Lotus Exige
The hard-roof Elise that grew into a supercharged V6 weapon.
1 reviewer · 2 videos
Performance
5.0/5“This thing is brutally fast. It just goes up through the gears. Bang, bang, bang, bang. And the noise is just incredible.”
positive · Carfection · ▶ 2:17Handling
5.0/5“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 · ▶ 3:34Fun to drive
5.0/5“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 · ▶ 5:28Daily drivability
3.0/5“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 · ▶ 6:57The 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.