New Exige S Roadster - WOW! i.e. performance specs

[ESOG]

Had a look see at the Lotuscars.com website just now and was reading the news section when I came across the jolly good news of the introduction of the Exige S Roadster; an easy 3 step process to remove and replace the soft top. Same engine applies obviously as with its other Exige counterparts i.e. 3.5L Supercharged V6 putting out an impressive 350bhp and damn near 300lbs=ft of torque (295lbs-ft).

The reason for my post, other than to spread the good word of this new addition in the Lotus lineup is to also bring to attention a bit of performance figures that had my jaw dropping to the floor. As any Lotus follower can tell you, the performance figures for these ultra light weight cars aren't slow by any means but also not as quick as perhaps one who wants the bragging rights and have paid a premium to have obtain them might voice their concern/opinion. For a quick example, remember the 0-60 times of the Elise 1st generation and even the Elises of today .

Now I realize speed is not what Lotus cars strives to deliver upon in lieu of their profound commitment to their lineage/heritage/philosophy, etc.

Enter the Exige Roadster S, traditional 6 speed manual gearbox (paddle shifters to be made to order upon customers request), and performance figures to die for!

The Exige S Roadster at a glance: (copied/pasted straight from the news article off Lotus' official website, here:
Max Power 345 hp (350 PS) at 7000 rpm
Max Torque 295 lb ft (400 NM) at 4500 rpm
0 – 60 mph 3.8 seconds
0 – 100 km/h 4.0 seconds
Max Speed 145 mph (233 km/h)*
Weight 1166 kg = 2570.59 LBS! According to Google. I have to say I am stunned... That is quite a bit heavier than I imagined it would be. I dont know about the other Lotus models but FFS the Esprit S4 weighed in around 2,864 or so... close enough.

Take a look at that 0-60 coming in at 3.8!! and to 100 in 4 seconds! What does 100k/mh per hour come to in MPH? I want to drive this Exige SOO bad. I am glad they made the roadster version and built with proper good looks. IMO, despite the fact that I am a hardcore standard 6 speed traditionalist, for some reason the Exige roadster seems like the sort of car you would want paddle shifters with. Do notice however the absence of the rear spoiler as well as the front splitter. Now then, i'll take mine in super black please!

-ESOG-

Edited by ESOG on Monday 1st July 23:30

[bogie]

100KM/h is about 62mph, so its the same statistic just in metric

[Exige77]

There's a new Exige out ?

How did that happen.

Ex77

[Scuffers]

1166kgs really says it all....

[Captain Muppet]

Scuffers said:

1166kgs really says it all....

It doesn't say 0–60 mph 3.8 seconds.

Your glass is always half empty.

[Scuffers]

Captain Muppet said:

Scuffers said:

1166kgs really says it all....

It doesn't say 0–60 mph 3.8 seconds.

Your glass is always half empty.

No, not really....

Lotus are known for pushing the lightweight car, this is far from lightweight.

Going on 0-60 numbers, anybody would think they are TVR.

At 1166kgs they are into 4 seater steel bodied car weights.

[bogie]

an Exige S was quoted at 4.1 secs though...with a 1.8L engine ?

im sure no-one will be able to achieve the 3.8secs in the real world anyway

its a nice car for sure, but the performance figures are up there with 10 year old TVRs and Nobles...nothing really ground breaking...

[Captain Muppet]

Scuffers said:

Captain Muppet said:

Scuffers said:

1166kgs really says it all....

It doesn't say 0–60 mph 3.8 seconds.

Your glass is always half empty.

No, not really....

Lotus are known for pushing the lightweight car, this is far from lightweight.

Going on 0-60 numbers, anybody would think they are TVR.

At 1166kgs they are into 4 seater steel bodied car weights.

I suppose they could have made it lighter and slightly slower, but then it'd be the Elise SC.

[Hedgerley]

We had strong representation at last Sunday's Alford Speedfest at the Grampian Transport Museum. A couple of Esprits, (mine included - I did an hour of passenger rides round the track), Evora, 211, Elises and my friends Exige S in the pursuit event. He was up against a Ferrari 360 Stradale. Beat it by several car lengths over 5 (I think) laps. It seemed so effortless against the shouty Ferrari and sounded turbine smooth. A very impressive showing.

[hamzamian]

Scuffers said:

1166kgs really says it all....

Drive one.

It hardly feels heavier than the 1.8sc exige s and the extra weight comes across more like the car just feeling more planted.

As for not managing to achieve the stated performance times, I wouldn't be so sure. I wasn't timing 0 to 60 runs when I drove it (actually I drove thw coupe but the stats are the same or near enough) but it certainly feels right. It was appreciably quicker than my Z4MC and felt as quick as some of my superbikes when accelerating.

[RobM77]

bogie said:

an Exige S was quoted at 4.1 secs though...with a 1.8L engine ?

im sure no-one will be able to achieve the 3.8secs in the real world anyway

its a nice car for sure, but the performance figures are up there with 10 year old TVRs and Nobles...nothing really ground breaking...

