A small lightweight sportscar weighing just 935 kg (2057 lbs), powered by a 162.5 kW (218 hp, 221 PS) high revving supercharged engine, giving a zero to 100 km/h time of just 4.3 seconds (0 - 60 mph in 4.1 seconds). It comes straight off the production line and isn't an "aftermarket special".
Is this the quickest ever real-world production car?
It is certainly the quickest Lotus production car - so far!
The Lotus Exige S is the latest addition to the Exige range and is a real sportscar that redefines the term "Extreme Performance". With 90.5 kW / litre (121.4 hp / litre, 123 PS / litre), it is one of most powerful production cars in the world for its engine size but most importantly it has full type approval for all the markets in which it will be sold. The Lotus Exige S is not a limited edition, nor is it an aftermarket special - it is manufactured from start to finish in the world leading and award winning Lotus Manufacturing facility at Hethel,
Because the basic car is so immensely strong but lightweight (935 kg, 2057 lbs), giving a power to weight ratio of 173.8 kW/tonne (233.2 hp/tonne, 236.4 PS/tonne), performance is phenomenal, with 100 km/h being reached from a standing start in 4.3 seconds (0 - 60 mph in 4.1 seconds) and 160 km/h (100 mph) being reached in 9.98 seconds (estimate) before topping out at 238 km/h (148 mph). Inspite of this phenomenal performance the fuel economy is impressive with an official combined figure of 9.1 litres / 100 km (31.0 mpg) - extra urban is an impressive 7.2 litres / 100 km (39.2 mpg).
Lotus believes that there is no car on sale anywhere in the world that has such good performance combined with such good fuel economy! Not that many customers will be buying this car principally for its fuel economy!!
Being a Lotus, straight-line performance is not the most important factor, but every day driving on normal roads, or around a circuit is. There are very few cars on sale today that can match the speed, agility and safety of the Exige S in both day to day and track or circuit driving.
However the Exige S is not just a track day warrior. It is a sportscar that would be at home on the back roads, freeways and autobahns, as well as on city streets. With an extremely "torquey" engine and the classic Lotus suspension set-up of soft compliant springs and firm controllable dampers, the driving experience is an uncanny combination of telepathic-like handling with a taught and comfortable ride. There is really no car that handles quite like a Lotus.
Clive Dopson, Managing Director of Lotus Cars says, "The Exige S represents the ultimate "extreme" production Lotus, with performance that trumps other supercars costing twice or even three times as much. That it does so with the fuel economy of a family hatchback, stands as a testament to the Lotus concept of performance through light weight. Its an unbeatable package and an unbeatable drive."
Prices (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price):
Mainland
Japan: JYP 6,909,000 including tax
Market Availability
Mainland EU: April / May 2006
| LOTUS EXIGE S SPECIFICATIONS | |
| ENGINE | |
| Type | Mid-mounted, transverse, 1796 cm3, 2ZZ-GE 4 cylinders in line engine |
| Max Power | 162.5 kW (218 hp, 221 PS) @ 7800 rpm |
| Max Torque | 215 Nm (158.6 lb ft, 22 kgf m) @ 5500 rpm |
| Power to weight ratio | 173.8kW/t ( 233.2hp/t, 236.4PS/t ) |
| Specific power output | 90.5 kW/litre (121.4 hp/litre, 123 PS/_) |
Performance Figures
| PERFORMANCE | |
| 0-60 mile/h | 4.1 sec |
| 0-100 mile/h | 9.98 sec |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.3 sec |
| 0-160 km/h | 9.98 sec |
| Maximum speed | 148 mph 238 km/h |
| Fuel consumption - urban | 12.3 litre/100 km ( 22.9 mpg ( |
| Fuel consumption - extraurban | 7.2 litre/100 km ( 39.2 mpg ( |
| Fuel consumption - combined | 9.1 litre/100 km ( 31.0 mpg ( |
| C02 emissions | 216 g/km |
| DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS | |
| Wheelbase | 2300 mm |
| Overall length | 3797 mm |
| Overall width (without mirrors) | 1727 mm |
| Overall height | 1163 mm |
| Weight | 935 / 949 kg |
| Weight distribution | 38% Front - 62% Rear |
| Fuel tank capacity | 43.5 litre ( 9.6 gal ( |
| Luggage capacity | 112 litre - 50 kg |
