Insurance Group: 46
MPG: 28.0
CO2: 236
0-62 Mph: 4.0 secs
BHP: 345 BHP
Range: 246 miles
PROS: The Exiges, like all Lotuses, is an absolute hoot to drive, with excellent performance and sublime handling.
CONS: It's cramped and uncomfortable -- this is not a car you want to be covering long distances in. On top of this, it's also quite expensive.
The Exige's 3.5-litre V6 engine delivers 345 bhp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which is a significant amount of power in a car which weighs just under 1.2-tonnes. This makes the Exige lively... very lively.
The handling is superb. The turn-in is crisp and direct and the Exige corners without a hint of understeer. You can have serious fun in this car.
If you're looking for a comfortable car, however, look elsewhere. The Exige is noisy, cramped and very uncomortable. However, if you're worried about comfort, why are you even considering an Exige?
The Exige is a fantastic looking car -- you're guaranteed to get some appreciative nods from petrol-heads if you're seen behind the wheel of one.
Inside, the interior is attractive but basic; however, you do get more kit than you did in Lotuses of old. Electric windows, a CD player, MP3 connectivity and alloy wheels all come as standard. Everything else is either an optional extra or unavailable altogether.
Driver and passenger airbags are all fitted as standard features and the car even comes with its own fitted alarm and immobiliser to protect it from theft. Unfortunately the car does lack front side airbags and there is no option to have them added – something which could be considered a disadvantage.
Lotus is not exactly famed for its reliability record, however, the Exige does come with a 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty as standard.
It's best not to ask about practicality -- the boot offers just 98-litres of space and just getting into an Exige can be a struggle. You knew this already though.
Priced at £50,850, the Exige is an expensive car, especially considering that the far less impressive but undeniably similar Elise starts from under £30,000.
The official combined mpg figure for the Exige is 28mpg; however, if you drive hard and fast, this figur will fall well down into the teens. CO2 emissions of 236g/km also mean that the Exige falls under one of the highest tax bands: L.
And on top of this, you'd need to consider buying a second car too, as the Exige is not going to work as a daily driver unless you're seriously committed.
"Simplify and add lightness." This was Lotus founder Colin Chapman's maxim and it's still working well for the company today. The Exige is one of the best handling cars on the road today and, if yo...
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