specifically tailored to the sporty characteristics of the Exige.
Integrating smooth and intuitive gear shifts with engine response and exhaust note, the Exige S Automatic provides its driver with all round engagement and excitement and reflects the Lotus DNA of pure driving experience.
For drivers who enjoy a more spirited drive, the gear-shift characteristics have been calibrated to reflect the dynamic system changes that are activated when the driver selects either ‘Sport’ or ‘Race’ mode. Optimised gear selection and response deliver quicker all-round performance when a sportier experience is desired.
Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer, Group Lotus plc said, “By introducing a paddle-shift, we have expanded the Exige product range to make it more accessible to customers worldwide. Now, customers who are more accustomed to two pedals and automatic transmissions can enjoy the unbelievable performance and handling of the Exige S without compromise.”
The new Exige S Automatic is currently completing its final stages of testing and is anticipated to exceed the manual variant in performance when it goes on sale in January 2015. In fact, the Exige S with automatic transmission as fast as its manual counterpart around the Hethel test track and achieves the 0 - 100 km/h sprint achieving, 0.1 seconds quicker than the Exige S manual in 3.9 seconds.
Automatic transmission will be available as a cost option to the Exige S and Exige S Roadster models in all markets where the Exige is currently on sale. Prices for UK customers will be £2,000 including VAT and €2,185 in Europe excluding local taxes."



Steve.

[anthonyyule]

Looks very interesting. I was just about settled on the IPS option on the Evora (which i guess this is just the same but rebranded and re-fettled?).
I agree that the weak link in the Evora/ Exige is definitely the gear selector cables (not the gearbox itself I don't believe which looks to be pretty strong - and all the internals are discarded and rebuilt with Lotus gearing anyway).

By removing the weak link (i.e. the cables), I think the cars would be a more enjoyable steer - it would certainly be a very compelling alternative to something like a GT3 (now only available as an auto of course). I bottled it in the end..... IPS are difficult to get hold of for a test drive and I didn't want to buy without first trying. Ultimately £2000 to go 0.1 seconds faster (under strictly controlled test conditions I'm sure) is a big price to pay.

The 2014/ 15 gear selector cables appear to be much much improved again over the big news story that was the MY12 cables. not sure if they are any different but the gear change in the new 64 Evora is sweet as - and having tried various demo cars and having owned a 61 plate, 63 plate and now 64 plate I feel I can say for sure that they have vastly improved.

I think the auto would be very very exciting - but I just can't convince myself that it would add anything to the Exige experience up here in Scotland. I can imagine lazy americans loving it though.

Personally - I would take the £2K and put it towards a full 2ubular system (inc headers) and revel in the noise which will definitely make you 0.1 seconds faster anyway!!

[Shug]

It's just a slushbox isn't it? Conventional (old fashioned) torque converter auto? With some override paddles nailed on the steering column (and a lock-up torque converter, I'd hope) I'd be hanging back until a proper modern dual clutch arrangement came into production for this sort of car.

[mwmackenzie]

http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/defaul ... ryId=31065

Quicker than the manual round Hethel though

[graeme]

I look forward to reviews of the forthcoming 2-11 CVT.

[Lazydonkey]

Yup its the same box as the Evora IPS......but if it sells more exiges it can only be a good thing. By all accounts the evora IPS does quite well in engerland

[ryallm]

Wholly unconvinced by this. As Shug points out this is an old skool slush box which also sees service in any number of Toyota Camry Tokyo airport taxis. As far as I am aware Toyota don't do a clever DSG style box yet so this is all Lotus have available to meet the market demand for flappy paddle cars. Why would you want this in an Exige of all things? The car is all about driver involvement .

[Mikie711]

Bit Ironic talking about lazy Americans wanting it when they can't sell the car in America due to the crash test exemption having expired. Not sure why you would want an automatic in an Exige but I guess they (lotus) haven't the money to develop a proper twin clutch gearbox given that toyota don't have one in their line up.

[Shug]

I think we can only hope it's a stopgap to build sales while Toyota develop a twin-clutch. You'd have to assume a lot of manufacturers will be doing so as they seem to be established tech now. Can see the majority of cars having these in the future. Agree Evora definitely needed an auto option - less convinced about the Exige, but if Lotus can spin a slushbox with paddles as a performance tool, more power to them

[Dominic]

I think this is a good thing if it helps sell more cars. Although a DSG type set up would be preferable it is a shame that it would come with a weight penalty. I know lotus are still lighter than the competition, but can't help but wonder if they are loosing their lightweight focus a little.

[Mikie711]

Don't know about that Dom, modern cars are getting heavier to accommodate the new safety systems and that is unavoidable. Gone are the days where you can build a car for the world market with nothing in it regards airbags, TC etc. Also the completions cars are getting faster and better handling and heavier. Therefore just to stay in the game you have top up the performance, given that they had reached the limit of the toyota 1.8 4 pot your next step is bigger engine. The V6 being the next step in toyota's line up means more weight, more performance means bigger car and so it rolls on. Just look at the size and weight of today's 911 compared to one from 20 years ago.

If it sells more cars then great but I hope it doesn't dent the cars reputation if it isn't that great. Think of Audi with the R tronic which was terrible and that was an auto box converted to act like a DSG.

[BiggestNizzy]

I look forward to reviews of the forthcoming 2-11 CVT.

CVT would be ace.

Watch on YouTube

[Mikie711]

That would take some getting used to

[Shug]

If it sells more cars then great but I hope it doesn't dent the cars reputation if it isn't that great. Think of Audi with the R tronic which was terrible and that was an auto box converted to act like a DSG.

Was R Tronic not the shoddy Lambo single clutch robotised manual? Burning clutches and giving you whiplash on upchanges? Tiptronic was/is the auto box with override, IIRC.

[Rosssco]

I don't think Toyota currently has any dual clutch systems of their own, so that's not even an option.. They are also as heavy, or heavier, than an equivalent auto in many cases..

Apart from the weight increase, its perhaps a good option for the occasional driver - even though it won't have the near instant response of a dual clutch, it will still change quicker than a manual, and if the calibration is done properly (no reason doubt it won't be), it would be a fun thing to pilot down a road..