The Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25 is ANOTHER special edition

There can’t be much to do in Hethel. Other than design new special edition Lotuses. We should all chip in and get them a bowling alley or something because let’s be honest, this is getting a bit silly.

And yet, here we have the Exige Cup 430 Type 25 – a homage to the Type 25 F1 car that gave Lotus its first Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships way back in 1963. So you get a ‘unique livery’ in either Lotus Racing Green or Old English White with contrast pinstriping, special decals, bespoke carbon-fibre bargeboards and so-on. Inside you get Alcantara-shod carbon race seats, a special plaque and wooden gear knob.

Mechanically speaking, it’s the same as the Exige 430. Same 3.5-litre V6, 3.2 second 0-60mph time and 180mph top speed. Same clever suspension, serious aero and fantastically nerdy open-gated six-speed manual transmission. You can read all about those things in our review.

Just 25 will be built at £110,000 each - £10k more than standard. Owners will also be given a certificate signed by Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales, a tour of the Lotus factory and a book signed by Clive Chapman and Bob Dance – a mechanic who worked on Jim Clark’s F1 cars.

Same time tomorrow for the next special Lotus? You bet.