Karl on Cars - 2007 Lotus Exige S -- Makes other Exotics seem Normal

2007 Lotus Exige S -- Makes other Exotics seem Normal

It takes a special kind of car to make my Ford GT feel pedestrian, and the Lotus Exige S is just such a car. For all those track-day fanatics who find the standard Exige too watered down, with its paltry 11-to-1 power-to-weight ratio, the new-for-2007 car offers 30 more horsepower via a supercharger (for a total of 220 hp), giving the Exige S a 9.5-to-1 ratio. Lotus claims a 4.1-second zero-to-60 time, and my internal accelerometer would agree.

But you have to be a dedicated sports car freak to put up with this car's entry/exit process and rear visibiliy (both of which make my GT seem like a Camry in terms of practicality). Possibly the best part of driving the car was the reaction from the security gaurds when driving into Sony Picture Studios for the Cadillac Platinum Series event (see yesterday's post). "Oh, you don't want to park that in the visitor spaces. Just turn into this parking structure right here, take a left and use one of the empty SAG spots." Probably the closest I'll ever get to star status, but proof that, in L.A., what you drive really does matter.

Posted by Karl Nov 30, 2006 11:57 am

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Categories: Lotus | Driving

Comments

hondacura4 - Nov 30, 2006 5:14 pm (#1 Total: 3)

There is a guy who lives about 2 blocks from me with a Lotus Elise (dark green) and Id kill him to take just one drive.I know my 2002 S2000 is telepathic but I bet this thing is extreme!

kurtamaxxxguy - Dec 1, 2006 5:39 pm (#2 Total: 3)

portland or

Yes this is a fine track and drivers car indeed.

But....these cars can't possibly perform their best anywhere else but on a race track. Where are the tracks? What races can Edumunds readers participate in? Where are the social events for these?

Edmunds really needs a formal racing blog. Badly. Desperately. A place for these cars to live and breath within (the specs, the history, the designers bios, etc.), for professionals (including editors that race) to discuss their experiences. That includes announcements of major racing events, especially those that Edmunds readers can participate in (Bracket racing, Precision laps, etc.).

alltorque - Jun 18, 2007 7:37 am (#3 Total: 3)

A couple of years ago I was given the opportunity of being driven around 5 laps of a UK race circuit in the "old" Exige, piloted by an old race car driver. Unbelievable. Lap 2 saw us going round a Testarossa, on the outside, around a fairly tight 180degree bend - and the driver was just chatting away like on a Sunday drive. When I asked how much of the car's potential he was using he said, "About 75% as we have to keep it safe with passengers on board". Heaven only knows what the other 25% feels like. One thing he did say was that the gap from about 95% and 100% is a very fine line and at 100.1% the car seems to throw a switch, loses everything and just heads off into the fields like a very fast tractor, at which point even the best driver's become mere passengers. I'm glad I had that opportunity but couldn't live with one as a daily driver - I'd have to have my spine surgically altered to get in and out, or have detachable legs. Great car for track use, though.

If you want to see something road-legal and completely mental, go here. No problems getting in or out.

www.arielmotor.co.uk/