UK Garage Lotus Extrema @ carwallpaper

The UK Garage (based in... Italy) and its Lotus Extrema has taken Colin Chapman's philosophy to a level the old man never could have imagined. Built atop a Mark I Exige, UK Garage widened the track, stretched the wheelbase and created a custom Mark II body kit to fit more rubber and make room for a range of mid-mounted engines.

On the low end of the spectrum, customers can equip their Extrema with a GM-sourced, turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 putting out 350 hp and tipping the scales at just over 1,800 pounds. A Superlight variant is also available, weighing in at 1,650 pounds and equipped with either a 2.6- or 3.4-liter V8, producing 360 or 450 hp, respectively. For those who want to go full (big) bore, the Extrema can be had with almost any GM-supplied V8, ranging from two LS3s producing either 420 or 500 hp, the 520-hp LS7 or the Corvette ZR1's 638-hp, supercharged LS9. With only 2,138 pounds to motivate, the range-topping Extrema is claimed to hit 60 in 2.9 seconds, blow through the 100 mph mark in under seven seconds and on to a top speed of 200 mph.

In addition to the engine upgrades, UK Garage can equip any model with a manual or sequential transmission, along with an Ohlins suspension, four-piston AP Racing brakes, roll cage and other safety systems. Both race-ready and road-legal versions are available with prices starting at €66,000.