2008 Lotus Exige S Review
September 1, 2008 by Anthony Crawford
2008 Lotus Exige S Review
“Bell & Ross make precision watches for professionals operating in extreme conditions. Similarly, the Lotus Exige S Performance Pack, is a precision instrument capable of extreme speeds across any paved terrain”
Model tested: 2008 Lotus Exige S Performance Pack – $125,990 (RRP)
Options:
- Touring Pack: $8000
- Sport Pack: $6000
Note: 2008 Exige S with no Upgrade Option Packs: $114,990
Supercar looks, Supercar performance and Japanese reliability for a bargain price
The Upgrade Option Packs are still too expensive. The standard Exige S at $114,990 is the better buy
CarAdvice Rating: 
- words & photography. Anthony Crawford
If you’re punting along in your Euro-express and suddenly notice an Exige S in the rear vision (and I guarantee you will recognise this car) best you move across a lane.
But when you hit anything that remotely resembles a bend in the road, you should pull over and let the Lotus do its thing. Whatever you do, don’t under any circumstances, try and go with it. You’ll lose or worse still, come a cropper.
If you stand back and fully appreciate what Lotus have achieved with the Exige S, you’ll be hard pressed finding any fault. This is truly, the performance ‘bang for buck’ king.
Even in standard guise, this is a seriously rapid car. By standard guise, I mean the 1.8-litre, supercharged, Toyota engine, putting out an unremarkable 163kW of power and 215Nm of torque.
Doesn’t sound like that much, I can hear you all muttering. Wrong! Power, and power alone, is not what Lotus is about. Power-to-weight, is infinitely more important and Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, wrote the book on that.
Although heavier than the Elise at 935 kg, the Exige S can shred the 0-100 km/h dash, in 4.3 seconds. Just for the record, the power-to-weight ratio, is an astonishing 174kW per tonne.
But this isn’t the standard Exige S we have parked in the CarAdvice garage, no sir, this version is from the dark side. Something even more sinister. Say hello to the Exige S Performance Pack.
I’d rather Lotus called it by its proper name, the “Exige S Sport 240, the badge applied to the limited edition cars, which Lotus Australia previously prepared.
I’m not sure the Exige S needed to be any quicker, but I for one, am not complaining.
Very impressive car
I’m still amazed it can use a claimed 9.1L when it only weighs 935kg, yet a 1600kg Aurion with even more power, will only use a claimed 9.9L.
Tom, it is seriously impressive. Redline is 8000rpm so you will go through some fuel when you’re on the right pedal. Not sure you would ever see 9.1L/100km in an Aurion, at least in the real world.
That would be my next mid-life crisis affordable car =)
Cracker Barrel ponders as to how much he can get for his liver :)
Awesome sports car. Lightweight and razor sharp. Just wish they would do something about those horrid dials. They just don’t sit well with the rest of the interiors theme of Spartan racer.
Can you take the lid off or am I just seeing the rear boot lines?
yes, but does it come in any other colours!?!?
Seriously! That lime-green just kills it. Amazing piece of engineering. Thank goodness dreaming is free.
There is a heap of colours available for the Exige S.
British Racing Green
Ardent Red
Canyon Red
Solar Yellow
Arctic Silver
Storm Titanium
Starlight Black
Persian Blue
Liquid Blue
Chrome Orange
Aspen White
Graphite Grey
Phantom Black
Laser Blue
Prism Green
Candy Red
Moonstone Silver
Ice White
Burnt Orange
9,1L is achievable easy in an Aurion. Given the performance of this car the fuel consumption is incredibly light. Can any faster car use less fuel?
Just looked closer at the review. OMG 125k plus on roads (another 10k) for a fibreglass Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious! You have to be kidding.
Thats porsche money for god’s sake.
(dons flame proof pants)
DanMan, I agree with you on the fuel econ question but not with your appraisal of the Aurion. If you drive an Aurion with a sports mindset – you will use a lot more than 9.1L/100km. I guarantee it.
A Porsche Carrera S would not have a hope in hell of keeping up with the Lotus Exige S PP on a tight twisty section. Not sure about the Cayman S, as we have not road tested it.
