DESIGN & PERFORMANCE

The first-generation Lotus Exige (unofficially designated S1) deviated from roadcar spirit of the Elise to create a truly race-optimised sportscar. The Exige concept debuted a more aggressive full coupe Elise based design with flared wheel arches and a roof-mounted air scoop. The new car proved popular and broke new ground as an engineering concept – all the new body panels could be fitted to the existing Lotus Elise chassis. With no power-assisted steering, the driver had access to unprecedented road feedback and precision control that rewarded driving skills from the single, centre front seat driving position.

BRED FOR THE TRACK

Leaving its status as an Elise variant behind, the all new Exige was officially unveiled prior to the opening race of the 2000 Autobytel series at Brands Hatch. The Exige would be the true inheritor of the Elite or Europa Twin-Cam reputation as the smallest and quickest of Lotus coupés. With production ending in 2002 the Series 1 Exige would remain true a Lotus rarity.

Having quickly become a track day favourite, the Exige, which was built in very limited numbers would be used widely by racing schools as well as the few lucky owners fortunate enough to have ordered one early. For many, the experience of a track-based road car, even one equipped with the 177bhp production motor rather than the optional 190bhp track-pack race-developed motor, was something quite special.

RACECAR FOR THE ROAD

The Lotus Exige (the name was derived from the French ‘exiger’, meaning ‘demanding’), was still a track car at heart. Of course, this new racecar-bred model to the Lotus range added an extra front seat, as well as a track-derived front splitter and rear wing, along with the required road-legal Yokohama tyres. The cold air intake was smoothed into the roof and a new polycarbonate tailgate that opened for baggage and engine access completed the transformation. The cowled headlamps were assisted by two auxiliary front lights fitted into the corners of the grille/air intake.

SECOND GERERATION EXIGE

After a two-year absence from the marketplace, in 2004 Lotus re-introduced the Exige – a car that, despite being on sale for just over one year, had revolutionised the hardcore sports coupé market. Now powered by A HIGH REVVING 4-cylinder engine, the second generation Exige, unveiled at that years Geneva Motorshow, took that same racecar-for-the-road philosophy and applied it to the new design direction, heralded by the Elise in 2000.

UNPARALLELED RIDE AND HANDLING

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, an all-new Lotus Exige was unveiled. Alongside the staggering power to weight ratio from a supercharged V6 power unit, the new Exige S had a dramatic styling overhaul, with a completely new exterior and interior look and feel.

Exhibiting raw performance, mind blowing agility and unparalleled ride and handling, enabled by a lightweight chassis paired with a V6 3.5-litre engine delivering 345bhp, the Exige S was set to raise the bar even further. Although it carried the same name, this was no work-over of the earlier car; it was a completely new car, both longer and wider. From headlights to rear wing, the aggressive stance of the Exige S underlined its performance pedigree.