Lotus Exige Review

Minimalism is the operative word behind the Lotus Exige, a dedicated sports car that will appeal to extreme enthusiasts (and probably few others). The edgy Exige is compact and built purely for ultra-high-performance driving.

Unlike other supercars, the Lotus Exige isn't powered by a massive fire-breathing V8, V10 or V12. A high-revving four-cylinder engine is all that's needed to provide extraordinary performance. This is because of the vehicle's lightweight construction. There are few amenities and little sound dampening. Weight-adding safety features are kept to the absolute minimum. As a result, the Exige makes little sense as a daily driver. But as a performance car where Lotus' mantra of "simplificate, then add lightness" is in full effect, the Exige is simply one of the quickest, most dynamic and exciting cars on the road.

Current Lotus Exige

The Lotus Exige is a hardtop coupe version of the company's Elise roadster available in a single trim level known as S 240, When the Exige first arrived in America, it was a pleasant surprise. Britain has a long history of building small, lightweight enthusiast sports cars, but for the last quarter-century very few of them have crossed the Atlantic. The Exige is uncompromising to such a degree that it doesn't feel legal, even by exotic car standards.

Underneath the dramatic body shell is a car built for no other purpose than to be driven hard and fast. The rear-wheel-drive sports coupe is lightweight and loud. It seats only two. Even the standard air-conditioning system can be deleted to reduce weight. With the Lotus Exige, it's all about minimizing weight. The body structure is made of aluminum. The trunk is small and there's not much additional storage space. Standard features don't include power controls. And safety features are limited to the absolute minimum, so there are no side airbags or stability control and traction control is optional. Power steering? Forget about it.

Only by purchasing the Touring Pack can you get power windows, full carpeting, sound-deadening material and a decent stereo. For the more hardcore, there is the Sport Pack, which is equipped with Eibach coaxial coil springs, Bilstein monotube dampers, forged aluminum wheels and sticky Yokohama Advan tires.

Yet the Sport Pack isn't even the most extreme option. Hard-core weekend racers will definitely want to look at the Exige's Track Pack, which includes a fully adjustable suspension system (for those who are mechanically inclined) and a limited-slip differential.

The Lotus Exige is powered by a supercharged and intercooled 1.8-liter four-cylinder mounted directly behind the cabin. This engine produces 240 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission available is a six-speed conventional manual. Acceleration is a claimed 0-60-mph blast of 4.1 seconds.

In our reviews, we found the Lotus Exige to be one of the most precise-handling cars on the market. It's like a hummingbird on four wheels. It's more of a quick car on a twisty road than a crazy fast car in a straight line. Since it was designed with a road course in mind, stopping and steering are just as important as acceleration. And while it was built to do everything well, it wasn't built for everyone in mind. The ride is harsh, getting in and out is difficult and outward visibility is extremely poor, essentially nonexistent out the back. But for die-hard enthusiasts, there's probably nothing more satisfying to drive.

Used Lotus Exige Models

An earlier Exige (based on the first-generation Elise) was never officially imported, so the Exige arrived in the North American market for 2006. In that first year, only the standard model was available. This featured the same 189-hp version of the Toyota-sourced inline-4 engine found in the Elise, and all the other track-ready handling upgrades found on the current Exige. The supercharged Exige S debuted a year later, with 220 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque.

For 2008, the base model was dropped while an even higher-performance version, the S 240, debuted. It included bigger brakes and a larger roof-mounted air scoop than the S. That year also saw a new instrument display with a trip computer fitted to both Exige trims. For 2009, the Exige received a handful of aerodynamic enhancements that included a slightly restyled front end and a larger, low-drag rear wing. Also, upgraded Ohlins dampers were added to the optional Track Pack. That year also saw the introduction of the Exige S 260, with its more powerful 257-hp engine, even bigger brakes and an even larger roof-mounted scoop. The S 260 was short-lived, however, as it was not offered for the 2010 model year.