It ain’t easy being Lotus. As the rest of the car world gets bigger, more complicated, and heavier, the British automaker soldiers on under the assumption that small, simple, and lightweight is best. Thankfully, many enthusiasts agree, and despite dramatic shifts in financial stability, Lotus continues to offer high-performance smile-makers perfectly in tune with Colin Chapman’s philosophy. Such is the case with the Exige, a two-seater coupe evolved from the Elise roadster. First revealed in 2000, Lotus has updated the Exige on a continual basis, and for the 2010 model year, major improvements were made to the aerodynamics, new instrumentation was added to the interior, and more horsepower was extracted from the supercharged powerplant.

Essentially a track car for the road, the Exige makes no apologies for its performance-oriented personality. And while Lotus does offer a few nods towards civility (carpeting, for example), the hardcore customers still have the option to go with full-racer mode if they deem it necessary (and yes, it’s necessary).

If you dream of apexes, it’s an enticing formula. But how do you improve the breed without compromising the fun? Read on to find out.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2010 Lotus Exige S.

2010 Lotus Exige S

Specifications
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  • Model: 2010 Lotus Exige S
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Pros
Cons

History And Background

The first-generation Exige (a.k.a. the Series 1) was launched in 2000. Mounted in the middle was a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, which produced upwards of 190 horsepower in the top-sec track edition.

The second generation (or Series 2) was introduced just four years later. This time around, it came with upgraded aerodynamics, including a new front splitter, a new fiberglass roof, a new engine cover, and a new spoiler. In 2005, Lotus announced the supercharged 240R, which saw output climb to 243 horsepower. Each 240R came painted in either black or yellow.

In 2009, at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show, Lotus unwrapped the upgraded 2010 Model Year.

Exterior

Visually, the 2010 Model Year Exige isn’t terribly different from the 2009. It’s still low and wide, with a grinning front fascia and characteristically Lotus styling. The overhangs are short, and the stance is athletic. However, look closely and you’ll notice that the 2010 Model Year ups the ante with a completely reworked aerodynamics package, resulting in better specs and a good bit more aggression.

Let’s start at the tail, where we find a larger rear wing made from a composite material. The design is the same as what was used on the Exige GT3 road car concept shown in Geneva in 2007, bearing dimensions that are 181 mm (7.1 inches) wider and 46 mm (1.8 inches) taller. The new wing is also placed 61 mm (2.4 inches) further towards the rear. New end plates are used to lock in the airflow, increasing the wing’s efficacy and enhancing overall structural rigidity.

Complementing the spoiler in back is a new splitter in front, which is also made from composite. This piece wraps around the nose of the Exige, drawing up and over the sides of the bumper to help move air around the wheel wells, decreasing turbulence in the process.

The result of the new aero is 42 kg (92.6 pounds) of downforce at 160 km/h (99 mph), not to mention significantly lower drag than before.

The restyled front end also gets a larger, more deeply cut central intake, which helps to boost engine efficiency through enhanced cooling. The side intakes are larger, which keeps the twin oil coolers nice and chilly, while bisecting lateral sections help to stabilize airflow.

On the roof, the top-spec Performance model comes equipped with a larger scoop to force feed the intercooler. Customers were also offered forged wheels as an available option.

“The changes we have made to the Exige for 2010 Model Year are quite subtle when taken individually, but taken as a complete package they make significant improvements to aerodynamics and the overall look of the car,” said Roger Becker, Director of Vehicle Engineering, in a press release.

Interior

Per Lotus tradition, the Exige comes with a very spartan interior. When new, customers had the option to add a few basic amenities (for example, air conditioning was an available option. For more information, check out the Prices section), but overall, there’s no much when it comes to coddling. Bare metal, bucket seats, a steering wheel, some pedals, and a gear shifter – that’s the aesthetic we’re talking about here.

Upgrades for the 2010 Model Year include a new high-definition LCD driver’s information display mounted near the traditional backlit dials in the gauge cluster. The display is customizable, offering vitals like fuel level, engine temperature, and an odometer.

There are also three shift lights that illuminate as you wind out the powerplant. The lights indicate successively as the engine approaches its redline, eventually flashing when the limit is reached.

