TRACK RECORD
THERE’S A TECHNIQUE FOR folding yourself into an Exige, or so I’ve been told. You can always tell seasoned Lotus owners by how easy they make the process of getting in and out look. I’ve driven a few, but as a larger human being, graceful I am not. Despite what I’ve always considered my barrier to entry, I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time. We’re on hallowed ground at Hethel, with the keys to four of the most extreme cars Lotus has ever built.
At a little over 20 years since its launch in 2000, this year will also mark the Exige’s final year of production. As a freshly re-invigorated Lotus heads into an exciting new era with a new platform and new powertrain options, Elise, Exige and Evora production must make way for the future. More on that later, but now let’s get stuck into these angry little track weapons.
The series 1 Elise gets a lot of recognition for turning Lotus’s fortunes around, and it really was a revelation during the 1990s. Small, lightweight, fun, affordable and even relatively reliable, it still probably ranks as the most important and successful car in the firm’s history. Towards the end of the decade though, even the more powerful and hardcore versions left a little to be desired for the more serious customers. Grassroots motorsport has always been a key component for Lotus, and the Exige was born out of a desire to go racing.
Who better to guide us through the birth and evolution of this exciting track toy than two Lotus employees who have worked on the
