The Lotus Exige is a sports car made by the British company Lotus Cars from 2000 until 2021. Originally a coupé version of the Lotus Elise roadster, since the Series 3 the Exige has been the larger-engined model of the family, featuring a V6 engine in place of the Elise's straight-four. Convertible versions of both models are available.
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Series 1
The original Exige was launched in 2000 with a naturally aspirated 1.8 L Rover K Series Inline-four engine in VHPD (Very High Performance Derivative) tune. It is rated at at 7,800 rpm in standard form. There was also a "track spec" version with available. The car has a five-speed manual gearbox, and a claimed top speed of . 0–97 km/h (60 mph) was achieved in 4.7 seconds and 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds.
thumb|left|Rear view of Exige S1
Series 2
Exige (2004–2006)
In 2004, the Series 2 Exige was introduced. It features a naturally aspirated 1.8 L 16-valve DOHC Toyota/Yamaha engine that is rated at with the Toyota engine designation of 2ZZ-GE. Compared to the Series 2 Elise, it has a front splitter, a fibreglass hardtop roof with roof scoop, a rear engine cover, and rear spoiler. The sole purpose of these aerodynamic additions to the base Elise is to create more downforce (almost of downforce at in the Exige versus at in the Elise). The S was also made available in North American markets as a 2007 model.
According to Lotus, the Exige S model, weighing , has the following specifications:
;Engine:
:Toyota supplied, I4, DOHC with VVTL-i (variable valve timing and lift - intelligent), supercharged and intercooled
:Bore/stroke
: at 7,800 rpm
: at 5,500 rpm
:Compression ratio: 11.5:1
;Transmission:
:6-speed, close ratio with single-plate dry clutch
;Performance:
:0-: 4.1 seconds
:0-: 11.1 seconds
:Top speed:
:Fuel consumption: city / highway
Exige Sport 240 (2008)
In 2007, Lotus released the Exige Sport 240, limited to 6 units for the Australian market only. The output from the 1.8L Supercharged Inline-4 was increased to , a 10% increase over the Exige S, and thanks to upgraded fuel injectors and a new engine control unit. 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) times improved to 4.2 seconds, and the top speed increased to . At the time, the Sport 240 was the fastest Lotus ever sold in Australia. The Sport 240 in fitted with Lotus Sport adjustable traction control, developed by from the Lotus Sport UK GT3 motorsport program. The system features a driver-adjustable control knob with 18 different presets of traction control as well as electronic launch control. The Sport 240's brakes were also upgraded, with AP Racing four-piston callipers with two-piece vented discs and braided hoses on the front, and Brembo single-piston callipers with rotors in the rear. Pagid Racing brake pads are fitted all around. The suspension utilises one-way adjustable dampers with adjustable ride height and an adjustable front sway bar. The Sport 240 comes equipped with R compound Yokohama A048 LTS tyres, 195/50x16 in the front, and 225/45x17 in the rear. It also includes a BS4 T45 steel roll-over hoop and struts. The interior also receives its fair share of upgrades, including elements of a Touring Plus package. It comes with a lightened, air conditioning system, sports seats finished in black leather with a harness bar. It features an orange Exige logo on the seats and floor mats, door trims, centre console and stitching. The car also received Lotus Sport forged 5-spoke OZ Racing alloy wheels, body mods including a roof scoop to supply more air to the intercooler, two bespoke colour choices (Blaze Orange and Sapphire Black), and limited edition badging. The Blaze Orange models received blacked out highlights including the front splitter, rear wing endplates, wheels and a rear beaver panel infill around the taillights. The Sapphire Black models received a Chrome Orange front splitter and rear wing endplates. The Sport 240 went on sale at the 2007 Australian International Motor Show at a price of $149,990.
Exige S 240 (2008–2011)
In 2008, the Exige S was replaced by the Exige S 240. Power output increased by 9% over the outgoing model to . The S 240 also received upgraded AP Racing brakes from the Exige Cup 240 and a larger roof scoop utilised by the Exige Cup 255. 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) times improved to 4.0 seconds. The S 240 base manufacturer suggested retail price was $65,690.
