Lotus Elise Service Notes page 588

EXIGE A-CHASSIS
The Exige alloy chassis tub, composite front crash structure, steel roll over bar and steel rear subframe
are all unchanged from standard Elise, but the earlier type of boot floor arrangement is used with an alloy floor
panel rivetted between the rear longerons.
EXIGE. B - BODY
The Exige uses standard Elise body side sills, windscreen frame and door shells, and a rear bulkhead
different only in captive fixings. The front services compartment lid is also common with Elise.
The 'bolt-on' front and rear clamshells are specific to Exige and are similar in styling to the motorsport
series cars. The rear tailgate is a clear polycarbonate moulding bonded to a composite reinforcing frame, with
intake and outlet air ducts incorporated into a 'spine' feature. A single top mounted hinge is used, together with
a new cable operated latch mechanism. The roof panel incorporates an air intake duct for the engine bay, and
although retained by the same fixings as are used on the Elise hardtop, the car should not be driven with the
roof panel (and tailgate) removed.
Mounted on the rear body deck by two moulded plinths, is a new motorsport style aerofoil with integral
endplates, which transfers loads into the chassis via rear clamshell support plates. The rear aerofoil and front
splitter panel combine to provide balanced aerodynamic forces for optimum high speed handling.
Front Clamshell
The front clamshell is secured by threaded fasteners in a similar manner to the Elise, but uses sill exten-
sions behind the front wheelarches to which the clamshell rear ends are attached, and a seperate, screwed on
splitter panel around the clamshell front lower edge.
Clamshell
2000 / 03
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