Lotus as a brand dates back all the way to 50’s. It always had a different and special approach when we come to its line-up and the current situation is no different. There are other “special” car makers, but it seems that each one of them took a modified approach to the same idea “the less, the better”. Caterham and Ariel went farthest offering least you can get from a car in metal and plastic, and most you get in driving delight.
Wiesmann is delivering visibly more metal, and it is playing the sentimental card, while Lotus offered maximum steering pleasure while still looking like a car from the outside. If you are after maximum capabilities in Lotus (and what else?), Exige would be your top choice, and in these days it comes in even crazier shape. Welcome, 2017 Lotus Exige Sport 350.
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL
Lotus Exige is extremely light, driveable and fun car in any of its iterations, while this model took it even further. If you thought that there is nothing more to strip down from some Lotus, think again. This is the lightest Exige in history, and it comes with a cost, while many refused to bare the cost for regular one. To spice things up, the top is removable, and you can opt for Heritage Tartan upholstery which makes it pretty cool on the inside.
2017 Lotus Exige Sport 350 STYLING
On the outside Exige looks fantastic. It appears as a supercar in a small package. If you remember that lighter part comes with a cost, here you can see what one. Hood cover is uglier but it shaves 3 kilograms and same goes for cheap looking, but light plastic covering rear end and replacing the rear glass. How crazy Lotus went with all this obsession with weight is visible with the fact that plastic letters explaining what car it is are replaced with stickers. For the end, a huge spoiler at the rear can be added to the plus side.
CABIN
Same story here. The regular one is a sample of aestheticism, while we don’t know what this one is. Plenty of visible bolts, visible gearbox mechanism, which actually looks cool, and minimum elements on the dash. One more interesting thing, trunk does not exist. There are some, let’s say comfort features, but they are all optional, so only yourself can spoil its perfect weight. This is where you should go for mentioned tartan print because it will successfully distract you from all scarceness.
CAUSE
Under the light, bonnet lies 3.5-liter V6 engine, supercharged to deliver 351 hp with peak torque of 400 Nm at 4,500 rpm. And now the biggest figure of them all, as this guy weighs 1,125 kilograms. Now match that to supercharged V6, and you’ll see what is this all about. One horsepower has to pull only 3,2 kg’s so this thing rocket to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds with top speed of 274 km/h. And like a proper supercar, it is mid-engined.
You’ll hardly find better adrenaline rush when you take it on the road. You just merge with it, and it just corners as your mind is imaging, it is like driving it with your own thoughts. Giving you the sense that you have become one with a car and while running barefoot, you’ll feel every rock on the pavement. No driving experience so sublime could come without renunciations mentioned above.
CONCLUSION
We are sad that Lotus offers “special” cars which are clearly not for everybody. Evora is too radical for many, Exige takes it further and 2017 LOTUS Exige Sport 350 is the climax of the whole idea. This car offers no compromises and for the determined ones who knows what they want from the car it is the perfect offer. Of course, if that is what they want.
