COTW: 2007 Lotus Exige
Weight: 2077 lbs
Length: 149.5 in
Width: 68 in
Height: 45.6 in
Horsepower: 220 hp @ 8000 RPM
Torque: 165 lb-ft @ 5500 RPM
0-60 MPH: 5.0 sec (2006 with 190 hp)
Skid Pad: 0.97 g
Is there any reason NOT to love this car? It’s got performance that dips into Ariel Atom territory (at several thousand more dollars sadly) but all weather comfort (if you can call it comfortable).
Lotus has been making beautiful performance machines for years. The Esprit has always been a favorite of mine. But the first time I saw the I saw the Elise I was absolutely floored. It had the looks and the performance to back it up. Originally powered by a simple British 4 cylinder it progressed to a very technically advanced Toyota 4 cylinder powerplant for the US.
Although I’ve never driven one I’ve heard about it’s unreal track abilities…few “street†cars out there can touch it (especially at the price). But there is a drawback…it’s (supposedly) a very rough ride, not very comfortable and a total pain in the ass to get in and out of.
Screw all that! I challenge you to find a better weekend fun track car that could still carry the groceries home…well…as long as you don’t have a passenger.
Last weekend I was in upstate New York coming back from a wedding when in the other direction came at least 10 Lamborghini’s (perhaps as many as 15), one Ferrari, i think a porsche or two and one of these Beauties featured here in the flesh. It was a jaw dropping minute or two watching them all wizz by. anyone want to give me a rough estimate of the dollar value on that 3/4 mile of pavement?
July 29th, 2007 at 3:21 pm-Matt G