Without equal and without compromise, the ballistic new Exige Cup 380 coupe provides the perfect balance between fully type-approved road-car and genuine racecar to deliver the ultimate track-and-back street-legal Lotus.
Evolved from the hugely successful and capable Exige Sport 380, this latest Lotus supercar is the purest manifestation yet of the company’s Cup concept for sports cars. Genuinely eligible for competition yet undeniably elegant, just 60 editions of this extreme Exige are planned for worldwide markets, assuring its status as one of Lotus’ most collectable road cars.
With a purity of drive unheard of in road cars, and a power-to-weight ratio of 355bhp per tonne, the Exige Cup 380 delivers genuine race pace, with 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 282km/h.
Key to the Exige Cup 380 reaching its low weight of 1057kg is the comprehensive adoption of carbon fibre and extreme engineering. Making their first appearance on a road-going Lotus, heavily revised bodywork elements contribute to the increased downforce of the Exige Cup 380, with the car generating up to 200kg, 43% more than the Exige Sport 380. Making the most of this aerodynamic downforce and maximising mechanical grip, the Exige Cup 380 features larger rear tyres (285/30 ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2) as standard.
At the heart of the new Exige Cup 380 lies a concept from the core of one of Lotus’ founding principles. With an unrivalled lineage, the new thoroughbred Exige Cup 380 is endowed with racecar sensibilities and road-car manners.
Honing the Exige Cup 380’s high-speed abilities was paramount in its development, and the inclusion of new wind-tunnel-developed aerodynamic elements allow this road-going Exige to deliver up to 200kg of aerodynamic downforce at a top speed of 282km/h.
Inside the Exige Cup 380, there are visible-weave, handmade carbon sections including beautifully detailed carbon race seats and door sills as standard. Cumulatively, these composites contribute to the Exige Cup 380’s low weight, but every part of the car has been considered, even down to the removal of the boot carpet, to reduce mass.
Extremely quick off the line, the Exige Cup 380 laps the Hethel track in 1 minute 26 seconds – a record for a road-legal Exige. Packing the same 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine as the Exige Race 380, the new Exige Cup 380 boasts 375bhp at 6700rpm and 410Nm of torque at 5000rpm. Available as standard with a close-ratio, 6-speed manual transmission, the Exige range features Lotus’ now famous open-gate manual gearbox design. 
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