Lotus Exige II 1.8 i 16V Sport 240R (246 Hp)


Overall Rating

7.8 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 4.9 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 4.8 / 5
Comfort 1.5 / 5
People\'s Opinion N/A / 5
Not Rated

Lotus Exige:

The Lotus Exige /ɛɡˈziːʒ/ is a sports car made by the British company Lotus Cars from 2000 until 2021. Originally a coupé version of the Lotus Elise roadster, since the Series 3 the Exige has been the larger-engined model of the family, featuring a V6 engine in place of the Elise's straight-four. Convertible versions of both models are available.
The original Exige was launched in 2000 with a naturally aspirated 1. 8 L Rover K Series Inline-four engine in VHPD tune. It is rated at 177 hp at 7,800 rpm in standard form. There was also a "track spec" version with 190 hp available. The car has a five-speed manual gearbox, and a claimed top speed of 219 km/h. 0–97 km/h was achieved in 4. 7 seconds and 0–100 km/h in 4. 9 seconds....(Read more on Wikipedia)

II Overview:

Lotus Exige (II). With 236 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 930 kg, it’s quite light. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. Acceleration is excellent (0–100 km/h in 3.9 s). The top speed reaches 249 km/h. A two-door car with a fixed roof, known for its sporty design and dynamic performance. Seating for 2 makes it ideal for daily use.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The Lotus Exige II, like many low-volume, track-focused sports cars, was not officially tested by Euro NCAP. Its design prioritizes lightweight construction and dynamic handling for accident avoidance over passive crash safety ratings.

1.8 i 16V Sport 240R (246 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 5 stars

Performance Verdict

The 240R trim represents the pinnacle of Exige II performance, delivering blistering acceleration (3.9s 0-100km/h) and track-focused dynamics thanks to its potent turbocharged 2ZZ-GE engine. Its high-revving nature and immediate power delivery make it incredibly engaging.

Fuel Economy

While not a primary concern for this performance variant, its lightweight design helps mitigate fuel consumption, though spirited driving will naturally lead to higher usage.

Best Use Case: Track Days / High-Performance Driving

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Unrivaled driving dynamics and handling
  • • Extremely lightweight and agile
  • • High-revving, engaging engines
  • • Exclusivity and unique design
  • • Exceptional steering feel

Cons:

  • • Minimal comfort and practicality
  • • Loud cabin, especially on highways
  • • Challenging ingress/egress
  • • Limited luggage space
  • • High running costs for some parts

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(II: 2004 - 2011).

General:
Brand:Lotus
Model:Exige
Generation:II
Modification (Engine):1.8 i 16V Sport 240R (246 Hp)
Start of production:2005
End of production:2011
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Coupe
Seats:2
Doors:2
Engine:
Power:246 Hp @ 8000 rpm.
Power per litre:137 Hp/l
Torque:236 Nm @ 7000 rpm.
Engine Model/Code:2ZZ-GE [Same engine] More details about the engine 2ZZ-GE
Engine displacement:1796
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:4
Fuel injection system:Multi-port manifold injection
Engine aspiration:Turbocharger, Intercooler
Valvetrain:DOHC
Engine oil capacity:4.4 l
Coolant:12 l
Engine layout:Middle, Longitudinal
Cylinder Bore:82 mm mm
Piston Stroke:85 mm mm
Compression ratio:9.6:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h:3.9 sec
Acceleration 0 - 62 mph:3.9 sec
Maximum speed:249 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:3.8 kg/Hp, 264.5 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:3.9 kg/Nm, 253.8 Nm/tonne
Acceleration 0 - 60 mph:3.9 sec
Space:
Kerb Weight:930
Max. weight:1185
Max load:255
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:115 l
Fuel tank capacity:40 l
Size:
Length:3797 mm mm [17mm more]
Width:1727 mm mm [7mm more]
Height:1150 mm mm [25mm less]
Wheelbase:2300 mm mm [Same wheelbase.]
Front track:1454 mm
Rear (Back) track:1507 mm
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelRear wheel drive
Number of gears6
Transmission typeManual
Front brakesVentilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesVentilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Tires size195/50 R16; 225/45 R17
Wheel rims size7J x 16; 8.5J x 17
Front suspensionCoil spring
Rear suspensionCoil spring

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