Test Drive – Lotus Exige S240
By Joey Leh, Photography by the author
If there were ever a single auto manufacturer that perfectly summed up the performance tuning mentality, it would be Lotus. Many of the aspects that Lotus considers crucial design points are modifications that we are constantly reaching for. Dumping interior trim and air conditioning systems for weight, swapping in a different steering rack for quicker response or searching for just a little bit more power – these are just some of the elements of Lotus.
Living with a car for a few days speaks volumes about the character of a machine. I wanted to experience the Exige’s behavior, design, reliability and quirks. No matter how well designed, every car has quirks, our project car fleet included. Plus, getting a good grasp on the capabilities of the Exige S 240 would give me a crystal ball glimpse into the inner workings of its design, and allow us to use it as a benchmark for future projects.
Following a few short arrangements with Lotus USA for a one-week loan, I was soon surprised to see a flatbed tow truck arrive at our office with a silver Exige S 240 on its back. Normally, press fleet cars that are loaned to us for testing are driven to our office for drop-off, or are picked up by us.
It was readily apparent that Lotus was a different kind of car company. The Exige even showed up wearing precision cut Starshield paint protection film. All the better considering the light-changing Moonstone Silver paint was a sizeable $5,100 option.
With the car now safely in my hands, I took a moment to inspect the Exige in the parking lot. First off, the car just looks downright great. The sculpted body shell screams “I’m not an econobox” while the ride height, ducting and rear wing balance performance and aesthetics. I feel a little ashamed to admit it, but it’s kinda cool to ride around in a car like this and have bystanders assume that you’re the Sultan of Brunei.
The spaceship body is so far removed from a “normal” car shape, most every one will assume that you’re driving a supercar and are some variant of rap music producer trying out for MTV Cribs. If only they knew. Nothing wrong with a Lotus Exige S 240 borrowed on a McDonalds lifestyle, right?
Mere minutes after the Exige is dropped-off, soon begins what I refer to as “The Lotus Syndrome”, or LTS. It’s a bizarre rash of human mental instability which makes overweight grown men have to get in and out of a car two sizes too small for them, makes people stare uncontrollably and, when questioned about his particular fascination with this brand’s notoriety, causes my roommate to devolve into a vocabulary consisting only of, “dude, it’s a Lotus”. It’s a scene that will repeat itself too many times over the course of the week.
Slipping into the Exige S 240 for the first time is a unique experience. It’s the first time that I’ve got into a factory car that is so focused and compromised, it’s almost like I modified it myself. There is little in the way of interior (just lots of bare aluminum), the monstrous and structural side beams make entering the car a contortionist act and the rearview mirror is useless, constantly filled with a full view of the intercooler. Cool.
The Exige S 240 is currently Lotus’ most powerful and quickest street-legal production car. It uses an intercooled Roots-type supercharger system to push 240bhp (thus the name) out of the Celica-derived and Lotus-tuned 2ZZ-GE engine. The Exige S 240 is fast, Lotus reads 0-60mph in 4.0 seconds, but it’s not quite what I would consider a tire-shredder.
Don’t get me wrong, the Exige S 240 can dispose of quite possibly every single car that I’m likely to come across on the highway, but it’s no drag car. There are plenty of big turbo Supras and STIs that can blow this car out of the water, but the Exige S 240 is built to go fast around turns. And the more turns and the more technical they are, the better the car will shine. Still, that intoxicating whine from the supercharger has me thinking Roots-type blower for my next project. Drop a few gears and it’s just a blast of whree, whree, whree filling my ears. Great stuff.
I hate to bring up an overused cliché, but driving the Exige is about as close to driving a go-kart as you can get with a production car. The seating position is low and thinly cushioned, the steering is quick and responsive (it’ll drive into the next lane if you’re not paying attention and your hands drift – don’t ask me how I know), there is a good amount of kickback through the wheel over rough surfaces and the weight transfers during hard driving in a similar manner.
Also, just like a kart, if you’re the wrong size for the car, you’ll have trouble getting into it, you’ll smash your knees against the steering wheel and your sides will hurt if you can’t fit into the seat correctly.
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