Lotus Exige
The hard-roof Elise that grew into a supercharged V6 weapon.
3 reviewers · 6 videos
Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and handling, but split on value.
across 3 reviewers
"it is communicative in a way that very few cars manage to be today"
Goodwood Road & Racing · ▶ 14:16"at this sort of money i would like you know a stereo or sat nav system that hasn't come straight out of halfords"
Sideways Sid · ▶ 15:25Performance
5.0/53 of 3 reviewersstrong consensus“This thing is brutally fast. It just goes up through the gears. Bang, bang, bang, bang. And the noise is just incredible.”
positive · Carfection · ▶ 2:17“it loves to rev and it's got plenty of punch”
positive · Sideways Sid · ▶ 12:47“the engine really feels like it's got more than those 400 horsepower to be honest but that thing weighs barely anything it's an absolute rocket ship”
positive · Goodwood Road & Racing · ▶ 17:04Handling
5.0/53 of 3 reviewersstrong consensus“The Exe is incredibly planted. That's even out here in this nasty greasiness. And that is in part thanks to Lotus' incredible handling engineering.”
positive · Carfection · ▶ 3:34“it is communicative in a way that very few cars manage to be today both through the chassis and through the steering”
positive · Goodwood Road & Racing · ▶ 14:16“the faster you go the better it gets”
positive · Sideways Sid · ▶ 19:08Fun to drive
5.0/53 of 3 reviewersstrong consensus“The Exe makes you feel as though you are electrically charged, like you're inside a very small plastic and aluminium bullet heading towards the horizon.”
positive · Carfection · ▶ 5:28“when you are in the mood for it you get this... that v6... has that same drama that same soundtrack”
positive · Sideways Sid · ▶ 17:03“the amazing thing about the two cars is that they've managed to make two so different cars from the same chassis”
positive · Goodwood Road & Racing · ▶ 17:22Daily drivability
2.5/53 of 3 reviewersconsensus“it's definitely on the firm side... getting in and out of it is a bit of a pain... you can't see much out of the back”
critical · Sideways Sid · ▶ 14:48“I mean, the steering can be a touch heavy when you're going slowly, but this thing's weight or lack of it and it extra length make it really pliable.”
Carfection · ▶ 6:57“it is firmer there's no denying that but it still manages to feel like it's not too firm it's never going to jiggle you to death”
Goodwood Road & Racing · ▶ 13:36Value
3.0/53 of 3 reviewerssplit“at this sort of money i would like you know a stereo or sat nav system that hasn't come straight out of halfords”
critical · Sideways Sid · ▶ 15:25“it is communicative in a way that very few cars manage to be today”
positive · Goodwood Road & Racing · ▶ 14:16The big one. The S3 transformed the Exige with Toyota's 2GR-FE supercharged 3.5 V6 — 345 hp in the Sport 350, climbing through the Sport 380/410 and the track-bred Cup 380 to the Cup 430, which at 430 hp was the fastest road-going Lotus of its era before the Emira. Despite the power jump it stayed faithful: bonded-aluminium tub, manual gearbox (an auto was offered), Nitron dampers and serious aero on the Cup cars. The character is traction and downforce over outright civility — wide sills, firm damping, a cabin that's all business. The ladder of Sport and Cup variants is the thing to learn, since output, aero and value step sharply between them. Where it places: the hardcore send-off of the Exige line, and — in Cup 430 form — a modern Lotus halo that's already collectible.
Hear it in the reviewer’s words
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- Sport 350 / 380 / 410V6 power-and-aero ladder
- Cup 380aero/track special
- Cup 430430 hp — fastest road Lotus of its era
- Final Edition (2021)send-off trims
The supercharged 2GR V6 is stout and tuner-friendly. The trade-offs are liveability — wide sills to climb over and firm Cup damping — and a tight cabin. The Cup 430 was the pre-Emira halo and commands the strongest values.