Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion who after a three-year foray into the WRC returned to F1 with Lotus for the 2012 season, was on hand at the Geneva Motor Show to unveil the British carmaker’s two new models.
The first was the open-top version of the Exige S. The Roadster is the first Exige ever to be fitted with a soft-top roof, which Lotus claims, is both lightweight and easily removable.
The Exige S Roadster is powered by the same supercharged 3.5-liter V6 used by the fixed-roof version that transmits its 345HP to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox or optionally, the IPS semi-automatic launched in the Evora S. It accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.0 seconds and to 160 km/h (100 mph) in just 8.5 seconds.
In order to celebrate Raikkonen’s signing, the British sports car maker also revealed a new variant of the Evora named the Lotus F1 Team Evora GTE.
It features an unpainted, high-gloss carbonfiber bodywork, a carbon interior with copper inlays, black leather bucket seats with gold piping and a Lotus F1 Team Limited Edition badge.
With an output of 444HP, the 3.5-liter Evora GTE, which will be homologated for the European market by May this year, is the most powerful production model to come out of Hethel. In addition, due to the use of carbonfibre, it is 100 kg (220.5 lb) lighter than the stock model.
Raikkonen commented: “If the Lotus F1 Team Evora GTE is as quick as it looks, then it is going to be absolutely incredible. I would love to have this as my company car.”
Something tells us that Lotus’ people have already handed the keys to the GTE to the Finn …
VIDEO
PHOTO GALLERY
