Guided Tour of the Lotus Exige

The Lotus Exige has been around since 1996, and it's basically the coupe version of the Lotus Elise, which debuted a year earlier. So what's to get excited about? Well, 8.6 pounds per horsepower, for starters. Fiberglass bodies and track-inspired engineering have inspired Lotus to aim for ever-lower specific power. With a body so light, and an engine packed behind the cockpit, the Exige has an unusual weight distribution of 38% front/62% rear, but a maximum downforce of 92 pounds at 100 mph. The four-cylinder engine returns a combined 27 mpg, too, making it one of the most fuel-efficient sports cars out there.

The aluminum, 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine tucked behind the seats delivers 240 hp these days and 170 lb-ft of torque -- plenty of power to get its 2000-pound body up to speed. (Horsepower and torque have been increased every few years since the car's launch over a decade ago.) The six-speed gearbox leads the car from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, and up to its top speed of 145 mph. Cooling air reaches the engine through the distinctive roof scoop -- one of the few ways to tell the Exige from its sister, the Elise, at a glance.

The Exige is as happy on the track as it is on the street -- if not maybe happier. A launch control features allows the driver to select the revs to use from a standing start. Once the limit is locked in, the car holds to it when the throttle is pressed and the clutch pedal is released at the green. There's a clutch damper to minimize damage, but Lotus notes that "continuous abusive standing start applications will destroy the drivetrain components." Duh. The traction control can be adjusted, too, in 30-plus increments, from 7% tire slip to off. Limited-slip differential is available as an $1800 option.

The interior of the Lotus Exige S comes in leather or microfiber, with lots of leather bits around the cockpit. There are two analog dials in the dash for speed and RPMs, with an LCD display to take care of the rest of the information, including scrolling vehicle system readouts. Opting for the upgraded sound system includes iPod integration, though the car alarm is standard. Make no mistake, though -- the Exige is a driver's car, with available roll bar and integrated harness mounts. A performance package adds horsepower and a bigger roof scoop to the race-ready package.

In 2010, Lotus improved its Exige Cup 240 car by reducing weight to 1962 pounds and increasing power to 288 hp (that's 260 PS outside the U.S.). The weight reduction comes from carbon fiber in the roof, seats, trunk, spoiler, and more. Alloy wheels further reduce the overall weight, and even the battery and flywheel are made of lighter materials. Some niceties, like the rearview mirror, carpets, and visors, were removed completely. This adds up to a specific power output of 7.6 pounds per horsepower -- 12% less than the Exige 240 in standard trim.

At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Lotus unveiled a special edition straight from the dark side: the Exige Scura (which means "dark" in Italian). It's finished in a matte-black paint with three high-gloss stripes and polished carbon-fiber bits, like the rear spoiler. Only 35 cars will be built, with track-ready touches like launch control, variable slip traction control, and the 288-hp Exige engine. The black theme carries through to the interior, with carbon fiber seats and console, and anthracite anodized e-brake and gear shift knob. MSRP is about $75,000 -- not that any of the Scuras will be sold in the States.