At $114,000 for the Exige S capable of 0-100km/h in 4.3 secs and all the other benefits – I can’t see a problem or a competitor.
AC,
The zr6 I had for two weeks was soundly thrashed from Aspley in Brisbane to the sunshine coast daily and returned a combined figure of 10.2 Litres per hundred. Not bad.
The Carrera s Has actual metal in its consrtuction and 4 seats. Build quality some of the best in the world.
This is new or demo boxster money. just sayin..
each to their own i say, i drove a cayman S recently, was astounded that it’s more comfortable than my Golf GTI and it drove like a go kart around corners. Can only imagine how good the Exige S would be…
Danman- the Aurion is amoung my most preferred everyday haulers and the Sportivo sx6 will defantly (not questions asked) be my next car but i cannot see how a seriuosly thrashed unit would only return 10.2 ltrs
I have querried (spelling) several Aurion owners about highway and general fuel consumption and all of them have been happy but consumption on any car goes out the window when thrashed.
Anthony – with regards to the Toyota engine used in the Lotus … is it supercharged / enhanced by Toyota and then supplied to Lotus or does Lotus recieve a bare-bones package and so the mods themselves !!
The long (45klm) cruise on the Bruce highway at 110 (no faster, honestly, Lol) really helps. That six speed box is sweet.
The drivetrain package in the Aurion is sweet but so is the one in the FG Falcon. Both of them are far more refined and usable (power)then the alloytech in the Commodore. Haven’t driven a new Accord yet so not able to comment but i image it will be very good.
Accord is also supposed to have a very good engine/driveline. I was surprised it was so average on fuel consumption though with the cylinder shutdown.
Sounds like the S/C Toyota engine is a very good match with the Lotus’ chassis/mass.
Like most people, out of my price range :-(
DanMan, Tesla roadster would use less fuel and is probably quicker.
The tesla would use NO fuel as i understand. Good point Mitch. They will never be sold here, but. Or actually sold at all. (unless you live in hollywood).
Speaking of which, what is the range on the Exige? about 200 klms? 300? That makes it pretty slow average time per trip if you always have to stop to fill up. just saying.
My understanding is that the compete engine is supplied to Lotus as is and they do the engine mapping! Hence, the obvious reliability
At the end of the day guys, you buy a Lotus Exige S PP as a track car if you have a few bucks. If you are on struggle street like me, you scrap up enough and have a blast with an Elise S for $69K.
Exige has 44L fuel tank danman I think, which is good for at least 500kms I’d say.
This is an awesome car, but I’ve never been a fan of the front end styling, those spider eye lights are weird!!!
How did an Exige article end up with people comparing an Aurion….?
The Exige has two competitors that spring to my mind. The Elfin Streamliner and the Caterham 7.
How ’bout a comparo of the three?
Can you get the Ariel atom in Australia? Sure it might not have a roof, but I reckon that would run rings around the Exige for similar money. But I guess the point of the Exige is that its not a trackday car, but a normal car (sort of) that can go like one.
I remember Clarkson comparing this on top gear (against an apache gunship!)and he said the range was 200 miles..
Good call on the atom. they do sell in Australia. (one on Carsales anyway) and THAT would be at least unique and honest with itself.
Dont get me wrong, the EXIGE ticks every box for me but the money, sweet jesus, the MONEY.
Aurion? something about fuel economy. My bad…
It is a Lotus engineered supercharger added to the Toyota motor.
As an alternative you could get a KTM x-bow.
I was looking in the window of the Lotus showroom in London and was actually pleasantly surprised by the price of the whole range. Then I checked the prices on the Lotus Australia website and the differnce is massive! The exchange rate would have to shift an awful lot for this to add up……has anyone noticed this with other manufacturers, just curious.
They are everything and more, every time I drive mine I pushit on to the Hot end of the revs and listen to my Larini system & Hurricane Intake scream like a cornered possum… ” Oh What A Feelin TOYOTA…”
Why on earth people compare this car with an aurion…..unless an aurion can compete in a track ( or on anywhere else)with this car dun bother mentioning it. The category is different. Aurion….