Lotus Exige S Roadster for $120K

The fastest Lotus convertible ever made, the Exige S Roadster will arrive in Australia later this year priced from $119,000. Offering super car performance for a fraction of the price, the new model is be a key part of the company's renewed product offensive, which could see several all-new Lotus models launched here by 2014, including a reborn V8 Esprit.

The new Lotus Exige S Roadster is powered by a mid-mounted supercharged six-cylinder engine and unlike most convertible models it is in fact 10kg lighter than its coupe sibling, at 1166kg, and doesn't command a price premium.

It expands the Lotus range to four models alongside the Evora and Elise and Exige S hard top model, the latter launched here in April 2013.

Ensuring its status as the UK sports car maker's most rapid drop top, the hard-charging sports car accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 4.0 seconds (the same as the coupe) while the roof can be opened in "only slightly more time" says Lotus, with just "two clicks and a roll".

The order book is open for Australian customers ahead of its summer 2013 release and though general specifications have not yet been confirmed for the super car, technical details are set in stone.

Exige S Roadster runs a 3.5-litre Toyota V6 that generates 257kW at 7000rpm and 400Nm of torque thanks to the addition of a Harrop HTV 1320 supercharger, and is identical to the Lotus Exige S hard top in powertrain terms.

It has a top whack of 233km/h and is hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox. Lotus Australia has not confirmed an auto transmission for Australia yet, but says "Paddle shift options for Exige S Roadster will be considered subject to demand".

The rear-wheel drive open top sports car is expected to cut some fast lap times thanks to 17-inch front and 18-inch rear cast alloy wheels shod with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres propped up by Eibach coaxial springs and Bilstein dampers.

The brakes comprise AP-Racing four-pot ventilated and cross-drilled calipers, hooked up to a BOSCH anti-lock braking and stability control system. That means drivers can drive harder while maintaining control with additions like cornering brake control and Lotus' dynamic performance management (DPM).

The new Exige S Roadster is shaping up to deliver strong bang for your buck against rivals such as the Porsche Boxster S ($133,300) and Audi S5 Cabriolet ($146,000), thanks to its class-leading performance.

The car also has a mature new look that could help it find a few more customers, with a sharp new front end design that incorporates large lateral air intakes and technical headlight clusters with LED driving lights.

The high performance convertible model will join the Exige S and track-ready Exige Cup and Exige Cup R models.

In Australia Lotus has sold 11 Elises, six Evoras and five Exiges, a total of 22 cars for the first four months of 2013. That's slightly down on the 25 cars sold for the same period in 2012.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.