Exige S 260 (2009–2011)
The Exige S 260 produced an additional 7% power output over the S 240 resulting in . Even with a full fuel tank, extensive use of weight-saving materials such as carbon fibre reduced the vehicle's gross weight to compared to in the S 240. It can accelerate from in 4.0 seconds. After 2009, both the S 240 and S 260 received distinctively new and enlarged rear spoilers mounted to the rear clam instead of the motor bay cover.
Exige 265E
thumb|left|Exige 265E
The Exige 265E is a factory-built version of an Exige S optimised to run on E85 fuel, which is 85% ethanol. The higher octane of this biofuel allows for a higher compression ratio and/or more supercharger boost. In this model, which saw the ECU re-mapped as well as upgraded injectors and fuel pump to cope with the new fuel type, the brakes have also been upgraded to four-piston AP Racing callipers with increased diameter sport brake pads mated with drilled and vented discs at the front. Brembo single-piston sliding rear callipers with diameter discs are fitted at the rear. Lotus says it has no intention to build the 265E (265 indicates the approximate horsepower and the E indicates the "environmentally favourable bio-ethanol E85 fuel" powering the engine) as a limited number standard production car, and that it is simply a biofuels demonstrator. According to Lotus, the Exige 265E model has the following specifications:
;Engine:
:Toyota supplied 2ZZ-GE 1,796 cc inline-4, DOHC with VVTL-i (variable valve timing with lift intelligence), supercharged and intercooled
:Bore/stroke 82 mm/85 mm
: at 8,000 rpm
: at 5,500 rpm
:Compression ratio: 11.5:1
;Transmission:
:C64 6-speed, close ratio with single-plate dry clutch
;Exige 265E performance:
:0-60 (0-97 km/h): 3.88 seconds
:0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 9.2 seconds
:Top speed:
:Fuel consumption: ~ city / highway
Exige GT3 prototype (2007)
thumb|left|Exige GT3 Road Car
According to Lotus, the Exige GT3 model has the following specifications:
;Engine:
:Toyota supplied 2ZZ-GE, inline 4, DOHC with VVTL-i and Lotus T4e engine management system, Eaton M62 Roots type supercharger and intercooled
:Bore/stroke
: at 8,000 rpm
: at 7,000 rpm
:Compression ratio: 11.5:1
;Transmission:
:C64 6-speed, close ratio with uprated clutch and cover, open differential
:Gear ratios I/II/III : 3.166:1 / 2.050:1 / 1.481:1
: IV/V/VI : 1.166:1 / 0.916:1 / 0.815:1
: R/final drive : 3.250:1 / 4.529:1
;Performance:
:0- : 3.9 seconds
:0- : 4.0 seconds
:0- : 9.8 seconds
:Top speed : - electronically limited
:Power-to-weight ratio : per tonne
Exige GT3 of Angelo Lazaris (2008–2011)
The Angelo Lazaris is a version of Exige GT3 for the 2008 GT Championship, based on the European race car that competed in the FIA GT3 category. It featured the 1.8-litre engine based on the Exige S road car rated at at 7,000 rpm and at 6,000 rpm, increased frontal area to accommodate the wider track, revising the front radiator inlet and outlet areas, reducing the cross-sectional areas of both, extending the nose forward by approximately 3 cm (1 inch), bodywork extending 8 cm rearward, widening and losing almost 3 cm in height at the rear deck, body parts produced in lightweight ZPREG carbon fibre using an innovative mould-making process that features room temperature curing rather than an oven, elimination of roof scoop that fed cooling air to the engine's intercooler, change to a water-to-air intercooler.
The vehicle was unveiled in round three of the 2008 GT Championship.
Union Jack Lotus Exige S (2008)
The Union Jack is a version of Lotus Exige S with a flying British flag body, developed by Lotus Design.
The car was featured in Discovery Channel's How Do They Do It? series.
