GTP Cool Wall: 2012+ Lotus Exige S (Series 3)

[Jahgee]

2012+ Lotus Exige S (Series 3) nominated by @GranTurismo916

Body Style: 2 Door Coupe
Engines: 3.5L Supercharged H6
Transmission: 5 Speed Manual
Drivetrain: Mid Engine, Rear Wheel Drive
Power Output: 345 HP

 

[Bopop4]

I was going to ask why someone put an Evora front end on an Exige, then saw the series number...

Might as well be an Evora though, enlarged body and a V6 isn't what the Exige is about.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

This was the first car I listed in my 10-car dream garage, which says something. Yeah, it's heavier than the original Elises/Exiges, but that buzz-box Celica engine couldn't have much more done to it, and a longer wheelbase is hardly a bad thing for this car's stance. Besides, 1100kg is hardly a fatty, considering that power output.

Lotus isn't that well known to the average person, and this is eye-catching enough - especially in that green used for PR shots - to get favourable notice. Just don't let people catch you getting in or out; it's about as dignified as a walrus rock climbing.

Still, can't give it more than a Cool.

(Also, the engine's a V6, not an H6).

 

[Cano]

Man that thing is ugly. Specially compared to the previous generation. It's still a cool car, but eew.

 

[SomePlayaDude]

The only Lotus that Subs for me is the Insane GT1 or the original Esprit Turbo.

 

[Xilor]

I really love Lotuses, however this one isn't much of a looker; and you'd really have to be a hardcore petrolhead to put in the effort to obtain one, at least here in North America. I'm afraid that makes it Uncool.

 

[Stotty]

Apparently a great car. But you would look a bit of a knob driving one on the road.

And the S1 Exige >>> all the subsequent versions.

Low cool.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Cool because Lotus. But it's a low cool.

 

[Famine]

Apparently a great car. But you would look a bit of a knob driving one on the road.

You wait until you try to get in or out of one. There's no way to look graceful while doing that.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Apparently a great car. But you would look a bit of a knob driving one on the road.

And the S1 Exige >>> all the subsequent versions.

Low cool.

Pretty much this.

 

[JAHHAJ]

Great car to drive, don't care too much about what other people think of me, solid cool.

 

[cbarbosa]

Cool car.

 

[AlvaroF]

As much I love Lotus, it's a foucused track-day monster and those are uncool. Also modern Lotus lost a lot of their magic, I mean, they still have it but it's drifting away.

 

[AudiMan2011]

Sticking a V6 in a car that's supposed to be all about lightness and simplicity made it a shadow of it's former self. It's just not as cool as it used to be.

Uncool.

 

[niky]

You wait until you try to get in or out of one. There's no way to look graceful while doing that.

Which, thankfully, is why Paris Hilton doesn't have one.

-

Ekes out a low cool, but not much else. Not surprised at how unanimous that consensus is.

 

[Stotty]

You wait until you try to get in or out of one. There's no way to look graceful while doing that.

I can only imagine... my 996 is hard enough to get out

 

[Roger the Horse]

I have no clue what to vote this car. There are some very cool things about it, but also some very uncool things...

I think I'll abstain from voting on this one.

 

[JMoney]

Supercharged

Cool. But not quite Sub-Zero because of the styling that makes it look faster than it really is.

 

[Adamgp]

Track day special that can't be driven to the track. (Not street legal in the U.S. apparently)

Seriously Uncool.

 

[Roger the Horse]

Then move to a better country.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Track day special that can't be driven to the track. (Not street legal in the U.S. apparently)

Really? I'd like a source for that. I can understand the insane 2-Eleven not being street legal, but the Exige doesn't make sense, since its just an Elise with some extra go-fast bits on it.

 

[Adamgp]

Then move to a better country.

Why? Wouldn't buy one anyway.

Really? I'd like a source for that. I can understand the insane 2-Eleven not being street legal, but the Exige doesn't make sense, since its just an Elise with some extra go-fast bits on it.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/2012-lotus-exige-headed-to-u-s-as-track-only-car/

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1070370_2012-lotus-exige-s-to-arrive-in-u-s-as-track-only-model

http://www.gizmag.com/2012-lotus-exige-s/20816/

Has to do with airbags. Older Exiges were legal but there was some sort of smart airbag exemption that expired.

 

[Ingram]

the styling that makes it look faster than it really is.

It does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and tops out at 170mph, how much faster do you think it looks?

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Has to do with airbags. Older Exiges were legal but there was some sort of smart airbag exemption that expired.

Well that sucks then.

That said, I think its a bit unjustified to give it an SU just because of a policy one country holds down on it. That's a bit like saying Skylines are uncool because they all get crushed the minute they land in the docks. Don't get me wrong, i get your viewpoint for sure, but it would've been a bit better to contextualise it outside of the law (if that makes sense).

 

[Adamgp]

Well that sucks then.

That said, I think its a bit unjustified to give it an SU just because of a policy one country holds down on it. That's a bit like saying Skylines are uncool because they all get crushed the minute they land in the docks. Don't get me wrong, i get your viewpoint for sure, but it would've been a bit better to contextualise it outside of the law (if that makes sense).

I'm not a fan of road cars that try to be track cars anyway, regardless if it is street legal or not.

I do get your point though.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Fair enough, can't argue with that. 👍

 

[MoLiEG]

I'll give it a meh.

 

[GranTurismo916]

Wow, I'm kind of surprised here. I thought everyone would be like "knob's car, S-U."

 

[JMoney]

It does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and tops out at 170mph, how much faster do you think it looks?

The Lamborghini Huracan and the Ferrari 458 are styled more conservatively. The Lotus looks like a Saleen S5S that has been squished. I think it's hideous; there is no refinement to the design. But the supercharger makes it cool. I wish Porsche would do the same thing to one of their flat-sixes.

 

[TheCracker]

I'm not a fan of road cars that try to be track cars anyway, regardless if it is street legal or not.

It's a road car trying to be a road car, that just happens to work well on a track. Lotus do several other harder-core cars based on the same architecture that are designed to be road legal track cars. This isn't one of them.