Following the Elise S Cup, Lotus now released a less hard-core, more comfy sports car with an automatic transmission. The Lotus Exige S Automatic adds the convenience of automatic shifting, plus manual change via paddle shifters, to the Exige’s fine blend of speed and handling.

Tech-savvy Lotus fans might will be disappointed to know the automatic gearbox offered for the Exige is not a dual-clutch or anything fancy. It’s a plain and simple 6-speed auto with buttons for Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive on the center console and aluminum manual-shift paddles located behind the steering wheel. It blips the engine on every downshift in Sport mode, while upshifts take just 240 milliseconds.

Powered by a 345bhp, 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine, Lotus Exige S Automatic can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, 100 mph in 9 seconds, and reach a top speed of 162 mph. The automatic transmission is available on both Exige S and Exige S Roadster models, priced at £1,667 or €2,185.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO Group Lotus plc, stated: “Expanding the Exige range, with a new automatic gearbox, opens up a new market for those who prefer using a paddle shift with the alternative of an automatic gearshift. We expect that the Exige S Automatic will account for over a third of the total global sales for the Exige S range as many drivers will appreciate the involvement of a manual paddle-shift and the convenience of an automatic.”