Tokyo auto show: Lotus Exige Scura special edition gets debut

Lotus will reveal the Exige Scura at the Tokyo auto show this week, a special-edition speed demon that's lighter, bolstered with performance refinements and wrapped in black exterior packaging.

Scura translates as “dark” in Italian, and that is derived from the high-gloss phantom black triple stripes that run the length of the car, giving it a menacing yet sporty look. The rest of the exterior is coated in a “soft-feel” matte black finish.

Lightweight carbon-fiber parts slim the Scura by about 22 pounds. Lotus's launch and traction-control features are standard. That's the outside, but lurking beneath is a supercharged 1.8-liter motor that makes 257 hp. The car can run to 60 mph in four seconds and can clock a top speed of a 152 mph.

The Exige Scura will be limited to just 35 copies. It will be called the Exige Stealth in Japan