Limited-edition Lotus Exige LF1 celebrates 81 wins

Black-and-gold livery excludes John Player name

The Lotus Exige LF1 won't be available in the U.S. Photo by Lotus.

Lotus revealed the high-performance Exige LF1 on Monday, featuring Lotus F1 team livery and interior trim. Only 81 will be produced to commemorate the marque's 81 Grand Prix victories. In fact, each car will celebrate one specific win, from its first at Monaco in 1960 to its latest in Australia in 2013. According to Lotus, the LF1 is “available to customers in all global markets [yes!], except the U.S. [damn].”

The LF1 will sport the supercharged 3.5-liter V6 from the Exige S. In this application, it delivers 345 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 sprint goes by in 3.8 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 170 mph. The featherweight comes in at just 2,593 pounds. Lotus says it returns 19.5 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The black Exige LF1 gets gold and red accents like the F1 car, including gold-covered wheels -- 17s in front, 18s in back -- and a red front splitter.

Each car will be individually numbered with a carbon-fiber plaque. They also come with the Exige Race Pack with Dynamic Performance Management system, two-piece brake discs and Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tires. The Convenience Pack with heated seats and rear parking sensors is offered -- but discouraged by us.

Elsewhere inside, the car gets leather with gold accents, LF1-embroidered logos, Team F1 logos and air conditioning.

Buying an LF1 automatically makes buyers a member of the Exige LF1 team. It includes a factory tour for two people of the Lotus Cars production facility at Hethel, England; a factory tour for two of the Lotus F1 Team headquarters at Enstone, England; a collector's edition owner's pack, including an Exige LF1 membership card entitling members to a 20 percent discount on Lotus Originals and Heritage ranges; and 10 percent off the Lotus F1 Team Replica collection, a Romain Grosjean 1:2-scale replica helmet, a Lotus F1 car key fob and a Lotus F1 Team USB stick.

The Exige LF1 makes its public debut at the Canary Wharf Motorexpo in London from Monday, June 9 to Sunday, June 15, and in left-hand drive at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.