Lotus Exige S2
The hard-roof Elise that grew into a supercharged V6 weapon.
13 reviewers · 18 videos
Reviewers strongly agree on its handling and fun to drive, but split on performance and value.
across 13 reviewers
"it's a supercharged 1.8 liter inline four... it makes 218 horsepower... the only word for it is just intoxicating"
ShootingCars · ▶ 0:18"it just doesn't have enough to compete with the other two."
Car and Driver · ▶ 3:40"they're holding their money really really well"
JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 7:10"It costs £33,000, which is quite a lot."
Slyxx86 · ▶ 4:24Performance
4.5/513 of 13 reviewerssplit“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“1.8 liter supercharged engine... 240 horses 4.7 seconds 0 to 100.”
positive · dsf.my · ▶ 3:20“it just doesn't have enough to compete with the other two.”
critical · Car and Driver · ▶ 3:40Handling
5.0/513 of 13 reviewersstrong consensus“handling to beat any car you bring forward to be. I will outhandle it.”
positive · dsf.my · ▶ 2:56“steering is wonderful yes such a light car you really feel it”
positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 3:54“the lotus's big strength is the feedback this car tells you exactly what's going on.”
positive · Car and Driver · ▶ 2:33Fun to drive
5.0/513 of 13 reviewersstrong consensus“This is a real sports car. This is truly a sports car for drivers, for enthusiasts.”
positive · dsf.my · ▶ 6:12“I could drive just this all day and be very very happy”
positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 8:03“You really do get a sense from this car that there is no waste at all, that it is basically a roadgoing go-kart.”
positive · Slyxx86 · ▶ 0:39Daily drivability
2.0/513 of 13 reviewersstrong consensus“Getting in and out can be a little bit of a pain. Why? Because of the white silia and my age and my aching back and my not so good knees.”
critical · dsf.my · ▶ 1:35“the supercharged engine that's right behind the seats is awfully Buzzy and inside this thing it is a noise chamber.”
critical · Car and Driver · ▶ 3:29“it is a very cozy place here me and Colin side by side are bumping elbows every time I shift”
critical · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 0:40Value
4.0/512 of 13 reviewerssplit“they're holding their money really really well”
positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 7:10“It costs £33,000, which is quite a lot.”
critical · Slyxx86 · ▶ 4:24“for the amount of performance you get in this car cars two and three and four times its price point”
positive · TheTopher · ▶ 28:47The 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
No primary articles scraped yet for this nameplate. Check back as the pipeline crawls more publications.
- 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.