Raw performance, agility, unparalleled ride and handling and mind blowing drive experience, these attributes are what people have come to expect from Lotus. And we don't like to disappoint. After months of media speculation Group Lotus is proud to announce the latest addition to the family: the extraordinary new Exige S, the ultimate lightweight high performance sportscar.

Alongside the staggering power to weight ratio, the Exige S has a completely new exterior and interior look and feel. The dramatic styling overhaul sees a completely new look for the Exige including a new front splitter and rear spoiler giving it a strong and aerodynamic profile.

There are two new interior package options available: Premium and Premium Sport. The Premium Pack provides added comfort and style where as the Premium Sport option focuses on creating an internal space optimised for ultimate driver involvement.

Built for the adrenalin hungry sportscar aficionado, the Exige S features high performance bespoke tyre package with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres as standard. A Lotus DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) switch allows the driver to switch between three driving modes: Touring, Sport and DPM off. And if three dynamic settings are not enough, an additional Race Pack option is available which adds a fourth driving mode setting: Race. This setting provides the maximum possible traction out of corners. The Race Pack also features Launch Control and an optimised suspension setting making the car perfect for letting rip on the track.

Commenting on the Exige S, Group Lotus Chief Executive Officer Dany Bahar said: "Anyone who has ever driven an Exige will tell you that it's not for the faint-hearted. The new Exige S skips a few rungs on the ladder to give the driver the ultimate Lotus experience. Quite simply you can't get more Lotus than the Exige S."

Please note: At time of going to print (September 2011) the fuel economy, CO2 and performance figures have not been witness tested. Group Lotus plc will publish these figures as soon as they become available on the lotuscars.com website.

More raw than a Japanese tasting menu, the Lotus Exige S Roadster combines its coupé twin’s mesmerizing grunt and handling with an open air experience that makes the driver feel all the more at one with the road.

It’s the first time an Exige model has been offered with a factory-fitted soft top roof, one which is typically lightweight and easy to put up and take down.

In true Lotus fashion the finely tuned suspension delivers a responsive ride and sublimely agile handling, whilst the supercharged 3.5 V6 engine with race-derived technologies delivers stunning performance. Reaching 100 kph from standing in a neck-snapping 4 seconds (0 - 60 mph in 3.8 seconds) and 0-160 kph (0-100 mph) in 8.5 seconds this little roadster packs a punch both on and off the track. The top speed for the Exige S Roadster is 233 kph (145 mph) and it produces just 236 g of CO2 per km.

With a targeted weight of just under 1100 kg, this is one of the lightest six-cylinder roadsters on the market by some margin.

Outside, it’s a fine balance of beauty and the beast. The drop-top adds extrovert style to the Exige’s already muscular contours, at the same time it is an elegant machine that keeps its clenched fist under wraps.

The Roadster comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, but will also be available with Lotus’ Serial Precision Shift (SPS), a paddle-operated automated manual transmission, which makes life more relaxed in the city and more F1-like when it’s let off the leash. The SPS gearbox means the driver never has to take their hands off the wheel, it prevents errors during shifting, and it is lighter and more compact than a normal torque-converter transmission.

The car comes with two different suspension settings. There’s the standard setting for an active driving experience suited to public roads; and an optional setting as part of the Race Pack for maximum performance, developed for track use. The launch control system can be activated when the car is in Race mode.

Inside, the car is a lesson in stylish minimalism and functionality. The customer can specify a comfort enhanced plush interior or go for a more stripped down, sporty option.

The car has been developed for the main markets such as Europe and Asia. The Exige S Roadster will not be available to the U.S market.

Fuel economy figures for the Exige S Roadster with manual gearbox: Urban 14.5 l/100km (19.5 mpg), Extra urban 7.6 l/100km (37.2 mpg), Combined 10.1 l/100 km (28.0 mpg). CO2 emissions for the Exige S Roadster: 236 g/km

Having already got the motoring press hot under the collar with production of the road-going Exige S, we are turning up the temperature at this weekend’s Lotus Festival at Brands Hatch with the official launch of a new track-focused model: The Exige V6 Cup.

