Editing Models - Exige V6 (section)

===Exige R-GT===

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| [[Image:Exige R-GT Goodwood 1.jpg|thumb|center|300px|Lotus Exige R-GT Rally Car]] || [[Image:Exige R-GT Goodwood 2.jpg|thumb|center|300px|Lotus Exige R-GT Rally Car]]
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The Exige R-GT was first shown alongside the standard Exige S road car at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011<ref>[http://www.seloc.org/2011/09/lotus-cars-the-return-of-lotus-to-rally-2/ SELOC - Lotus Cars – The Return of Lotus to Rally]</ref>, the Exige R-GT was the first motor sport variant of the new Exige to be shown to the public. The car was shown initially in a paint scheme designed to match the Lotus Talbot Sunbeam rally cars, but was later changed to the black and gold colour scheme.

Designed for tarmac rallying in the FIA R-GT class for GT Production Cars<ref>[http://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/regulation/file/256%20%282013%29.pdf FIA Article 256 (2013) - Specific Regulations for GT Production Cars (Group RGT) - published on 11.12.2012]</ref> the Exige R-GT features a number of modifications to conform to the class regulations and make it suitable for rallying.
* 34 mm air restrictor, reducing power to 302bhp
* Ballasted to 1200kg minimum weight
* Steel rollcage specifically designed and homologated, bolted and bonded on the lightweight Aluminium chassis
* Front and rear specific underbody protections
* WRC style crew side protections and lexan side windows
* Roof cockpit air scoop
* 3 ways adjustable front and rear specific dampers
* 6 ratios sequential gearbox, two homologated final drives and LSD differential
* Uprated brake discs, calipers, improved cooling and hydraulic handbrake
* 7" x 17" front wheels with 205-62/17 front tyres
* 8" x 18" rear wheels with 225-65/18 rear tyres

The Exige R-GT received it's first shakedown test in Turin on December 23rd 2011<ref>[http://www.seloc.org/2011/12/lotus-cars-lotus-motorsport-hit-major-milestones-video-and-gallery/ SELOC - Lotus Cars – Lotus Motorsport Hit Major Milestones – Video and Gallery]</ref> and again in St Remo in March 2012<ref>[http://www.seloc.org/2012/03/lotus-cars-rallying-st-remo-test/ SELOC - Lotus Cars – Rallying – St Remo Test]</ref>,with it's first event planned for April 2012<ref>[http://www.seloc.org/2012/03/exige-r-gt-to-make-italian-debut/ SELOC - Exige R-GT to Make Italian Debut]</ref>.

The car failed to receive the necessary homologation in time to compete in the Rally 1000 Miglia in April, but made an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed<ref>[http://www.seloc.org/2012/07/video-lotus-take-to-the-goodwood-hillclimb/ SELOC - Video – Lotus Take To The Goodwood Hillclimb]</ref> and ran as the course car at the Belgian Geko Ypres rally<ref>[http://www.seloc.org/2012/06/lotus-cars-something-from-the-weekend-26th-june-2012/ SELOC - Lotus Cars – Something From The Weekend – 26th June 2012]</ref> before receiving FIA homologation in July 2012<ref>[http://www.seloc.org/2012/07/lotus-cars-lotus-exige-r-gt-gains-fia-homologation/ SELOC - Lotus Cars – Lotus Exige R-GT Gains FIA Homologation]</ref>.

The car made it's first competitive appearance driven by Bernardo Sousa at the Madeira round of the European Rally Championship, but crashed out on the third stage after suffering issues electrical issues which caused a failure with the gear selection<ref>[http://www.seloc.org/2012/07/sousa-and-exige-r-gt-crash-out-of-madeira-debut/ SELOC - Sousa and Exige R-GT crash out of Madeira debut]</ref>. The crash damaged the chassis beyond repair and the car made no more appearances in 2012 - it's unknown if any Exige R-GT's will be campaigned in 2013.

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