CS vs Lotus exige S

Ever seen that video of the Elise hanging with the F40 in the turns of a racetrack but being demolished on the straights? I believe that was of an old school elise, and the new ones are considerably faster with the option of being supercharged as well. Sorry, I don't own one and have never driven one, but I know that it can be a pretty potent little car.

 

He was keeping up but he was driving like a complete d**K for track day.

 

Hi...

 

Elise races F40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjzuWxeQlRQ

 

Elise races Veyron

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tze6Ir2jNY

 

Big different... the price is like 5 times. Let's just say for the Lotus Exige's price range, nothing comes close. Twice its price.. good comparision. 5 times its price.... no comparision.

here's the limited edition with supercharge. we had a sprint together.

http://www.xok.com/sundaymorningdrive/displayimage.php?album=60&pos=0

http://www.xok.com/sundaymorningdrive/displayimage.php?album=60&pos=27

http://www.xok.com/sundaymorningdrive/thumbnails.php?album=60

 

To bad the exige isn't street legal in the states :'(

 

It is street legal.

Cyrus

 

They are faster than most modern Ferraris in favorable conditions. Obviously it won't win a top speed contest...but on a highly technical track I have witnessed Elises and Exiges doing some pretty amazing stuff.

 

In a car like the Elise the driver makes a huge difference. Taking corners as fast as the Elise can takes skill. The car won't forgive bad cornering technique on the straights because of lack of HP. My Europa is the exact same but slower than the Elise in the straights.

Stick with a 400+ HP car if you're a weekend warrior so you can make up time in the staights, and get the Elise if you have a higher level of skill where you'll make up time in the corners.

Ken

 

I don't think so.

Ken

 

"For $57,915 (an increase of $6055) the new-for-2007 supercharged Exige S addresses that horsepower problem and replaces the Exige. It’s available in the 50 Lotus dealerships nationwide as of November 2006. The special bodywork limits production to about 300 to 400 cars per year in the U.S."

--Car and Driver web site.

It is street legal.

 

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FYI

http://www.lotusofsouthbay.com/index.htm

I was just there looking at an Exige S, as another track car, even though it IS street legal in the USA.

Cyrus

 

Car and Driver stated the Lotus Exige was not street legal. I read the article on it about 2-3 months ago. Apparantley they were reffering to the Exige, not the new Sport Edition.

That is awesome news though!

 

Ive seen quite a few Exige cars here in cali with plates on them driving around. If you ever saw pictures or attended Crystal Cove there were quite a few showing up on a weekly basis. I see them driving around all the time soo if they are not street legal then alot of people who buy the cars are foolish for driving them on the street all the time.

 

The following new Lotuses ARE street legal:

Elise
Exige
Exige S

The Exige and Exige S are were released for sale here fairly recently (compared to the Elise - about 2 years ago). Both Exiges are absolutely street legal.

The only Lotus that is available in the U.S. that's NOT street legal is the Exige Cup car. It's a full race-prepped car with cage, slicks, electrical cutoff switch, etc.

I agree the Elise / Exige is hard to beat in the twisties by any car at any price. But, in the straights, horsepower wins. So, on a tight twisty track, the Lotus will reign supreme... WITH a good driver. I also agree the Lotus is a very technical car. The only other vehicle I've driven that compares, in terms of handling, is the Skip Barber Formula Dodge cars. It is not a car for track newbies, IMO. It is unforgiving. OTOH, a car like my Subie STi is very forgiving and allows for a much greater latitude in skills.

Mike - owner of a Lotus Elise

 

The exige is completely street legal. In fact, it is almost identical to the Elise - Just some aero modifications.

This thread was about the Exige S - Which is the supercharged version - Again, totally street legal.

The Lotus that is not street legal is the Cup Car.
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Apparantley I was reading about the Lotus Cup Car. Sorry guys.

 

Apparantley I was reading about the Lotus Cup Car. Sorry guys, got a little mixed up!

 

Lotus is gradually bumping the horsepower on the models it offers. They appear in Europe first then slowly make their way to the US. The trend is fairly obvious. The next thing to look for is a street-legal "Exige R" model with the 255hp engine on the street.

05 Elise 190hp (US street legal)
06 Elise/Exige 190hp (US street legal)
06 Cup Car 243hp (US not street legal)
07 Exige S 218hp (US street legal, the normally aspirated Exige no longer for sale)
07 Cup Car 255hp (US not street legal)

models on the way/in development...
Lotus Circuit Car (take 500lbs off that overweight Elise, add 243hp... not street legal)
Exige 265E (265hp)

Exige 265E video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBzmmO-3Cdo

Circuit Car info:
http://www.grouplotus.com/car/car_product.php?id=6&mid=13

 

i love lotus on an emotional level for its exotic nature but a cayman will get around track as fast then be much more comfortable on way home.

 

I have sat in a Lotus 340R and also been in a friends Exige (non supercharged) and all I can say is their cornering ability is the best I have ever experienced. Below are a couple of photos I have taken of both of these cars, owned by my friend (an absolute Lotus fanatic):
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