There are two variants: a Track Day version priced at £62,995* and a full-on Competition-spec car starting at £74,995*.

Performance hits 274km/h, 0-100 in 3.8 seconds, and 346hp kicked out from the 3.5 litre supercharged V6 behind the drivers’ seat. The Exige V6 Cup weighs in at 1080kg, and comes with Lotus Dynamic Performance Management, so you can switch the engine and traction settings between Touring, Sport and Race; Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tyres; aerodynamically optimized front splitter, rear diffuser and wing; multi-adjustable suspension; and race-ready kit such as a heavy-duty roll cage, 4 or 6-point harnesses, isolator switches, FIA-approved fire extinguisher, tow eyes, removable steering wheel and HANS-compliant race seats.

The first cars will roll off the production line in Hethel in December, with an allocation of 20 cars through to March 2013. In addition to hitting circuits the world over in various track days events, the Exige V6 Cup is intended for new and current Lotus Cup series including Lotus Cup UK, Lotus Cup Europe, Lotus Cup Eastern Europe, Lotus Cup Italy, Lotus Cup Japan, and the Lotus Ladies Cup (Hungary).

There will be a version for the USA which will be on display at Brands Hatch this weekend. The cars can be purchased through Lotus Cars’ dealer network and direct from Lotus Racing. * Prices include VAT @ 20%.

This summer the critically acclaimed Lotus Exige S loses its roof and gains a new character. As capable as its coupé counterpart, the Exige S Roadster retains all the intent of a race-bred sports car but also possesses the poise of a sleek convertible.

Sitting alongside the Exige S, Exige Cup and Exige Cup R, the Exige S Roadster completes the Exige lineup and enhances the track focussed collection by providing a new facet to the range. Powered by the same 3.5L V6 as the coupé variants and weighing in 10kg less than the Exige S at 1166kg, none of the exhilarating performance of the phenomenal Exige range is compromised, yet the driver is only ‘two clicks and a roll’ away from cruising in open-top style thanks to the lightweight, factory-fitted soft top.
Achieving 0-60 mph from standing in 3.8 seconds, delivering 345 hp at 7000 rpm (350 PS) and 295 lb ft of torque at 4500 rpm, the Roadster matches the coupé’s mechanical performance and retains its £52,900 price tag, but style takes an understated approach having shed its rear wing and front splitter to maximise airflow over its sleek silhouette.

The introduction of the new Exige to the Lotus product range has provided a new opportunity for the Norfolk based sports car brand to expand and strengthen its production resource, generating new jobs and opportunities for skilled individuals who want to be part of the Lotus story.

The Exige S Roadster is the perfect car for a ‘joy’ ride; what better way is there to enjoy the panoramic views of the world’s most beautiful roads than when they are enhanced by the purposeful roar of a V6 soundtrack and to feel the wind in your hair and sun on your skin?

Exige S Roadster is now available to order with the full list of options and extras as available on the Exige S coupé, with the extra interior option of quilted leather seat and door trim details.

The Exige S Roadster at a glance:

• Max Power 345 hp (350 PS) at 7000 rpm
• Max Torque 295 lb ft (400 NM) at 4500 rpm
• 0 – 60 mph 3.8 seconds
• 0 – 100 km/h 4.0 seconds
• Max Speed 145 mph (233 km/h)*
• Weight 1166 kg

The Exige S Roadster in more detail:

Engine: Mid-mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVTi, 24-valve equipped with Harrop HTV 1320 Supercharger.

Transmission: 6 speed manual with sports ratios only from launch. Paddle shift options for Exige S Roadster will be considered subject to demand.
Suspension: Fully independent double wishbone suspension with front and rear anti-roll bar. Bilstein high performance gas dampers and Eibach coaxial springs.

Braking & Dynamic systems:
• AP-Racing four-piston callipers with ventilated and cross drilled cast-iron discs.
• Lotus / BOSCH Developed ABS/ESP system
• Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Cornering Brake Control (CBC)
• Lotus Dynamic Performance Management (Lotus DPM)
Wheels & Tyres: Lightweight cast alloy wheels (17” front and 18” rear) clad with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres.

