2010 Lotus Exige S
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Key Specs
of the 2010 Lotus Exige S. Base trim shown.
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Body Type:Coupe
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Combined MPG:23 Combined MPG
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Engine:240-hp, 1.8-liter I-4 (premium)
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Drivetrain:Rear-wheel Drive
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Our Take
From the Cars.com Vehicle Test Team
The Good
- Performance potential
- Handling potential
- Hard-to-miss styling
- Racing heritage
- Gas mileage
The Bad
- Ride comfort
- Cramped cockpit
- Sparse dashboard
Notable Features of the 2010 Lotus Exige S
- Restyled nose, larger rear wing
- Six-speed manual
- Intended for track driving
2010 Lotus Exige S Overview
Vehicle Overview
The Lotus Exige is a high-performance version of the Elise that's available only as a hardtop. The Exige lineup has two models: The S 240 and the higher-performance S 260. Both are marketed to high-performance enthusiasts and are intended mainly for the racetrack. The Exige competes with coupes like the Porsche Cayman S and Audi TTS, but with much more track prowess and less daily-driver friendliness.
New for 2010
The 2010 Exige gets a restyled front end, with larger air intakes to draw more air toward the radiator and oil coolers. Aerodynamic enhancements include a larger front air splitter that extends partially up the front fenders, as well as a larger rear spoiler.
Exterior
Even though the Exige looks similar to the soft-top Elise, the two sports cars use different sheet metal. Only the door panels are shared. Both are based on the same 150-pound aluminum chassis — featherweight by automotive standards.
Interior
As with the Elise, only two people fit inside the Exige S. The small steering wheel is barely more than a foot in diameter.
Under the Hood
Lotus says the Exige S 240 sc...
The Lotus Exige is a high-performance version of the Elise that's available only as a hardtop. The Exige lineup has two models: The S 240 and the higher-performance S 260. Both are marketed to high-performance enthusiasts and are intended mainly for the racetrack. The Exige competes with coupes like the Porsche Cayman S and Audi TTS, but with much more track prowess and less daily-driver friendliness.
New for 2010
The 2010 Exige gets a restyled front end, with larger air intakes to draw more air toward the radiator and oil coolers. Aerodynamic enhancements include a larger front air splitter that extends partially up the front fenders, as well as a larger rear spoiler.
Exterior
Even though the Exige looks similar to the soft-top Elise, the two sports cars use different sheet metal. Only the door panels are shared. Both are based on the same 150-pound aluminum chassis — featherweight by automotive standards.
- Body-colored rear wing
- Black ground effects aimed to increase down force
- Single exhaust pipe replaces twin pipes in the Elise
- Roof scoop channels air to the mid-mounted engine's intercooler
Interior
As with the Elise, only two people fit inside the Exige S. The small steering wheel is barely more than a foot in diameter.
- Composite sport seats come only in black
- LCD screen displays essential information
- Optional leather seats, additional sound insulation, iPod-compatible stereo system and full carpeting
Under the Hood
Lotus says the Exige S 240 sc...
Vehicle Overview
The Lotus Exige is a high-performance version of the Elise that's available only as a hardtop. The Exige lineup has two models: The S 240 and the higher-performance S 260. Both are marketed to high-performance enthusiasts and are intended mainly for the racetrack. The Exige competes with coupes like the Porsche Cayman S and Audi TTS, but with much more track prowess and less daily-driver friendliness.
New for 2010
The 2010 Exige gets a restyled front end, with larger air intakes to draw more air toward the radiator and oil coolers. Aerodynamic enhancements include a larger front air splitter that extends partially up the front fenders, as well as a larger rear spoiler.
Exterior
Even though the Exige looks similar to the soft-top Elise, the two sports cars use different sheet metal. Only the door panels are shared. Both are based on the same 150-pound aluminum chassis — featherweight by automotive standards.
Interior
As with the Elise, only two people fit inside the Exige S. The small steering wheel is barely more than a foot in diameter.
Under the Hood
Lotus says the Exige S 240 scoots from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and the S 260 makes it in 4.0 seconds. Combined gas mileage for both is in the low 20s, which is atypically high for a car this quick.
Safety
The Lotus Exige is a high-performance version of the Elise that's available only as a hardtop. The Exige lineup has two models: The S 240 and the higher-performance S 260. Both are marketed to high-performance enthusiasts and are intended mainly for the racetrack. The Exige competes with coupes like the Porsche Cayman S and Audi TTS, but with much more track prowess and less daily-driver friendliness.
New for 2010
The 2010 Exige gets a restyled front end, with larger air intakes to draw more air toward the radiator and oil coolers. Aerodynamic enhancements include a larger front air splitter that extends partially up the front fenders, as well as a larger rear spoiler.
Exterior
Even though the Exige looks similar to the soft-top Elise, the two sports cars use different sheet metal. Only the door panels are shared. Both are based on the same 150-pound aluminum chassis — featherweight by automotive standards.
- Body-colored rear wing
- Black ground effects aimed to increase down force
- Single exhaust pipe replaces twin pipes in the Elise
- Roof scoop channels air to the mid-mounted engine's intercooler
Interior
As with the Elise, only two people fit inside the Exige S. The small steering wheel is barely more than a foot in diameter.
- Composite sport seats come only in black
- LCD screen displays essential information
- Optional leather seats, additional sound insulation, iPod-compatible stereo system and full carpeting
Under the Hood
Lotus says the Exige S 240 scoots from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and the S 260 makes it in 4.0 seconds. Combined gas mileage for both is in the low 20s, which is atypically high for a car this quick.
- 1.8-liter, supercharged four-cylinder makes 240 horsepower and 170 pounds-feet of torque in the S 240 and 257 hp and 174 pounds-feet in the S 260
- Six-speed manual
- Optional torque-sensing limited-slip differential
- Bilstein shock absorbers and coil-spring suspension
- Launch control feature minimizes wheel spin and clutch wear
- Adjustable traction control can be fine-tuned to vary intervention between zero and 7 percent tire slip, or deactivated entirely
- Standard cross-drilled rotors and twin-piston Lotus/AP Racing brake calipers
- Optional adjustable suspension for shock compression and rebound
Safety
- Antilock braking system specially calibrated for delayed actuation, which allows competition-oriented drivers to perform "threshold" braking
- Standard traction control
Consumer Reviews
What Drivers Are Saying
Best car ever!
Truly a rare beast of a car. Nothing else is out in the market that can compare. Wish they still made them so they could be more affordable Read full review
Overlooked
unlike some other reviewers I have owned one for the past 5 years! Can't beat a Porsched or Corvette....let me enlighten you it is not the car! It is the driver!! Car is pure fun on wheels! It is raw ... Read full review
Safety & Recalls
Recalls
The 2010 Lotus Exige S currently has 1 recall
