The Lotus Lotus Exige is a two-door, two seater coupe that is available in an S model and an S 240 model. A four-cylinder, 1.8 liter, 218 horsepower engine powers the S model The S 240 has a similar engine with 240 horsepower. An air scoop on the top of the vehicle feeds the engine. There is just one transmission type available- manual six speed.
These numbers may not seem like they belong to a car labeled as an extreme sports car, but combined with the light 2077 pound car, they put out enough power, acceleration and performance to excite even the most die-hard sports car enthusiasts.
Lotus Exige Features
The Lotus Exige comes standard with power windows, air conditioning and power door locks that work remotely. A leather package is available as an option. There is a small trunk behind the car’s engine.
Anti-lock brakes are standard. There is not a safety anti-skid system available for any Exige model. There are no side or curtain side airbags. There is an option for a limited-slip differential and the optional Track Pack comes with adjustable, upgraded shock absorbers.
The side visibility is good, but the rear and the rear corners have no visibility. The air scoop on the roof obscures the view through the back. Very little storage exists. There is a small bin under the dashboard and two more small bins at each side of it. There is no console in the center, no glove compartment and no pockets for storage.
The controls for the air conditioning and the radio adjustments are hard to get to and are partially hidden behind the steering wheel. The inside of the Exige is purposely bare to keep the car light weight. Much of the inside is plain hard plastic and aluminum that has been left uncovered. The only padding is on the seats and the steering wheel. The seats are notoriously hard, however, with very little actual padding on them. All of these exclusions add to the high performance of the car.
There is a long list of options that can be added to the Lotus Exige for additional expenses. A package including leather seats and trim, carpet, iPod connections, insulation and upgraded stereo can add a little luxury to an otherwise stripped-down interior. Other options include choice of paint colors, shocks, suspension, limited slip differential and a Starshield, which is a clear film made to protect the car from rock chips, bugs and other road debris.
Lotus has designed a safety-feature more for the car than for the occupants. In the event of a crash, the suspension has been designed to collapse and break away from the car. This can minimize or prevent damage to the aluminum chassis.
Lotus Exige Performance
The Lotus Exige is an extremely powerful sports car. When combined with the light weight of the vehicle, the engine gives it an amazingly fast acceleration speed of 0 to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds and reaches 100mph in just 11 seconds. The Exige requires Premium gasoline and gets about 26 miles per gallon on the highway and 20 in city traffic.
The clutch is light and the shifter is a toggle-switch model. Owners report an enjoyable ride and just as much control in city traffic as on the racetrack. The Exige corners well and has responsive, non-power steering. The driving is reported as being a little stiff and it isn’t the best vehicle for very rough roads.
