Lotus Exige 265E: the world's fastest ethanol car?

Lotus Engineering today unveiled the Lotus Exige 265E. Lotus says car is not only probably the world's fastest ethanol automobile, it's also the most powerful road version of the Lotus Exige ever made. The research vehicle weighs just 2,050 pounds, runs on E85 fuel, and has an output of 265 horsepower at 8000 rpm, and peak torque of 184 pound-feet at 5500 rpm. The engine is a modified version of the Exige's existing Toyota powerplant. It will reach 60 mph in just 3.88 seconds, and 100 mph in 9.2 seconds, for a top speed of 158 mph. Key changes have been made to the fuel system, the engine calibration and the four fuel injectors mounted on the inlet manifold have been enlarged. Two additional fuel injectors have been fitted at the supercharger inlet to increase the amount of fuel being injected in to the engine under higher engine loads and to further cool the charge air prior to combustion. The next stage of the project will include allowing the car to run on multiple fuel types, rather than just E85. Currently, there are no plans for production. Gallery after the jump...