Lotus Exige S-240 2009: High-performance of only two seats

I have to admit with great shame that this was my first chance to drive a Lotus. I use the word shame because I am a great admirer of the golden age of Formula 1, when Jimmy Clark was competing for the Lotus team, then headed by Colin Chapman.

It all started with a casual, friendly invitation to visit the offices of Lotus USA in Atlanta. It was an honor to be in an environment steeped in pride and melancholy for the legendary history of Lotus.

Once inside the offices are on display a Lotus Exige Club Racer, Elise and the highly anticipated new Lotus Evora. Grata was my surprise when I was informed that were available an Exige S-240 and Evora (European version) for evaluation.

2010 Lotus Exige S-240 brings a few changes to the 2009 version. Mechanism is the same, and the only differences are the interior color choices.

The Lotus Exige coupe is a high-performance of only two seats. This year is only offered in a version as the Exige S-260 was discontinued.

As standard equipment found forged alloy wheels 16 "front and 17" rear tires, high performance Yokohama Advan, AP Racing and Brembo brakes with vented and perforated discs diagonally, Eibach springs and Bilstein shock absorbers, air conditioning, electric windows and latches, sport seats, leather-wrapped Momo steering wheel, Alpine sound system with 4 speakers, and launch control and traction control adjustable.

The base price of the Lotus Exige S-240 is $ 65.990. The color of our test unit had a special color "Burnt Orange" ($ 3,300) and two optional packages, the Touring Package ($ 1,600) and the Track Pack ($ 1,650). The first includes noise insulation, cup holders, to secure network objects, carpets and leather seats, door panels and emergency brake lever, the second option only offers the option to manually adjust the suspension. Other options include plastic lamination to protect the paint, limited slip differential and exterior colors.

The Lotus Exige central charges 4-cylinder engine and 1.8-liter supercharged developed by Yamaha. This produces 240 horsepower, 165 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission conventional. The Exige accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds impressive. As for fuel consumption, an EPA registered 20 mpg in the city and 26 on the road.

One of the attributes that differentiates the Lotus cars its closest competitors (if any) is its low weight. For the particular case of the Exige S, this is one of the main reasons for its excellent performance, weighs only 2.077 lbs.

The interior is crude and simple (like me what the doctor ordered). The seats offer excellent lateral support commensurate with their ability to cross high-speed turns. Obviously the Exige is a car that has been developed not for the average driver, but for those enthusiasts who prefer sporty handling and not the details of comfort and aesthetics.

I must warn you enter / exit the cabin can be a little uncomfortable and may even require a little flexibility. Forget about carrying suitcases or anything else in the trunk, as space is very limited and hot.

The latter becomes secondary once you start your engine and meets the vehicle's actual talent. The system is manual steering, the brakes are hard and very stiff suspension ... the perfect recipe for establishing a direct communication channel between the track, the vehicle and driver. The performance and effectiveness of the braking system is impressive thanks to its lines of metal, large calipers and discs.

Personally I was very impressed with the Lotus Exige S-240. It offers everything a fan as I search: NO BULLSHIT, only what you need to bring the car to its full capacity with the necessary technological confidence.

Volvo S60 2,4 D: Collecting with a balanced chassis

Volvo and diesel - at least according to conventional wisdom - that fits really well. The customers see the same obviously, because the diesel share at Volvo marched smartly out of 20 in direction 30 percent. So far, however, bought the Ford diesels have their daughter at VW / Audi. This one was not up to date. In V70 & Co did still the five-cylinder TDI service, which once rang in the Audi 100, the direct-era and has long been banished from the motor program of Ingolstadt.

Body / interior
Already optically adopt the 4.58-meter S 60 of the Swedish model family to recognize it as unquestionable. The front end is very similar to those of the two brothers. The rear with its contoured surround in turn refers to the design of S 80 and C 70 coupe, on whose platform of the S 60 also based. From the C-pillar, the S border 60 by a curved line and a very pretty short boot from.

This has two practical disadvantages: In the back of the head is not freedom with the best appointed and the opening of the luggage compartment is quite small, since the Swedes not a big hatchback tailgate have installed the despite.

