Exige S auto faster than manual
Lotus reveals slushbox-equipped supercharged V6 sports car is good for a sub-4.0 second 0-100km/h timeThe new automatic option for the Lotus Exige S is now available in Britain, and it's certain to upset those with preconceived views about automatic sports cars.
Testing has confirmed, the manufacturer claims, that the automatic Exige S can complete a 0-100km/h acceleration run in 3.9 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds faster than its manual counterpart. What the auto box – a six-speeder – loses in outright performance, it makes up for in snappy shifting. According to Lotus the transmission can change gear in as little as 240 milliseconds. And that helps the auto Exige match the manual version's time around the Lotus test track at Hethel.
Yet fuel consumption is also better than the manual variant's, official figures show. Based on combined-cycle testing under the auspices of the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), the automatic Exige S uses 9.6L/100km, versus 10.1L/100km for the manual.
"Expanding the Exige range, with a new automatic gearbox, opens up a new market for those who prefer using a paddle shift with the alternative of an automatic gearshift," Jean-Marc Gales, Lotus CEO, was quoted saying in a press release.
"We expect that the Exige S Automatic will account for over a third of the total global sales for the Exige S range as many drivers will appreciate the involvement of a manual paddle-shift and the convenience of an automatic."
The automatic option for the Exige S is coming to Australia during 2015, local importer Ateco Automotive has said in the past.
"The arrival of the Exige S in both coupe and Roadster form with the automatic gearbox in 2015 will significantly enhance the appeal of the Exige in Australia and New Zealand," said Glen Sealey, General Manager of Lotus Australia, late last year.
"Self-shifting gearboxes account for a much great market share here and the ability to be able to offer an automatic in the Exige S, and especially one that further enhances the unique Exige driving experience, will bring new clients to Lotus looking for the definitive sports car driving experience without having to resort to supercar prices."
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