Fuelled by the excitement and anticipation of the 2014 Formula 1® season, Lotus gives its Exige S range a shot of race adrenaline with the Exige LF1 limited edition.

This summer 81 Lotus Exige S cars will receive a Lotus F1® Team inspired livery and interior trim to commemorate the number of grand prix victories held by the Lotus marque*,

Delivering race-car thrills on the road and track, the critically acclaimed supercharged 3.5l V6 Exige S is well known for its focussed dynamic performance, now, with a striking bespoke black and gold paint scheme with red accents and gold 17” front and 18” rear cast alloy wheels, the Exige LF1 leaves no doubt as to its heritage or indeed to its intention!

The Exige LF1 is a car that begs to be driven; inside the meticulously designed black and gold interior ensures that the driver and passenger environment evokes the spirit of competition, the sporty details a continuity of the Formula 1® inspired scheme.

Exclusivity and performance are at the heart of the Exige LF1; each car will be individually numbered with its own limited edition carbon fibre build plate and loaded rich with extras such as the Exige Race Pack with Dynamic Performance Management system, two-piece high performance brake discs and high-performance Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo tyres. For those drivers wanting to optimise their Exige LF1 optional Convenience Pack, heated seats and rear parking sensors are available.

Designed with Lotus fans firmly in mind, the Lotus Exige LF1 brings to life the iconic black and gold livery of the 1970s and 1980s. A blend of heritage and modernity, the Exige LF1 pays homage to the great Lotus Formula 1 cars of yesteryear yet incorporates the palette and sophistication of today’s E22. Each of the 81 limited edition cars will sequentially celebrate a specific Grand Prix from car #1 commemorating Lotus’ first GP victory at Monaco in 1960 to car #81 marking Kimi Raikkonen’s win at Australia in 2013.

Not only will Exige LF1 owners be guaranteed an exclusive driving experience, but they will also automatically become Exige LF1 Members. Exige LF1 Membership offers a real Lotus F1 experience including a behind the scenes tour of the Lotus Cars and Lotus F1® Team factories and a range of Lotus F1® Team gifts and memorabilia.

Jean-Marc Gales, Lotus CEO explained, “Lotus’ DNA is borne of the Formula one® arena and with 65 years of motorsport racing experience, 40 of those in F1® it’s fitting we celebrate our sporting origins and our race successes with the new Exige LF1. 81 limited edition cars, each one an acknowledgement to each of Lotus’ 81 Grand Prix wins, this car is intended for the truest of Lotus’ racing fans.”

The Exige LF1 makes its public debut during the second week of June, showcased in its right-hand drive guise at the Canary Wharf Motorexpo in London from Monday 9 June until Sunday 15 June and simultaneously in its left-hand drive European-spec at Le Mans 24 hours from Wednesday 11 June to Sunday 15 of June 2014.

Visitors to the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed can see the Exige LF1 on display from 26 until 29 June.

For more details about Lotus’ activities at these events please visit the ‘Events’ section of our website 4lot.us/events

The Exige LF1 Special edition in detail

Exterior:
Bespoke black and gold livery with red accents
Bespoke exterior badges incorporating ‘LF1’ logo
Exclusive black and gold ‘Lotus’ nose badge and wheel centres

Interior:
Bespoke trim in leather and technical fabric featuring black and gold design with gold contrast piping and stitching details
Embroidered ‘LF1’ logos on headrests and floor mats
Embroidered ‘Lotus F1® Team’ logo on seat backs
Matt gold 5-spoke 17”/18”cast alloy wheels
Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo Tyres
Race Pack
Two-piece high performance brake discs
Red brake calipers
Air conditioning
Individually numbered limited edition carbon fibre build plate
Bespoke carbon fibre engine plate

Optional Equipment:
Convenience Pack
Heated seats
Rear parking sensors

The Lotus Exige LF1 special edition comes with the following Formula 1® package within the purchase price of the car:

