SlashGear Japan
Over here in the UK it’s not uncommon to see the odd Lotus Elise and – more rarely – Exige bombing down the motorway or whipping around country lanes. The constantly evolving sportscar is renowned for having close-to-perfect handling and sweet, sweet driving dynamics, and has a loyal following amongst owners and enthusiasts. So it always comes as something of a surprise that drivers in the USA are less blessed when it comes to model choice – hence the unbridled excitement of Jalopnik and Autoblog (amongst many) at the news that the hardcore Exige S, the supercharged variant of the coupé, is heading across the Atlantic.
$56,990 (according to an eagle-eyed Lotus lover who espied a dealer’s price sheet) gets you 0 to 60mph in 4.1 seconds, 100mph in 11 and a top speed of 148mph; that’s the benefit of 220bhp, 30 more than the standard Exige. A six-speed transmission, variable-rev cam switching and Lotus’ trademark pared-down interior come as standard.