Exige Scura/Stealth (2009)
thumb|Lotus Exige Stealth at the [[Tokyo Motor Show#2009|Tokyo Motor Show 2009]]
The Stealth is a limited production run version of the Lotus Exige S with supercharged and intercooled Inline-4 engine from Exige Cup 260 rated at at 8,000 rpm and of torque at 6,000 rpm, matte black body colour, Phantom Black triple stripes that run the length of the car, carbon-fibre front splitter, oil cooler inlet vanes, side air scoops and rear spoiler, seats and centre console made from carbon fibre, anodised handbrake and gear knob in anthracite colour, carbon-fibre components in high-gloss clear lacquer finish, Lotus Launch Control, Lotus Traction Control, variable-slip traction control, Öhlins 2-way adjustable dampers, Eibach Springs with variable-height spring platforms, matt black lightweight forged wheels with Yokohama 048 LTS tyres, ride height adjustment to reduce the ride height from to , lightweight flywheel, sports-type clutch plate, heavy-duty clutch cover, C64 six-speed gearbox (with an aluminium casing) and Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit).
Orders for the 'Lotus Exige Scura' began from 21 October 2009 in Europe, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia and Malaysia. The vehicle was sold in Japan as 'Lotus Exige Stealth'.
The Exige Stealth was unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo International Motorshow.
Lotus Exige S RGB Special Edition (2010)
The RGB Special Edition is a version of the Lotus Exige S commemorating Roger Becker, the former Director of Vehicle Engineering for Lotus. It includes Toyota's supercharged 1.8 litre 2ZZ VVTL-i engine rated at , Lotus ultra lightweight forged alloy wheels, Performance pack, Sport pack, Touring pack, choice of four body colours (Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow & Carbon Grey), Roger Becker's signature on the rear of the car, a Roger Becker numbered plaque, monochrome Lotus badges, structural shear panel (which increases the lateral stiffness of the rear subframe by 30%) and air conditioning.
The vehicle went on sale in September 2010, and ended at the end of 2010 in Europe due to changes in legislation and the introduction of "Euro 5" Type Approval which does not apply to vehicles with 1.8-litre 2ZZ VVTL-i engines.
The RGB Special Edition was unveiled at the 2010 LA Auto Show.
Exige Matte Black Final Edition (2011)
The Final Edition is a limited version of the Lotus Exige for the North American market, commemorating the end of the Exige's production. It includes an engine rated at , matte black body colour, black Alcantara sport seats and a uniquely numbered plate for each car. Only 25 were made.
The Final Edition was unveiled at Pebble Beach Week 2011.
Production
Production of North American version of Exige ended in August 2011 after the expiration of "smart" airbags exemption, and due to Toyota stopping production of its 2ZZ-GE four-cylinder engine.
Exige S 260 Final Edition (2011)
thumb|Lotus Exige S 260 Final Edition #9 of 30 in Aspen White
To mark the end of an era of Lotus Exige production, Lotus created the Exige S 260 Final Edition, exclusively for North America. With power upgraded to 257 hp, and a high level of standard equipment, the Exige S 260 Final Edition was available in multiple colour choices from the full Lotus colour range. Only 30 examples of this Exige were built, all for the North American market.
Specifications
- Engine: 1.8 litre Toyota Supercharged 2ZZ-GE Inline-4 with VVTL-i
- Transmission: 6-speed Toyota C62 manual
- Power: at 8000 rpm
- Torque: at 6000 rpm
- Acceleration: 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.1 seconds
- Top speed:
- Weight:
- Full Lotus exterior colour range was available (standard & metallic paints at no extra cost, lifestyle & limited paints at an extra cost).
- Three-element rear wing, splitter, side scoops and roof scoop.
- Body coloured rear wing, splitter, side scoops and roof scoop.
- Double shear track control arm brace.
- Y type 5-spoke forged alloy wheels in black finish (6" Front, 7.5" Rear).
- Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
Upgrade options included
- Sport Pack: ProBax sport seats, Lotus Traction Control System (TCS), BS4 T45 steel roll-over hoop and struts and Adjustable front anti-roll bar.
- Touring Pack: padded leather door panels, perforated leather door inserts, leather trimmed centre console, black perforated leather handbrake-lever gaiter, black carpet mats with embroidered Exige logo, noise insulation material, iPod stereo connection and trinket tray divider and cup holder.
- Track Pack: Track suspension (Ohlins dampers and adjustable ride height)