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Elise and Exige 2006 Model Year
Significant improvements made across the whole range
The new 2006 model year of the Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige ranges
introduces new standard and optional equipment including lighter
weight components, airbags, traction control and limited slip
differential, enhanced trim, adjustable suspension and a new ProBax
driver and passenger seat. A new range of colours has been added,
ranging from standard solid shades to metallic and fashionable
lifestyle colours. The total number of colours available is now 21,
excluding the bespoke custom option.
"The Elise has been a huge success, and we are keen to open up more
options to the customer, to offer them the choice of making their
Elise more track or touring focussed, as well as even more individual
to themselves" said Trevor Houghton-Berry, Lotus Cars Head of
Commercial Operations.
The improvements for 2006 Model Year
The Elise and Exige ranges have been improved with more options at
both ends of the user scales. Four equipment packs are now available,
two containing touring options and two containing sports options.
The Lotus customer can now order a car that satisfies either their
demands for enhanced trim and more luxury equipment with the Touring
Packs or their track and race requirements with the Sport Packs.
Touring and Sport Packs can be combined too.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) rear lights with integrated reflectors
are now standard. When compared to conventional filament bulb lights,
the LED brake lights illuminate 0.2 seconds (two-tenths of a second)
quicker, which is equivalent to one Elise length at approximately 70
km/h (approximately 43 mph). The LED rear lights are also 36% lighter
(around 0.6 kg total) than the conventional filament bulb lights.
Other changes include a new window seal fitted around the door that
reduces the wind-noise into the cabin substantially, and a non linear
tachometer / rev-counter dial with the unit spacing between 3000 rpm
and 10,000 rpm being greater than the spacing between 0 rpm and 3000
rpm.
For security, central locking is standard across the range.
The new light weight pedal box
A new light weight pedal box with steel pedal arms and extruded
aluminium pads is introduced on the 2006 Model Year Elise and Exige.
This new unit has an electronic (drive-by-wire) throttle for quicker
and smoother, more linear engine response, reduced brake pedal ratio
and improved pedal feel for the brake and throttle. All three pedals
have less travel and are better positioned for easier "heel and toe"
brake and throttle control on downshifts.
Wheels and tyres
Lotus specific Yokohama Neova AD07 LTS tyres are now fitted to the
Elise. These tyres have been extensively tested and developed by Lotus
and Yokohama engineers and provide high levels of feed back to the
driver. The Lotus Exige has the ultra high performance Yokohama Advan
A048 LTS tyres.
ProBax Seats - Standard across the range
Lotus is the first car manufacturer in the world to introduce the
"ProBax(tm)" seat. The 2006 Model Year Elise and Exige models both
have seats designed by Lotus and specifically adapted and developed by
NuBax, helping to significantly improve the postural position of the
occupant's spine whilst seated. This not only results in an improved
level of comfort, but also has significant medical benefits -
maintaining a natural curvature of the spine, and markedly improving
the body's blood flow. Increased blood flow has been shown to enhance
response times, raise alertness levels and reduce the onset of muscle
fatigue. Tests on Lotus seats, with the new
ProBax(tm) technology, have shown an improvement in blood flow of
up to thirty per cent over the pre-2006 Model Year Lotus seat.
Steve Swift, Head of Vehicle Engineering at Lotus, commented, "We
carried out extensive tests with people of various shapes and sizes in
Lotus seats with ProBax technology and the results are extremely good.
The seat padding and "cushion" have been specifically designed by
NuBax, enabling us to use less foam and remove the pre-existing lumber
mechanism. This has helped reduce weight, vital for Lotus of course,
and increase the amount of useable space in the cockpit."
The seats are clad in cloth for the base and the sports pack Exige
and Elise, and in leather for the Elise with the Touring Pack. The
Touring Pack Exige is clad in a lightweight stain resistant
suede-effect material.
Touring Packs
The Touring Pack includes electric windows, full leather interior
for the Elise in a choice of colours (Black, Cream, Biscuit and Red)
or Black suede effect interior with leather highlights for the Exige,
full carpet set, high specification DAB Radio and CD/MP3 player, and
sound and temperature insulation.
The Super Touring Pack includes the contents of the Touring Pack
plus an upgraded interior trim with driver and passenger airbags, high
specification leather covered steering wheel, front speakers located
in the facia top panel, engine start button, trinket tray stowage
unit, cup holder, leather handbrake sleeve, leather handbrake gaiter
and gear shift knob and embroidered logo premium floor mats.
Sports Packs
For both the Elise and the Exige, the Sports Pack includes twin oil
coolers and switchable Lotus Traction Control (LTC) - see later for a
full explanation of LTC.
In addition the Elise has sports suspension (uprated Bilstein
dampers and stiffer Eibach Springs) and ultra light weight split-type
7-spoke forged (6J) alloys wheels for use with the Yokohama Neova AD07
LTS tyres.
