It has been confirmed that the Lotus Exige S will be available with an automatic gearbox option. The company recently announced that the 2015 Lotus Exige S is to feature the choice of an automated transmission with paddle shifters in efforts to reach those not comfortable with an all-out man handle.
The Lotus Exige S automated gearbox will be a variant of the one offered in sibling Evora, which is a six-speed automatic. The transmission was tuned to best fit the sportier and throatier Exige S, and offers available Sport and Race modes. The same transmission will be given to both the Exige S and the Exige S roadster, both of which are scheduled to emerge next year.
The Lotus Exige S at a glance:
- The engine is a supercharged 3.5-liter V6, which is also derived from the Lotus Evora S.
- The 345 horses burst forth to nail the 0-60 mile per hour jump in just 3.9 seconds. It is claimed that the automated gearbox is 0.1 of a second faster than the manual version.
- The classic Lotus good looks with ever-so-slight alterations to offer personality.
Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales made the following statement on the matter of the automatic gearbox: “By introducing a paddle-shift, we have expanded the Exige product range to make it more accessible to customers worldwide. Now customers who are more accustomed to two pedals and automatic transmissions can enjoy the unbelievable performance and handling of the Exige S without compromise.”
It remains unclear how much longer Lotus will be selling its wares Stateside, as the company is not in compliance with some safety regulations regarding airbags. The truth is that they were never in compliance, but held a permit that has since expired. The issue does seem quite trivial, and it will be interesting to see what comes of the matter.
Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals