Lotus Exige
The hard-roof Elise that grew into a supercharged V6 weapon.
5 reviewers · 8 videos
Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and handling.
across 5 reviewers
Performance
4.5/55 of 5 reviewersstrong consensus“it's a supercharged 1.8 liter inline four... it makes 218 horsepower... the only word for it is just intoxicating”
positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 0:18“Wow it screams once it gets past six it just comes alive”
positive · TheTopher · ▶ 8:55“this does not feel slower at all”
positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 5:10Handling
5.0/55 of 5 reviewersstrong consensus“steering is wonderful yes such a light car you really feel it”
positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 3:54“the driving field the raw inputs they're just quite frankly isn't anything like it”
positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 5:23“great steering feel”
positive · TheTopher · ▶ 10:33Fun to drive
5.0/55 of 5 reviewersstrong consensus“I could drive just this all day and be very very happy”
positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 8:03“what a car man it's so absolutely visceral”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 7:23“I haven't enjoyed a vehicle this much in quite some time and I don't quite know how other vehicles will measure up after this because dog gone is this fun”
positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 15:36Daily drivability
2.0/55 of 5 reviewersconsensus“it is a very cozy place here me and Colin side by side are bumping elbows every time I shift”
critical · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 0:40“driving this car is very intimidating because getting into it is very scary and hard to do”
critical · ShootingCars · ▶ 4:07“it's the most compromised car as well the loudest inside by far”
critical · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 21:56Value
4.5/54 of 5 reviewersstrong consensus“they're holding their money really really well”
positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 7:10“for the amount of performance you get in this car cars two and three and four times its price point”
positive · TheTopher · ▶ 28:47“if you want that kind of mid-engine go-kart feel the elas and exe is where it's at”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 9:36The Toyota era. The S2 Exige dropped the fragile Rover K for Toyota's 2ZZ-GE and the C64 six-speed, first naturally aspirated (~190 hp) and then, in the Exige S, Eaton-supercharged toward 220–260 hp depending on year and trim. The formula clicks here: a stiff bonded-aluminium coupe, real downforce, sub-tonne-ish mass, and an engine that finally takes the abuse. The ladder runs Exige S → S 240 → S 260 and the track-built Cup cars, plus a rare Exige S Roadster. Watch items are heat — supercharged cars work the cooling system hard — and the 2ZZ's rocker arms. Where it places: the Exige that made the name, and the sweet spot for buyers who want the hardcore coupe without S3 V6 money.
Hear it in the reviewer’s words
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- Exige SEaton-supercharged 2ZZ-GE
- S 240 / S 260escalating power and aero
- Cup / Cup 260track-spec
- Exige S Roadsteropen-top variant
Supercharged S2 Exiges run hot — oil temperature and cooling upgrades are common talking points. The 2ZZ's VVTL-i lift gives the car its top-end character but shares the rocker-arm wear failure mode to inspect.