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The Lotus Exige is a British two-door, two-seat sports car made by Lotus Cars since 2000. Originally a more-hardcore coupé version of the Lotus Elise roadster, since the Series 3 the Exige has been the larger-engined model of the family - using a V6 engine in place of the Elise's straight 4 with convertible versions of both available.

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 was built until 2001.

In 2004, the Series 2 Exige was introduced. It features a naturally aspirated 1.8 L 16-valve DOHC Toyota/Yamaha engine but also came with supercharged variant in some models, this would later carried on the Series 3 and replaced with V6 engine. At the Frankfurt 2011 Autoshow, the 2012 version of the Exige S was announced. The Exige has consistently been praised for it's handling.

Like from Lotus Elise Series 3 has a special edition (now badged as Exige Sport and Cup) most trim has a further weight shredding, retuned suspension, and better PWR (power-to-weight ratio). In 2021, Lotus revealed the Cup 430, Sport 390 and 420. These are the most powerful trim.

Exige ceased in production along the smaller Lotus Elise. Emira is a successor of Elise and Exige, production started in 2022.

Appearances[]

  • In Men and Motors, Richard Hammond compares the S1 Exige to the S2 Elise.
  • In Series 4, Episode 1, Jeremy tests the S2 Exige at the Top Gear Test Track, praising it's liveliness, handling, grip and excitement. He then proves the car can out manoeuvre an Apache Helicopter Gunship, until the Helicopter attacks from a distance. At the hands of The Stig, it sets an impressive time of 1:26.4.
  • In Clarkson: Hot Metal, Jeremy proves that with improved tires, a S2 Exige can outhandle an Elise.
  • In Series 8, Episode 3, Jeremy reviews the S2 Exige S at the Top Gear Test Track praising it's speed, liveliness, handling, grip and excitement while criticising it's build quality and lack of creature comforts. He then proves it to be siginificantly faster than the Stig driving a Ford Mustang. At the Hands of The Stig, the Exige ssets an impressive time of 1:25.1.
  • In Clarkson: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Jeremy proves that a S2 Exige S driven by the Stig, is quicker than Danny McIver in a Roush Mustang.
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