Too bad, because that would be an important advantage of the S 60 can gain over the competition. The lures to make matters worse, even with alternative body styles such as station wagons or, alternatively, Compacts or coupe.

And despite conceptually favorable conditions (transversely mounted front engine), the space is in the back also in terms of legroom is rather limited.

Points, the S 60 in the traditional Volvo-domain security. This protects the middle graders its passengers with six airbags. From the big brother he has whiplash protection system inherited, the stiff neck following a rear impact is to avoid the infamous. Standard stability control is the STC, while the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control are paid except in the top version has extra.

Even with the processing quality of the 60 S leaves a good impression. The appealing materials are clean fit, even if the valve has got quite sober landscape. A playful balance is attractive for the gear lever with its hemispherical Alukulisse.

In general, the front seat ends can certainly feel good. The seats are comfortable and can go through a variety of adjustment in anatomically correct positions. The clarity is comparatively high and the operation is no mystery.

Chassis / handling
The medium-class Volvo presents itself as a very sure-footed car. Even without the electronic helper he turns out to be harmless understeer. Cycles were not there to determine. With the electronic stability program, the behavior borders anyway to fool security.

Nice that this one quite appealing, though not razor sharp precision handling has been achieved. It prepares but quite fun, move the S 60 to fast on country roads.

Even in the comfort are the youngest child in Sweden no nakedness. At most, very short stroke shocks, with little let the response of the suspension to get their limits. Otherwise, passengers glide, but not swinging across all types of surfaces. It is extremely quiet. Neither the wind nor the rolling noise and certainly not the engine unduly strain the ears.

Overall, a very balanced vote. At most, the Sport Group may not approve the compromise reached here.

Engine / Transmission

The new house is Volvo turbo diesel quick start a success. The five-cylinder catapulted into the sum of its properties from the state in the top group of modern diesels.

Equipped with the latest features of high Nagler, such as the common rail system of the second generation of Bosch, which an injection pressure of 1600 bar provides now of, four valves per cylinder and variable (VNT) turbocharger he particularly excels with very harmonious performance characteristics. From turbo lag or Starting weakness, and then explosively unfolding peak torque is virtually nothing left to feel. From approximately 1200 revolutions against the mighty shoves of gasoline is only 15 pounds heavier aluminum motor, and then developed at 1750 rpm its maximum torque of 340 Nm. The power peak of 163 hp at 4000 rpm, with surprising revving quickly reached. After just want more in a hurry, as necessary, to achieve the right connections in the next gear. Difficult but also does not, because the noise is moderate and in character more than five-cylinder dieselnd. And the sound of the odd number of cylinders was a certain appeal never denied nor.

The performance meet the expectations: Volvo promises the standard sprint in 9.5 seconds and remains at the maximum speed just under the speed winter tires (210 km / h).

At a diesel interested but of course especially true of consumption. In the EU, according to Volvo all run triple mix to one hundred kilometers only six liters by the common rail system. According to manufacturer estimates a peak in this segment. The relative assessment, we can connect a subject to something more intensive review, the absolute number will be but - as so often reach - in practice, very difficult.

The five-speed gearbox is precise and smooth. Also, the variation does make sense. So it is acceptable that the automatic transmission offered in 2002 is beginning.

Even if the new diesel engine fits very well with the Volvos (next to S 60 are also benefiting V 70 and S 80 of the new development), is to be hoped that it also in other large Ford vehicles of the Group's entry continues. Well imagine he would be at least in the new X-Type ...

Costs
The 163-hp diesel in the Volvo S60 cost at least 54 176 marks. Included in the base price is basically a complete equipment. It includes power mirrors, the vehicle dynamics control DSTC, the WHIPS whiplash protection system, air conditioning, adjustable lumbar support and other features. Of course, drifts as with many other cars in the price sky-high as soon as another Luxusbeiwerk is ordered.

With a base price of the Volvo is not a bargain, but a cheap offer: So is the weaker BMW 320 D, only about 2,000 marks more expensive, while the slightly stronger 330 D 10 000 Mark costs more equal. Similarly, the relation to the Audi A4, is where the 130-horsepower diesel cheaper, but the comparable 155-hp V6 version about 2000 Mark is more expensive.

For insurance and maintenance costs of the ignition is in the frame. The warranty period should be better.

