Verdict
A
Sports · UK · 2000-2021
Lotus Exige
Lotus Exige — spec data and generation history.
Years
2000-2021
Generations
3
Segment
Sports
Hardtop coupe sister to the Elise — same bonded-aluminium chassis, fixed roof, more aero, more focused. S1 (2000–2001) was a brief Rover K-series 1.8 hardtop run; S2 (2004–2011) used Toyota 1.8 (1ZR / 2ZR / 2ZZ) including the 240 bhp Cup 260 SC; S3 (2012–2021) was the Toyota 3.5 V6 SC car — the proper one — including the V6 Cup, 350 Sport, Sport 380, Sport 410, Cup 430, and the 60-car Cup 430 Final Edition. Last hardtop coupe Lotus before the Emira. The S3 V6 cars are the cult money — under-1,200 kg with 430 bhp from a Toyota V6 is borderline absurd.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
S1 2000-2001 → S2 2004-2011
BHP +45 bhp (top)
Torque +15 Nm
0-60 mph -0.6 s
Top speed +15 mph
MPG +0 mpg
S2 2004-2011 → S3 2012-2021
BHP +190 bhp (top)
Torque +200 Nm
0-60 mph -1.5 s
Top speed +25 mph
MPG +0 mpg
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
2000-2001
S1
→
1.8 K-series — 192 bhp, 0-60 in 4.7s.
Verdict
A
BHP
192
0–60
4.7 s
Top
142 mph
MPG
32.0 mpg
Used
£28,000-£55,000
- + Cult S1 status
- + Hardtop Elise S1 with proper aero
- − Tiny build numbers
- − K-series head gasket
2004-2011
S2
→
Cup 260 1.8 SC — 237 bhp, 0-60 in 4.0s.
Verdict
A
BHP
237
0–60
4.0 s
Top
158 mph
MPG
32.0 mpg
Used
£30,000-£55,000
- + Toyota 2ZZ + supercharger combo
- + Hardtop dynamics
- − Toyota 2ZZ valve-spring
- − Cabin tiny
2012-2021
S3
→
Cup 430 — 430 bhp, 0-60 in 3.2s.
Verdict
A
BHP
430
0–60
3.2 s
Top
180 mph
MPG
28.0 mpg
Used
£55,000-£140,000
- + 3.5 V6 SC sounds amazing
- + Sub-1,200 kg with 430 bhp
- − Cabin extreme
- − Final cars expensive
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
2000-2001 · S1
- K-series head gasket
- Plastic clamshell cracks
- Soft-top removable wear
2004-2011 · S2
- K-series gasket early
- Toyota 2ZZ valve-spring
- Toe-link bolts
2012-2021 · S3
- Toyota V6 charge-cooler pump
- Front splitter cracks
- Clutch wear track use
Rivals
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 · Lotus Elise · Caterham Seven · Ariel Atom