The Exige with the Sports Pack already has the sports suspension so
in addition, is equipped with sports seats and a T45 steel roll-over
hoop and harness bar for the aftermarket fitment of four point
harnesses for track use only.
The Super Sports Pack includes the contents of the Sports Pack plus
ultra lightweight forged split-type 7-spoke 6.5J alloy wheels (saving
a massive 1.2 kg of unsprung weight per corner - compared to the
already lightweight Elise and Exige cast wheels), track suspension
with Eibach springs and Bilstein one-way adjustable dampers - with a
single adjuster for bump and rebound - and adjustable ride height),
adjustable front anti-roll bar, double shear track control arm brace
to help cope with the expected kerb abuse during hard track day
driving.
In addition the Elise with the Super Sports Pack has ultra high
performance Yokohama Advan A048 LTS tyres and a motorsport
specification T45 roll-over hoop which when fitted with a Lotus Sport
aftermarket 6-point roll-cage is FIA race approved.
Stand alone options
Lotus Traction Control and Limited Slip Differential
A switchable Lotus Traction Control System (LTC) is available for
the first time on the Elise and Exige for 2006. The LTC works through
the engine management system to reduce power when required to maintain
traction.
Unlike many traction control systems, LTC has been tuned to
complement the skills of the driver without taking over. The Lotus LTC
is active above 5 mph (8 km/h) and operates much more quickly than
many brake based systems.
The system can be deactivated with an illuminated button which is
located adjacent to the gear lever. A Torsen-type limited slip
differential (LSD) is also available for tight and twisty driving
(such as in auto tests). The LSD is only available if LTC has been
specified and is not available by itself.
Air-conditioning
Air-conditioning is available as a cost option (standard in some
markets) and weighs in at a featherweight 15 kg (~33 lbs).
Body Coloured Hard Top
A hard top is available for the Elise for seasonal use.
The New Range of Colours
A new range of colours has been added, ranging from standard solid
shades to metallic and fashionable lifestyle colours. New colours
include a vivid aspen white, non metallic British Racing Green, a hot
Chilli Red, a high metallic Solar Yellow and a harmonious Autumn Gold.
The total number of colours now available is 21, excluding the bespoke
custom colours.
Engine and Engineering Design
With a VVTL-i engine (Variable Valve Timing and Lift - Intelligent)
producing a maximum power output of 192 PS (189 hp or 141kW) and 181Nm
(133.5 lbft or 18.5 kgm) of torque, the Elise 111R sprints to
100km/h in 5.2 seconds (60 mph in 4.9 seconds) and 160km/h (100 mph)
in 13.0 seconds before reaching a certified top speed of 241km/h (150
mph).
The Lotus Exige has similar straight line performance to 100 km/h
(60 mph), reaches 160 km/h (100 mph) in 13.2 seconds, before reaching
a top speed of 237 km/h (147 mph) - slightly slower than the Elise due
to the higher levels of aerodynamic downforce, giving phenomenal
corning power, with around 42 kg of downforce at 1690 km/h - the
equivalent of the weight of a new-born rhinocerous!
This performance is achieved without compromise to environmental
considerations with the fully Euro IV Emissions Compliant engine
helping the Elise to return 8.8 litres/100km (32.1 mpg) on the
combined cycle, as well as the very low figure of 208 g/km of CO2
emissions.
A minimum of one oil cooler is now standard for both the Elise and
the Exige.
The 2006 Model Year cars are on sale from 01 November 2006
Specifications and prices of models and options to be listed.
Notes about the Lotus Elise:
Lotus cars are now sold in over 25 countries around the world
through more than 150 dealers. Over the last two years, the company
has entered important new markets including the USA, South Africa and
Mexico, and will be entering further territories such as Canada and
the Middle East within the next 12 months. Expansion of the sales
territories is planned over the next few years as Lotus rolls out a
new range of products including a GT type car and a new mid-engine
supercar.
Around 25,000 Elise have been built by Lotus at its award winning
manufacturing facilities at the Hethel headquarters in Norfolk, UK
which brings the total number of Lotus cars built since Colin
Chapman's first in
1948 to 75,000. Of this impressive tally, the last third of the
volume is Elise and Exige from the last 10 years!
Even though Lotus is building more cars than ever before, a Lotus
is still a rare and head-turning sight on the roads, keeping the brand
exclusive for those who have one aim: to drive, what is regarded by
many, as the finest handling of cars in the world.
2006 Model Year Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige are now available from Lotus dealers in November 2005.
Recommended retail prices for the UK are below:
Elise MSRP £27,995
Exige MSRP £29,995
Solid Paint standard
Metallic Paint £595
Lifestyle Paint £1,010
Air Conditioning £1,295
LSD £995
LTC £395
Touring Pack £1,995
Super Touring Pack £1,995
Sports Pack £1,495
Super Sports Pack £2,495
Other market prices will be issued shortly
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