Isn’t it funny how overfenders have become associated with form?
Back in the day, these additions provided a cost-effective way for race teams to fit fatter wheel and tyre combos under the guards of their competition cars. But these days the practice of cutting fenders and covering it all up with flares is often criticised as just a fad, which it may well be.
So it’s always refreshing to see overfenders actually being used to extract more performance out of a car. And I came across quite a few Exiges with pumped fenders at the recent Japan Lotus Day event.
When it came time to choose one to spotlight, I ended up going for this particular car – because unpainted carbon fiber is as cool as it gets, right?
The flares are held in place around each of the four wheel arches with exposed screws; it’s much like Miura does with his own kits and all the other kits he designs and creates for companies like Liberty Walk.
Here, it’s then all tied in with carbon fiber skirts and a nicely extended front lip spoiler. Doing so has allowed the owner to run a nice and aggressive offset on the black RAYS Volk Racing TE37SLs, which in turn are shod with the obligatory tyre of choice for a Japanese-built track car: Yokohama Advan A050s.
The Exige had a ton of cool touches, and one I really liked was the front number plate mounted on the tow hook. This is a solution I discovered years back at this very event, and one I’ve been meaning to implement on Project GT-R.
Inside the stock seats have given way to Bride buckets.
The aero additions are completed with a carbon fiber rear diffuser and an adjustable rear wing.
And judging by the upgraded intercooler under the engine cover, all of the exterior refining must be matched to an equal amount of attention where it really matters. This is Japan after all!
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino
dino@speedhunters.com
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Nice spotlight Dino, this car looks very cool!
Awesome! I love articles like this Dino
Seriously love how it's properly functional , which reminds me of the Stella Artois of RWB !
I love white car with black accent (or exposed CF) , and this car basically ticked all the boxes !
This might be the most beautiful car I've ever seen.
Dino, did you get the brand or manufacturer of these overfenders? Doesnt look like anything from Outer Plus or BSK or any other Lotus tuner from Japan. Perhaps its custom? Would love to talk to the owner or find his minkara if he has one!
Chris Nuggets The Photo with the front section of the skirt looks likes it was a DIY job.
I love you japan
I love the Wheel tire Combo!
Proper Meaty Tire on that Wheel! not some bogus 2xx/20 riddicolous slim tire. That looks business!
What are those 17"?
Looks Beautiful!
Seven years ago I did something like this..but was only 485whp at the time..
I hate anything slapped on a car that is non functional. If you put a spoiler, fenders or tyres on a car that don't improve the stock performance I think it's the biggest crime. I'd honestly have a turd looking car that is half a second quicker a lap than a awesome looking car that is half a second slower a lap. Function is everything.
Chris Nuggets No, I dropped by to see if the owner was around but never got to chat to him. There were other FRP kits I saw from BSK I think but not carbon like this one
Ohhhhh crap. :/
My prediction about how Dino was gonna write this article was 100% correct; Mentions of his GTR, a question that relates to us and a bit of... excitement.
Tinj Not to shabby
RDS Yeah and Stella is getting rebuilt and refreshed, it's going to be even more of a badass thing once Nakai and Promodet are done
bluestreaksti Don't we all!
roninlotus211 Holy crap! You still got it?
Matt Khoun I can't help it man! Isn't that what it all comes down to though? You're a car guy, you go to a car event and you keep your eyes peeled for anything that will inspire you to build, evolve, perfect and eventually finish (if that's even possible) your own car?
speedhunters_dino roninlotus211 Google 'Ronin Lotus' and I'm sure you'll recognise the build Dino
What Robo_No1 said! If you think that looks mental speedhunters_dino, then wait until you see what roninlotus211 looks like now!
I love the look of the Exige in it's stock form, but this looks even better!
speedhunters_dino RDS For real?! I would like to see Stella running again!!! It's still crazy that a car can clock under 1 minute at Tsukuba years ago!!! Are you going to make a feature after she's done?
That's just your opinion, bro. Your car should look nice also
Too...
Where can I get some of these flares for an Elise R?
What is the size of the tyres, I can't read, is that 225/45 17, or 16?
speedhunters_dino roninlotus211 Yeah it just looks like this now....same chassis different body.
Chris Nuggets It was made as a one-off by TK Sports in Osaka. I heard they might be developing a kit though.
@AGL Chris Nuggets Excellent. I really like the rear arch design, much better than their first overfender kit.
but why 4 inches of flare for an inch more wheel/tire? seems like it would cause drag
Precisely
@EVO Looks like 225/45/16 on the front.
Adding a few more photos of the blue Lotus Exige from TK Sport: https://ra64freddy.com/2012/12/10/british-kart/
And some more details on the white car with the carbon fibre overfenders: https://ra64freddy.com/2015/06/03/british-skunk/
I didn't know you had changed the colour roninlotus211: I need to catch up with the build thread on Lotus Sport!
speedhunters_dino
Please feature it on SpeedHunters as soon as Stella is finish !
I would hope that with the plate bracket on the tow hook there would be a keyed or quick release. Can't imagine that I'd want to be grabbing tools to unbolt it in a situation where it needed to be towed. However, it is a really clever solution!
Wow!! I love the exige in stock form, this is even better,
Thank you!! This made my day
thought i share mine..
lord D That's another TK Sport car!
"This car gives me such a hard on.
This part that here that gives me such a hard on... I've been meaning to implement this on my washed up GTR.
Its erection inducing, don't you think?"
That is you, Dino.
~With white sunglasses that have yet to be accidentally stepped on.
But whatever I'm one of those haters.
That's a silly way to live and you probably dress terribly.
with a driver that is very reliable car that can drive very wellhttp://633cash.com/