– A factory tour for 2 people of the Lotus Cars production facility at Hethel
– A factory tour for 2 people of the Lotus F1® Team headquarters at Enstone
– Collector’s edition owner’s pack including Exige LF1 Membership card entitling members to 20% discount on Lotus Originals and Heritage ranges and 10% off Lotus F1® Team Replica collection
– Romain Grosjean 1:2 scale replica helmet
– Lotus F1® car key fob
– Lotus F1® Team USB stick

Performance:
Max Power; 345 hp (350 PS) at 7000 rpm
Max Torque; 295 lbft (400 Nm) at 4500 rpm
0-60 mph; 3.8 seconds
0-100 km/h; 4.0 seconds
Max Speed; 170 mph (274 km/h)
Weight; 1176 kg

The Lotus Exige LF1 is available to customers in all Global markets (excluding the USA).

Fuel consumption for Exige S; Urban 19.5 mpg – 14.5 litres / 100km. Extra urban 37.2 mpg – 7.6 litres / 100km. Combined – 28.0 mpg – 10.1 litres / 100km.
CO2 emissions 236g CO2 / km.

* as at the end of the 2013 season

Lotus Motorsport redefines the Exige V6 Cup with the introduction of the Exige 360 Cup. New lightweight panels and an increase in power mean the Lotus Motorsport Cup model continues to provide a benchmark in handling and performance.

The Exige 360 Cup bespoke styling signals an evolution in design, with an option of four colours (Metallic White, Metallic Grey, Metallic Black and Metallic Silver) and stealth matt black roof, front access panel and louvered tailgate. This design is a limited edition run of 50 vehicles and each of these special Exige 360 Cup cars will receive a numbered Lotus Motorsport build plate.

This new model boasts an increase in power of 10 PS with freer flowing induction and a sports exhaust system, which combined with a low vehicle weight of 1130 kg gives an incredibly pure driving experience on road and track. The powertrain updates also give the Exige 360 Cup a sportier soundtrack to enhance the driving experience.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, commented: “The V6 Cup was a favourite amongst many knowledgeable customers with its incredible track performance and distinctive design. I am excited about the introduction of the new 360 Cup which moves the game forward with striking new design features and performance upgrades that offer phenomenal ability on road and track.”

The Exige 360 Cup uses the track proven aero package from the Exige V6 Cup with an aerodynamically optimised front splitter, rear diffuser and wing. Together with the flat underside these aerodynamic aids offer 42 kg of downforce at 100 mph (160 km/h).

The chassis on the Exige 360 Cup is a Lotus designed stiff and lightweight bonded aluminium chassis with double wishbone suspension all round. The car is fitted with track focused 2-way adjustable suspension and a 4-dynamic mode (drive, sport, race and off) system, including launch control.

New features for the Exige 360 Cup include a bespoke lightweight front access panel, new lightweight rear tailgate and louvered panel. The Exige 360 Cup has a distinctive design, updated grooved brake discs for improved performance, Motorsport Red wheels, embroidered seats and dash panel.

The options available for the Exige 360 Cup include a new red Alcantara interior, adjustable anti-roll bars, Öhlins race dampers, fire extinguisher and electrical cut-off, FIA carbon seats, air conditioning and removable steering wheel.

The Exige 360 Cup is on sale now through the Lotus dealer network with prices starting at £62,995 (MSRP) including 20% tax.

As with all Lotus Motorsport Cup models the Exige 360 Cup is eligible for Lotus Cup race series.

As the ultimate incarnation of the world famous Exige, Lotus has revealed the Sport 350, the latest version of the class-leading and award winning sports car, that’s lighter and faster than ever before.

The new Exige Sport 350 is the next model in the range to mark the reintroduction of the renowned ‘Sport’ naming designation. It joins the recently announced Lotus Elise Sport and Elise Sport 220 – delivering a lighter and even more performance-focused driving experience.

Concentrating on what Lotus does best, and with a focus on pure performance, the two-seater has been developed to deliver an unrivalled experience for the driver, being sharper and more direct than previous models. Drawing on the core elements that have made the Exige a firm favourite with driving enthusiasts, the Exige Sport 350 combines Lotus’ lightweight extruded aluminium chassis structure with muscular and aerodynamically efficient composite bodywork.

