Lotus Exige 265E

General General Lotus Talk
1

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=105&page=1

This is the Exige 265E - the fastest ever Exige and the first bio-ethanol Lotus. The digits 265 denote the 265PS power output, or 261bhp in old money � up 46bhp over the standard car. The ‘E’ informs people that this car runs on ethanol, alcohol made from the fermentation of crops, mixed with petrol. Using this greener fuel results in a claimed 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

The Exige 265E is a development prototype created by Lotus Engineering, the Norfolk firm’s fiendishly clever consultancy arm. In only five weeks between July and August 2006, its engineers completely re-engineered the Toyota engine powering the standard Exige S to run on the wheat-derived fuel.

The result is the fastest road-legal bio-ethanol car (and the fastest Exige) ever built. Performance is sensational - 0-60mph flashes up in only 3.88 seconds before running out of puff at a mind bending 158mph. Who says being green is boring?

2

Great story, amazingly they go on to quote:

"These tweaks do nothing to make the Exige faster, the extra power is entirely down to the fuel. Ethanol burns more efficiently than conventional petrol thanks to the extra oxygen atom attached to the ethanol alcohol molecule in its makeup. In English this means the combustion process is more effective and more power can be produced. "

“For now, Lotus claims it won’t take the project further”

Best quote:
“The Exige 265E is quicker than a Ferrari F430 yet produces less CO2 than a Ford Focus.”

3

Best quote:

�The Exige 265E is quicker than a Ferrari F430�

David

4

Best quote:

�The Exige 265E is quicker than a Ferrari F430�

David

but do they just mean the quoted 0-60 time, or is it faster in terms of real world driving?

5

but do they just mean the quoted 0-60 time, or is it faster in terms of real world driving?

Nah, just round Hethel, where it’s incredibly also 2 secs a lap quicker than all previous Exige models

6

With each model that comes out another 2 seconds is knocked off the lap time, we’ll be in minus numbers soon.

7

That’s when they’ll start going round the track the other way.

8

Or go back in time and start making our S1’s go faster,…although many of us seem to have taken matters into our own hands

9

New article just arrived from Pistonheads re the 265E www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=14861

10

Looking to the future, I think I’d much rather have a bioethanol powered “conventional” engine than a hydrogen bomb with an electric motor.

11

I wonder how many gallons you get to a field?

Ian

12

I wonder how many gallons you get to a field?

Ian

Yep. Probably something else we won’t be self-sufficient in!

I can see it now - knocking down new houses to create fields of sugar beet! lol!

13

Mmmm Lotus claimed 0-60 in 4.1 and 0-100 in 9.98 for the Exige S and how wrong they turned out to be. I love my Exige to pieces but I’m a bit dubious at performance figures associated with any Lotus.

14

I wonder how many gallons you get to a field?

Ian

Yep. Probably something else we won’t be self-sufficient in!

I can see it now - knocking down new houses to create fields of sugar beet! lol!

Well perhaps they’re not so worried in Norfolk, lots of fields to go round there!

15

Mmmm Lotus claimed 0-60 in 4.1 and 0-100 in 9.98 for the Exige S and how wrong they turned out to be. I love my Exige to pieces but I’m a bit dubious at performance figures associated with any Lotus.

Well, that depends on what source you have. Any 0 - whatever claim is hard to replicate in practice, & means nowt in real world driving

Just enjoy the car for what it is…brilliant

Tim.

16

this is really old development that I remember as a kid in SA but the petrol companies went mad when government wanted car companies to develop cars to run on ethanol and other alternative fuels