After a troubled period in its recent history, the English brand is now reinvigorated. Proof of this is the growing offer in its range with the new Lotus Exige S Roadster.
To this day, the Exige has always been a coupe focused entirely on the track experience, but for Lotus – as for any brand… – sales mean a lot. Like the Elise, which is a fun and efficient roadster, the Lotus Exige S Roadster also follows the same philosophy and partly forgoes its spartan interior, with only the essential controls, to come standard with the touring package, which adds a touch of extra luxury.
The positioning of this Lotus Exige S Roadster is on par with the Exige S, but below the more track versions such as the Exige Cup and Exige Cup R. Although the Lotus Exige S Roadster doesn't offer a complete open sky experience, as it is a longer style roadster than a proper speedster style roadster, the weight difference to its coupé sibling is 10kg.
In terms of mechanics and performance, little or nothing has changed, and much of the essence of the Exige S Roadster remains the same as its brother Exige S coupé: the engine in central position, rear remains the same 3.5 liter DOHC V6 24V VVTi of Toyota origin , with its volumetric compressor from Harrop HTV.
Power maintains its 350 horsepower at 7000rpm and 400Nm of torque available at 4500rpm. In the field of performance, the classic start from 0 to 100km/h is accomplished in 4s and the top speed is figured at 233km/h. The Lotus Exige S Roadster's 10kg weight difference to its coupé brother puts the Roadster at 1166kg. The gearbox remains the 6-speed manual, but the novelty in the Lotus Exige S Roadster is Lotus considering introducing a sequential gearbox with paddles on the steering wheel, in case there are customer requests in this regard.
Fully independent 2-axle suspension features Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs. To break the momentum of the Lotus Exige S Roadster, the AP Racing braking system is complemented by Bosch ABS and ESP. The Exige S Roadster's exceptional dynamic handling is complemented by Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres, mounted on 17-inch wheels at the front and 18 inches at the rear.
For those who thought that the Elise R did not bring strong sensations in the open, in a marketing move, Lotus presents its Lotus Exige S Roadster as the ultimate definition of driving pleasure in the Lotus experience. The Lotus Exige S Roadster is a snap from Lotus to a less radical clientele, who appreciates a sports car but doesn't forgo the pleasure of driving in the open.