A product of Lotus’ ‘Lightweight Laboratory’, the Exige Sport 350 weighs just 1125 kg and has shed 51 kg compared to the previous model Exige S. This reduction in mass is the result of a thorough re-evaluation designed to deliver a pure driving experience.

Lotus engineers weighed every component in the previous Lotus Exige S in order to save weight, the result of which includes, amongst many other changes, the introduction of a louvered tailgate panel, a lighter battery, lightweight engine mounts, a lightweight centre console featuring an exposed gearshift mechanism, lighter HVAC pipework and the optimised use of sound insulation.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, commented: “The Lotus Exige is already regarded as one of the world’s best sports cars and a benchmark for performance and handling both on road and on track. With the Exige Sport 350 we took an already phenomenally quick car and made it even faster, more dynamic and more pure, perfectly demonstrating our Lotus design philosophy of ‘lighter and faster’.”

The 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine generates 345 hp and 295lbft of torque at 4500rpm, offering scintillating, progressive power to the road, while revised suspension tuning and wheel geometry contribute to un-matched vehicle dynamics and steering precision. Coupled with the car’s lower mass, this power and torque enables the Lotus Exige Sport 350 to accelerate to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds (0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds) before reaching a top speed of 170 mph (274 km/h).

The manual gearbox has been heavily revised, giving more precise and quicker shifting. The gearshift mechanism uses light weight machined and cast aluminium components which are so technically aesthetically appealing they are no longer hidden within the transmission tunnel but exposed through an open-gate design, further reducing weight.

The Lotus Exige Sport 350 is also available with a 6-speed automatic option where drivers can change gears manually via forged aluminium paddles located behind the steering wheel, or rely on the gearbox’s fully automatic mode. The automatic gearbox control panel is integrated neatly into the centre console of the cockpit, with buttons for Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive. Up-shifts take just 240 milliseconds, with rapid downshifts accompanied by automatic throttle-blip (when in Sport mode).

When fitted with the optional automatic gearbox, the new Exige Sport 350 is slightly quicker for 0-62 mph (0-100km/h), clocking a time of 3.8 seconds against 3.9 seconds for the manual gearbox, due to electronically optimised gearshifts.

Replacing the previous car’s glass tailgate, the newly designed lightweight, strong and stiff, rear louvered tailgate not only helps lower the Exige’s centre of gravity, but also aids engine bay cooling – a feature first introduced on the Lotus Esprit Turbo in 1980.

The Exige Sport 350’s aerodynamic styling produces 42 kg of down force at 100 mph (160 km/h) with the rear wing and flat underside both contributing to its phenomenal aerodynamic performance and finely balanced handling.

The Exige Sport 350’s suspension, with firmer dampers and revised geometry, delivers more responsive handling and, combined with a lowered centre of gravity and four piston brake calipers, help it lap Lotus’ test track 2.5 seconds faster than the previous Exige S model, in a time of 1 minute 29.8 seconds. This makes it the first production Lotus ever to go sub 1 minute 30 seconds around the famed Hethel track.

Lotus Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) provides three discrete modes – ‘Drive’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ – with the latter offering increased levels of traction slip threshold, allowing wider drift angles before intervening. The system also opens the engine exhaust bypass valve at mid-to-high engine speeds. Both ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings increase throttle responsiveness.

New larger switches with improved haptics have been introduced for the DPM system (Sport and Race) with the headlights and rear fog lights mounted together with the vehicle’s new engine start button.

New trim packs introduce a heritage theme to the cabin with lightweight sports seats and door panels clad in red or yellow Tartan (leather or Alcantara interior trim options are also available). The Tartan theme was first introduced in 1976 in the Lotus Esprit S1 and was a bold statement originally in keeping with the fashion of the time and now fitting for the new Exige Sport 350.