Drivetrain

Like the Lotus, the Exige uses a transverse mid-engine, RWD drivetrain layout. Power is derived from a supercharged and intercooled 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine from Toyota, with double overhead cams and variable valve timing.

At its most powerful trim level, the 2010 Exige makes 239 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 170 pound-feet of torque at 5,500 rpm. Lesser trim levels are bested thanks to a Magnuson/Eaton M62 supercharger and uprated injectors, while a grabbier clutch helps send output to the ground by way of a six-speed manual transmission.

In this spec, the Exige boasts a very impressive specific output, with 133 horsepower created for every liter of displacement.

The 0-to-60 mph run is completed in just 4.5 seconds, while 0-to-100 mph is done in a little less than 12 seconds. Top Speed is rated at 145 mph.

From mph to mpg, the 2010 Exige also manages to improve upon its successor when it comes to fuel economy. The average between city and freeway comes to 8.5 liters/100 km, or 27.7 mpg, besting the outgoing model’s 9.1 liters/100 km, or 25.8 mpg. CO2 emissions are also down, dropping from 216 g/km, to 199 g/km.

Chassis And Handling

One of the hallmarks of the Exige is its extremely low curb weight, which tips the scales at less than 1,000 kg (933 kg to be exact, which comes out to a little over 2,000 pounds).

All trim levels offer top-notch handling characteristics, but if you’re gonna get an Exige, you might as well go whole hog and spring for the Performance model. This comes equipped with larger brakes from AP in front, plus upgraded pads in each corner. It also has launch control and variable traction control, both of which were spawned by the Exige GT3 racing program.

The launch control works by holding engine rpm at a preset limit – just pin the throttle and dump the clutch to set off. There’s also a clutch damper system that keeps the driveline from cracking after repeated hard launches.

Meanwhile, the traction control system is tunable from the driver’s seat, offering over 30 different increments to choose from, ranging between 7 percent tire slip to 100 percent off. These settings are displayed via the LCD driver’s information screen. Complementing the electronic traction control is an available limited-slip differential.

Finally, available adjustable dampers round out the track goodies.

Safety And Convenience

While most wouldn’t buy a Lotus for the safety or convenience features, the Exige does come with a few items worth mentioning, starting with standard airbags for the driver and passenger. There’s also a standard tire pressure monitor system, while the key fob offers control for locking and unlocking the doors, setting the alarm and immobilizer system, and a panic button.

Prices

The 2010 Lotus Exige S was offered in three separate trim levels – Touring, Sport, and Performance. Features for each trim level are listed below. Each feature was combinable with other trim levels, which meant high levels of customizability.

Pricing when new started at around $65,000, but finding an Exige S on the used market is tricky – most are either low mileage examples available for roughly the original MSRP, or an ultra-cheap salvage title.

Touring

Includes full leather or microfiber suede upholstery, a leather-trimmed center console, a leather handbrake boot, an iPod interface for the stereo, full carpeting with embroidered logo, auxiliary driving lights, a sound insulation kit, and a cup holder.

Sport

Includes upgraded Bilstein sport dampers, traction control, an adjustable front anti-roll bar, and a T45 roll bar with integrated harness mounts.

Performance

Includes 308 mm (12.1 inch) vented front brake discs with AP four-piston calipers, upgraded brake pads (front and rear), a larger roof-mounted air scoop, variable traction control, an upgraded clutch, additional engine output, and launch control.

Competition

Porsche Cayman

Based on the iconic Porsche Boxster, the Cayman adds a hardtop roof to Stuttgart’s original recipe for a mid-engine coupe ready to do battle with the diminutive Lotus challenger. Hit the options box with gusto, and you can spec yours into either a track dominator, or daily-driven thrill ride.

Read the full review here.

Audi TT Coupe

Down on speed and grip, the Audi is still a good choice if you want a quick two-door, but place more emphasis on comfort and style. Output is rated at 200 horsepower, which is a decent amount for the street. You might not be able to keep pace at the track, but rest assured they’ll be begging to drive it back home.

Read the full review here.

Conclusion

The Exige is everything right about Lotus – small, fast, focused, and about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. It’s such a solid platform that Hennessey used it for the world-eating top-speed Venom GT v-max monster, while Rinspeed transformed it into the James Bond-esque sQuba submersible.

The 2010 Model Year does all the good things without adding any of the bad. What more do you need to know?