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Lotus Working on Exige Rally Car for 2012 Stages

Lotus has definitely hit a few speed bumps on the way to the introduction of its five new supermodels. Financing is tight, the engines are proving a sticking point and a number of projects have been significantly delayed. So what do you do when your sporting image is tarnished? Why, you launch a special edition of course!

According to British CAR Magazine, we’re not talking about a stickers and sunroof version here, but a full-fledged rally car, based on the Exige, that will take on the IRC and WRC stages. What’s more, the new car will actually be unveiled in a few short months at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rear wheel drive, looks like an Exige and makes dirt fly off while its going sideways.... we can’t wait.

Although the Hethel plant has stopped making the 240 hp Exige, a new on is reportedly on its way, and the rally version will race somewhere below the Super 2000 class.

According to Lotus director of motorsport, Claudio Berro, Lotus will build more than the 300 cars that are necessary by FIA rules for the car’s homologation, but the actual production figure could hit 500 or even 600. Berro has been involved with managing the Ferrari F1 team in the past, but he was a co-driver Talbot Sunbeam Lotus and Italian Group 2 rally champion in 1981 and 1982.

“Rather than spend a single pound on advertising, I would rather invest in motorsport. It’s so core to Lotus – and a great way to reach our potential customers,” Lotus chief executive Dany Bahar said, and we couldn’t agree with him more.

Lotus could even stand to make a profit off privateer teams that want to race a Lotus in the IRC.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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