The Lotus Exige is Colin Chapman’s focus taken to the barest minimum: take the Elise roadster, already a very competent car, fit it with a solid roof for structural rigidity (and, probably, to cover some racing regulations for where the cars will usually end up), jam in a supercharged Toyota-sourced four-cylinder (or V6, if you really don’t value your life) and watch magic happen. Lotus cars are little screamers dead-stock, but one thing they aren’t is roomy. Exiges are tiny, small enough that the four-banger goes from being ho-hum in it’s 2000-ish Celica roots to “HOLY…”
Now, knowing that a four-cylinder can scare you in a car is makes for a good ride. But let’s say you want to ditch the four-banger and instead, shove in the 3.5L V8 from a Ferrari 355, complete with the six-speed manual and that oh-so-wonderful metal gated shifter, just because. Apparently there was enough room…or the fabricator had enough talent…because it’s there, blasting out the Italian call to arms, ready for a fight.
Exige: about 250 horsepower, depending on model. F355: 375 horsepower stock, but this one has been modified to a claimed 420 or so. Curb weight of an Exige: under 2,100 pounds. We suggest wearing an adult diaper the first time you whip this sucker around the track in full violence. If you still aren’t deterred by the most hair-trigger orange thing this side of a very pissed off wasp, you can bring this thing over from the UK at a translated cost of about $54,000 before shipping.
eBay Link: 1999 Lotus Exige
Butt ugly! Needs a few dozen more scoops and you could use it as a Halloween colander.
Would it be better with a hunka shit LS?
Or don’t you get imagination and a handy broken Ferrari with a healthy motor – but I like the idea of a Halloween colander!
Geordie, an LS would make more power, just sayin’….