The Lotus Exige S is a rival for similarly priced high performance
coupes like the Porsche Cayman R and BMW M3. But it's much more of a
thriller than either of those two, and is even more compromised. Unlike
its lightweight predecessor, it's powered by a supercharged 3.5-litre
V6, so performance has taken a big leap forward. With a more aggressive
look and upgraded suspension, it looks and feels like a compact version
of a proper supercar – and it's astonishing to drive, with brilliant
handling and straight line performance. It still feels like a low-volume
hand-built machine, though, which is the major downside, but it's
certainly fun.
Take an Elise, add a longer wheelbase, wider track, new rear subframe,
pumped-up bodykit with vast aerodynamic additions and larger wheels and
you've got the Lotus Exige S. It looks very aggressive and stands out
far more than a Porsche Cayman R on the road. In fact, it looks so
dramatic, we wouldn't be surprised if it turned as many heads as an
Italian supercar costing three times the price. Inside, the cabin is
stripped out and almost identical to that of the Elise, with a lot of
switchgear borrowed from mainstream manufacturers, thin racing seats and
exposed aluminium.
This is where the Exige S really excels. The supercharged 345bhp
3.5-litre V6 offers searing acceleration, thrusting the 1,176kg Exige S
from 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds and on to a 170mph top speed. It
doesn't sound as tuneful as a Cayman R's flat-six, but it certainly
delivers with lots of low-rev punch and high-rev urge. The handling is
even better. This is a car that tells you exactly what's going on at the
front wheels, and together with the widened track and longer wheelbase,
it's more grippy yet more stable than the Elise on which it's based.
Incredibly, Lotus' engineers have also managed to make it ride
comfortably too.
One neat feature is the traction control system
available on Race Pack versions which is so clever that even a
professional driver is quicker around a racing circuit with it switched
on than when off. On the downside, the gearchange has a loose feel to it
and the steering is heavy at parking speeds, while the engine is
ever-present, especially at a high speed cruise when all the wind and
road noise combine to make the stereo pointless... Ear plugs are a must
for long journeys.
Yes, the Exige S has a driver and passenger airbag and ABS with
stability control, but that's about it for safety aids. It's based on
the Elise, and despite the higher price tag, you don't get more safety
kit for your money. Lotus has never had the best reputation for
reliability either, with numerous gremlins creeping in after a few
months of ownership. Still, most people don't buy a Lotus to drive on a
daily basis.
With just two seats, and a tiny 98-litre boot in the rear, the Exige S
is about as impractical as cars get. The problems start when you try to
get in: the wide sill and low roof make trying to slide elegantly into
the driving seat very difficult indeed. Once inside, you'll find there's
not much adjustment for the driver's seat – it doesn't slide back and
forth very far – and the steering wheel is also fixed. Similarly priced
rivals like the Porsche Cayman R are much better in every respect.
The Lotus Exige S doesn't weigh very much, so when you're cruising
you'll probably manage more than 30mpg from the big V6. Use that
performance, though, and you'll be filling up the relatively tiny
43-litre tank on a regular basis. The engine is very dirty too, with CO2
emissions of 236g/km, so your annual road tax bill will be high. Lotus
expects most Exige S owners to take their cars onto a racing circuit
too, an environment in which it's quite easy to go through tyres and
brakes – and they aren't cheap to replace. Add in service intervals of
just 9,000 miles, and it becomes clear that running an Exige S is an
expensive venture.
It gets a redesigned front and rear bumper, a tweaked grille, revised
headlights and tail-lights, more defined door sills and a redesigned
rear bumper. - See more at:
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/2015-audi-a1-face-lift-revealed/1321847#sthash.ecsuxqNh.dpuf
Audi's
supermini gets a selection of minor visual changes for 2015, along with
a tweaked chassis, more infotainment options and new engines on the
entry-level models.
Given the A1's success to date, the visual changes are predictably
subtle. It gets a redesigned front and rear bumper, a tweaked grille,
revised headlights and tail-lights, more defined door sills and a
redesigned rear bumper.
- See more at: http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/2015-audi-a1-face-lift-revealed/1321847#sthash.ecsuxqNh.dpuf
Audi's
supermini gets a selection of minor visual changes for 2015, along with
a tweaked chassis, more infotainment options and new engines on the
entry-level models.
Given the A1's success to date, the visual changes are predictably
subtle. It gets a redesigned front and rear bumper, a tweaked grille,
revised headlights and tail-lights, more defined door sills and a
redesigned rear bumper.
- See more at: http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/2015-audi-a1-face-lift-revealed/1321847#sthash.ecsuxqNh.dpuf
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