Much of the 0-60 in the Exige though is traction due to the rear engined layout. I've driven the outgoing 4cyl model (standard S and an RGB) back to back with the new V6 and the V6 is noticeably quicker in a straight line if you ignore standing starts.

With regard to the Noble/TVR comparison I agree with you on that, but imho the Exige moves the game on considerably in terms of ride, handling and the whole driving experience.

[Scuffers]

hamzamian said:

Scuffers said:

1166kgs really says it all....

Drive one.

It hardly feels heavier than the 1.8sc exige s and the extra weight comes across more like the car just feeling more planted.

As for not managing to achieve the stated performance times, I wouldn't be so sure. I wasn't timing 0 to 60 runs when I drove it (actually I drove thw coupe but the stats are the same or near enough) but it certainly feels right. It was appreciably quicker than my Z4MC and felt as quick as some of my superbikes when accelerating.

I have thanks...

I think they make a very nice road car, the extra weight does help with ride comfort on typical roads, but to say you don't notice the extra weight would be lying.

I guess my point of ref is where the Elise started, at ~700Kg's, if you compare it to the last of the Exiges at 900+ kg's then I can kind of see where your coming from, but 350-400Kg's is a shed load of weight to add to a little car.

It's also not helped by having driven/raced a lot of cars in the 700-800Kg's bracket with a shed load more power than this new Exige, (as in 0-100Kmh times in way less than 3 sec's)

edit - EG. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qiv-txPxWSo

[hamzamian]

I take your point and yes I was comparing it to a 900kg exige and thinking of it as a road car. Taken as such though it makes a very compelling case for itself.

If You're comparing to lightweight track/ race cars such as the Atom I see your point but I'm not sure its supposed to compete with those?

[RobM77]

I'm not sure anyone's pretending that the Exige V6 is going to offer the same entertainment on track as a lighter and more focused car. As a road car with occasional track use though they're absolutely fantastic. I've driven lots of different cars on track and have concluded that for pure track use I love sub 600kg race cars the best (single seaters, Radicals etc); for a combination of track and road but biased towards track days then a Caterham or 2-Eleven is perfect, and for regular road use with the occasional track outing then an Exige or 911 GT3 is just perfect. Lifting any of those cars out of one category into the next and it feels like a fish out of water; there's a surprising difference between these sorts of cars in terms of pure driving pleasure. Currently though, for a car in my third category, the Exige S is the best I've driven - it's a stunning car.

[Scuffers]

not so much the Atom, but the Elise, as in it's ancestor.

[RobM77]

Scuffers said:

not so much the Atom, but the Elise, as in it's ancestor.

To be fair I'd still put the original Elise in my third category of 'a road car suiting occasional track use'. Something like a Caterham is a noticeable step on in agility and track enjoyment, and a single seater or Radical another step on again.

ETA: all in my own humble opinion of course! People race 2000kg cars after all, so it's all about personal preferences.

Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 2nd July 15:25

[bogie]

RobM77 said:

bogie said:

an Exige S was quoted at 4.1 secs though...with a 1.8L engine ?

im sure no-one will be able to achieve the 3.8secs in the real world anyway

its a nice car for sure, but the performance figures are up there with 10 year old TVRs and Nobles...nothing really ground breaking...

Much of the 0-60 in the Exige though is traction due to the rear engined layout. I've driven the outgoing 4cyl model (standard S and an RGB) back to back with the new V6 and the V6 is noticeably quicker in a straight line if you ignore standing starts.

With regard to the Noble/TVR comparison I agree with you on that, but imho the Exige moves the game on considerably in terms of ride, handling and the whole driving experience.

for sure the Exige will handle better than any TVR or Noble and be a very nice car all round, if a few years late

Its a car that finally puts the power into the Elise/Exige that the aftermarket have been doing for 10 years..but with 400-500Kg more weight to go along with it

Im not sure what niche market its aimed at anymore, its too heavy to go up against all the real trackday cars and not posh/practical enough to compete with the German sportscars

so I guess its another Elise derivative for the well off Lotus enthusiast

[Hedgerley]

Reviews are starting to appear -

http://cars.uk.msn.com/reviews/lotus-exige-s-roads...

Seems positive, not just about the car but Lotus' health in general.

Also in the next issue of EVO.

[chris7676]

Scuffers said:

not so much the Atom, but the Elise, as in it's ancestor.

Doesn't the chassis & drivetrain derive from the Evora S though?

Edited by chris7676 on Wednesday 3rd July 09:31

[Scuffers]

chris7676 said:

Scuffers said:

not so much the Atom, but the Elise, as in it's ancestor.

Doesn't the chassis & drivetrain derive from the Evora though?

chassis is Elise/exige, subframe is new, shares a passing resemblance to the Evora's one.