Overclocker

The Lotus Exige 265E runs on bio-ethanol, but it's no granola-eating wimp: Lotus is using a modified version of the Exige S's supercharged four-cylinder.


The Lotus Exige 265E is a research vehicle, and there are no plans for production. Maybe someday...

Date posted: 08-28-2006

HETHEL, England — Lotus Cars has introduced the Exige 265E, which it describes as the most powerful road version of the car ever. And that telltale E suffix? That means the Exige has been adapted to run on bio-ethanol.

So far, the Exige 265E is a research vehicle. Lotus has fitted a slightly modified version of the 2ZZ VVTL-i supercharged four-cylinder that powers the production Exige S. Running on E85, the car delivers 265 horsepower; it sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 158 mph.

Lotus said it added two fuel injectors at the supercharger inlet to increase the amount of fuel being injected into the engine under higher loads and to cool the charge air before combustion. It also enlarged the four existing fuel injectors on the intake manifold and recalibrated the engine electronics.

So why did Lotus bother?

Lotus Engineering powertrain chief Geraint Castleton-White explained: "We wanted to prove that green sports cars can also be very high-performing sports cars."

Lotus said it has no immediate plans to put the Exige 265E into production.

What this means to you: Green — and fast. Sounds like a winning combination to us.

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=116642

JZA80MHU38

What does it mean by "most powerful Lotus ever"? Quickest from 0-60 maybe, but sure not the most powerful by hp figure. The Esprit V8, or even the later inline-4 turbo engines are putting out 300 or more hp.

JHStrange

We shouldn't forget that a major part of Lotus' business is providing engineering services to other car companies and this is a good example of what they can do.

spwolf

I fail to see what E85 has to do with "green".

Skulinex

Probably they are trying to relate green to the fact that E85 is 85% ethanol, or 'bioethanol', which is basically made out of corn, making it a 'green' fuel kinda deal

LexFather

Correct the Esprit TT V-8 was rated at 350hp

KneeShoe00

PSSSSSSSSSSSH, i have some things that are stickier, greenier, meanier and that do more than that...OOOOH

spwolf

yep, with exception that it takes oil to create ethanol :-).

If you add lower energy of E85, all you are doing is rather complex way to burn middle eastern oil while feeling good about yourself in ignorance :-).

JessePS

I wouldn't mind driving an Elise or Exige, sucks I can not stand standard.