Not sure which model, but is was an Exige. Not as much in it as you would think. Got a car length on him to 40 (with the new SB installed) he leveled up on a left hand corner, held pretty much level all the way to ...70? ish.

 

In an SRT6, you should walk away from a normally aspirated Exige (MY 2006 only) fairly easily on a straight. They are a momentum car and have to be kept in the 6,200 rpm range (the upper cam) to really get going. They are also aero-drag limited, basically hitting a solid aero wall around 125 to 130. The very thing that makes them a track monster: measurable and profound downforce over 100mph, also works against them in the form of drag as the speeds get higher.

If it was a 2007, ie supercharged Exige S, a rolling start should be close up to speed, the nod to the Exige by a little all other things being equal because of a better power to weight ratio. The Exige S has only 30 more horsepower than the '06 Exige, but it has far more torque, and the cam switch over was lowered to around 5,200 rpm, so the thing gets 'there' a lot faster.

If it was a standing start, and the Exige driver was really, really trying to get the max, it is very capable of 4.1 to 60. The best they can get out of the N/A Exige is 4.6 to 60.

From all reports the extra power helps with that aero wall, and on most tracks like Summit Point or VIR, the Exige S's don't lose much to the C6 Vettes and Porsche GT3's at the end of long straights.

I love the way the Crossfire handles. One of my favorite front engined cars ever in terms of chassis and handling. Not crazy about the numb steering, but once you get used to it the Crossfire is a slot car.

That said, on a curve, any curve a well driven Exige, normally aspirated or supercharged, would pull away from an equally well driven Crossfire fairly easily.

 

I forgot to mention:

1) I had just filled up with fuel (to the brim) 200 yards before this.
2) I had the Wife in the car with me and she acts as a verbal brake which I couldn't completely ignore, so hampered my cornering speed slightly.
3) I had just been to the local gardening centre for compost and other stuff to fill the boot up.

so I was not by any means of the imagination, running "Light". He was however running solo so had an even bigger weight advantage.

I would love to come up against him again when on my own as I could do so without the loud whining sound coming from the passenger seat and corner at far more aggressive speeds. I recon I could have pulled a couple of car lengths on him up to 60 like that.

 

If the Exige is the little bitty one that only comes in wild colors, then I made one look silly the same day I purchased our car on the highway up to around 120.

He was darting in and out of traffic behind me while I was leisurely passing an 18 wheeler in the fast lane with clear road ahead. He got on my tail and flashed his lights so I pulled into the center after passing the 18 wheeler and he pulled up next to me and gave the tell-tale signs of someone who wanted to get waxed.

I also had the wife-brake in the car, and luggage from our weekend stay out of town to pick the car up.

I stopped at 120 and had a solid car and a half between my rear bumper and his nose. Best thing is that when I left off, he flew by and did the typical ricer fly-by with flashing hazard lights.

Shortly after I slowed down an M3 flew by me and showed him his tail lights as well.

This was just outside of Austin.

Afterwards, I purchased an old back issue of a magazine with a review on the car. The car is lightweight and likely a monster on a road course, but has nothing for the SRT6 in the 1/4.

SQ

 

As stated, the Lotus is not built for a drag strip. I was on the course with one at VIR and the thing handles like a slot car. Just incredible to watch that sled go.

 

Interesting, I also went up against a Lotus at a stop light. But he modified his with a full exhaust and turbo.
Granted I'm bone stock limited XF, I took him off the lined for about 200-250 feet, after that he was gone.

 

Agreed. There are a LOT of cars that can take an Elise/Exige in a quarter mile, and just running high speed on an open highway, there are even MORE cars that will carry more top end speed than an Exige.

That said, I doubt it was the Exige S you came up against, because while still not a short sprint or top end monster, has more than enough grunt to keep up with an SRT 6 on the open highway.

But...follow that Exige (normally aspirated or blown), in your SRT 6, into a long decreasing radius exit ramp and seriously try to keep up if the Exige driver is really pushing it...two cars go in, one will come out.

 

How could you tell, sitting at the light, that he had a turbo?

I'd say about 60% of Elise/Exige owners slap on a different exhaust with no other mods, and there is no exhaust for the car that gives it more power with better breathing. Lotus has it breathing optimally from the factory.

All the after market exhausts are louder, and a few pounds lighter. That's all.

 

I just looked and I am assuming it was the Elise that I ran into on the highway. It was bright green (did the Exige come in this color?)

0-60 4.7 sec
13.4 1/4 mile @ 101.4 mph
top speed just under 150

1,950 lbs
1.8L DOHC
190 hp/138 ft lbs

I had no trouble with it up to 120, stopped it there due to the wife-brake as mentioned.

Not sure how the exige compares...

EDIT - the car had the wing and the roof scoop - so I assume it had to be an Exige S?

SQ

 

I could hear the blow off valve and the turbine whine. It was before they brought the SC version to the states, also there was no way in hell a 190 hp car weighing 2,300 lbs. could even move as fast as that guy's Lotus! He had to be putting out 300 hp to the crank. The exhaust was total custom job, it snaked outside behind the rear bumper, probably to accommodate the turbo?

 

190HP car weighing 1910lbs would be a little closer to acurate..
That's the equivelent of an N/A Crossfire with close to 330HP (aka an SRT-6)..
Then we have to account for the lack of power loss to get that power to the rear wheels, since there is not real heavy drive shaft robbing the car of power.. The car also has a true racing flywheel which probably weighs 1/2 of the Crossfire weight..
I like the crossfire plenty, but let's be realistic, it's not going to powerhouse crush an Elise or an Exige in a 1/4 mile, and it won't stand a chance against either at a place like the dragon, or a nice road course.
It doesn't have to though, it's a sport turning car.. the Elise/Exige is a true sports car.. the car is pure hell on the body to drive in the city and will cause kidney failure if driven on bumpy roads..

 

Thank GOD somebody finally joined the forum who knows so much... I must not drive a Crossfire... On nice road courses... I was getting confused !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY2joOZVbLU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9DqoxA55KY

 

Nice vids HDDP.
I am always amazed at how underrated these cars are; even by the people who own them.

 

Well, I don't own one yet, so I'm not a believer yet..
When I get one perhaps my views will change.. but beating an exige or elise at the track doesn't speak for the cars in my opinion, it speaks for the drivers..
Again, i don't own either car though, so this is my opinion..

I also like how the guy in the Red/Burgundy Elise brakes hard before a turn, then releases the brake completely while in it.. .. Shouldn't he be ever so slightly riding that brake while in the turn to get some weight on that front tire? Maybe I'm mistaken and have learned to take a turn wrong.. (I've never autocrossed so that's a serious statement)

 

Inherent contradiction... no? I think HDDP would love to sit in on some of your lessons LOL

 

Are you stock?

 

HDDP, those are some awesome vids. Like the way you handled the
Lotus cars. But, curiosity demands that I ask, what was that yellow car
that blew by both you and then the Lotus in the second video?

Coyote

 

The car that blew by them looked like a newer Corvette.
To bad you can't get some speedo readings worked into the video.
Great racing though!!

 

A "real" racer would have politely stopped the car, gotting the bags of compost out of the boot, stacked them neatly, and ask your wife to sit on the stacks, telling her you will be back in 20 minutes, to take her to a lovely meal at her favorite bistro. You and the SRT6 could have come back all sweaty, caught up more to the Exige, and all's well that ends well.....

 

A GT3 Cup Corvette Z06 fully race prepped and doing some testing...