Datasheet
ngine 5-cylinder turbo diesel with direct injection
Displacement (cm 3) 2401
Horsepower (KW) at U / min -1 163 (120) at 4000
Maximum speed (km / h) 210
Acceleration 0-100 km / h (sec) 9.5
Transmission 5-speed
Drive Front-wheel drive
Road test consumption (l/100 km) min. 4.7
Weight, Manufacturer
specification (kg) 1576
max. Payload (kg) 454
Price (Euro) 27 700
Emission standard EU3
Road tax (annual) / Euro ago 386.00
Comprehensive insurance class: ABS with Brake Assist, ESP, front side airbags, head airbags front and rear automatic climate control,
Standard equipment: * Manufacturer's specification according to EU standard

Conclusion
Volvo and diesel - that fits in autumn (delivery date) really well. The best Volvo five-cylinder is in fact now is a diesel. In the present case, the diesel is even better than the car. The S 60 while collecting with a balanced chassis, make good acoustics as well as its high-quality appearance of plus points, but must at Karosseriegeräumigkeit Luggage and accessibility feathers. Since the competition is crucial, however, even in alternative body styles better. This, however, there are 60 Volvo at least not based on the S. The design, however, many may take for the beautiful Sweden. Now the Scandinavians would bring himself only as the colleagues of Ford in Cologne to a doubling of the warranty.

Plus and minus
+ Good performance
+ Smooth power delivery
+ A safe driving
+ Good suspension and acoustics
- Fond of scarce
- Small trunk lid

Mazda RX8: Japanese sports car performance and The perfect car

Rarely is a car as original as many aspects as the Mazda RX8. But most important is to have technological solutions and original design, but the end result works!

Two key elements define the character of this model: its small but powerful rotary engine and its original bodywork, we dare to call "four-door coupe," with opening the rear opposite to the front ( "freestyle" in the terminology of Mazda), as in the new and expensive Rolls Royce Phantom almost half a million dollars.


The engine
Starting with the engine, with just 3 rotor and a 1.3-liter capacity is able to develop an output of 238 horsepower at an engine speed of 8,500 laps. The torque is not as generous and remains in poor 159 lb-ft, a modest sum in relation to maximum power and what other competitors offer "traditional" engines. But the fact is that the engine meets, not excited, but allows sufficient acceleration and recoveries for the car and enjoy its magnificent performance.

The change is significant aid, not only by the shortness of the developments needed to keep the engine running at high revs, but also for its ease of handling and short routes.

The transmission is to the rear wheels, of course, and the Mazda RX8 is a very balanced weight distribution, not only by the distribution base but also at the center and lower masses. The result is a very agile behavior while very progressive. Highway directional stability is also very good, thanks to the long battle (center distance) and it tuned suspensions.


Exterior design
Turning to foreign chapter, we will as long as each one considers the line, although we liked it, not only for the balance achieved between the silhouette of a sports car with the practicality of a four-door four-seater, but it also is quite remarkable the care put into every detail of design. Thus, the shape of a rotor is present in different areas of the car, but in a very harmonious.


The interior
The interior is another success, with good materials and high quality finishing. Furthermore, it is surprisingly large and holds four passengers safely. The only objection is the available space in the boot, not too broad, but not think it is a serious fault in a car like this. The equipment is very comprehensive, and through the options can leave the car "full equipped" for a reasonable price.

Speaking of prices, we think the offer with the Mazda RX8 is very interesting, offering a great value for the price. There are feelings that are difficult to measure or describe, but to say that he is seeking a sports car under $ 32,000, the Mazda RX leave an exquisite taste in my mouth "", with a quality of behavior difficult to find in the market, irrespective of the price of the car.

By now you've probably guessed test the Mazda RX8 we liked it. But competition is tough in this market. The most obvious competitor is possibly the Nissan 350 Z, which offers similar performance but the "flavor" is totally different. Other potential competitors are the Japanese rally cars, Subaru STI and EVO Mitsubhisi, which offer higher performance in exchange for a less attractive design. And the range of competitors can be extended in many directions, from the Audi TT range to higher versions of the Mustang. Variety is the taste and finally the benefit of this intense competition is the consumer who ultimately choose.