Optional extras for the Exige Sport 350 include lightweight forged alloy wheels (reducing kerb weight by a further 5 kg), cross drilled and vented two-piece brake discs (shaving yet another 5 kg off the weight), black or yellow painted four-piston callipers, air conditioning, an in-car entertainment system and full carpet and sound insulation pack. Interior packs cover Alcantara, leather and Tartan options, for both seat and door trims. By selecting the lightweight options available the total weight of the Exige Sport 350 becomes a featherweight 1115 kg.

As standard, the front splitter, rear wing, front access panel, roof panel, wing mirrors and rear transom are finished in matt black to complement the car’s aggressive stance; with the option for these components to be painted in body colour at no additional cost.

Jean-Marc Gales continued, “Light weight is the most important aspect of our heritage and future Lotus cars will follow the direction of our most recently launched models, the Evora 400, Elise Sport and of course our latest Exige Sport 350, all of which are both lighter and faster than their predecessors. Over the last 15 years, successive versions of the Lotus Exige have beaten more expensive sports car rivals in media comparison tests and I expect the Exige Sport 350 to continue this. The best has just got better!”

The Lotus Exige Sport 350 goes on sale in Europe in February 2016 and will be available outside Europe, excluding North America from March 2016.

The Lotus Exige Sport 350 will also be available as a Roadster from March 2016.

What’s this month’s harder, better, faster Lotus?

Coming thick and fast right now, aren’t they? This time we’re in Hethel to review the new Lotus Exige Sport 380.

Based on last year’s revised Exige Sport 350, the 380 has another 30bhp, race-spec aero and somehow, a weight saving. That’s like making a superleggera F1 car. Or diet celery. It shouldn’t be possible.

How much lighter are we talking?

Ready to go with fuel, fluids, no pesky driver (and lightweight options), the Sport 380 is 1,100kg. Yes, Exiges have gone lighter before, but that was in the old four-cylinder days. This one’s got a whacking great supercharged V6 with 375bhp (or 380PS).

Some weight has actually been added with a bigger carbon wing from the Elise Cup, an Evora’s diffuser, twin front dive planes, wider tyres and an extended front splitter.

But then a valuable 10kg is saved with ultra-lightweight forged wheels. There are lighter two-piece brakes, a lithium-ion battery, carbon seats, plus an optional titanium exhaust.

There’s lightness everywhere, but the extra aero bits add back 15kg when the car’s sat still. At top speed, they add further 140kg…

So it’s very much a track car then?

It’s actually lovely on the road. Freakishly comfortable. This becomes plain about 300 yards after pulling out the factory gates, as the Exige cruises down a roughshod lane impeccably.

Out onto main roads, the uncanny comfiness continues. Sure, you feel a bump or pothole go under the car’s wheels, but the steering’s undistracted, traction unbroken. You just carry on getting stuck in.

I asked Lotus how it made the Sport 380 ride more comfortably than the old Exige Sport 350, (not to mention the new, busy-feeling Evora Sport 410). Turns out it’s new tyres; a wider, off-the-shelf Michelin Pilot Sport Cup. Together with the ultra-lightweight forced wheels and two-piece brakes doing favours for unsprung mass, they add a layer of comfort to the Exige’s superb damping.

So there you go. Grippier and plusher. Less punishing than the Exige Sport 350, which remains on sale, £11,000 lower down the pecking order.

Okay, it’s better to ‘use’. But is it any better to ‘drive’?

It’s pretty stellar – and so damn fast. Lotus claims 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 178mph, but it’s so tractable you won’t have to actively thrash it to start racking up big numbers. At town speeds the V6 is docile and the majority of the noise is whoosh from the supercharger that proudly pokes up into your field of rear-view mirror vision.

Prod the delightful extruded aluminum pedal and it builds into a broad, angry howl until just below 7,000rpm. There’s a button on the steering column for keeping the exhaust pipe flaps open, which must be pressed at every start-up for your own good, and the enjoyment of anyone in the same postcode. Why they’ve bothered fitting a new Bluetooth capable head unit is anyone’s guess.

And boy does it stroll on. Take it on at your ego’s peril. It’s the most accelerative Lotus I’ve ever driven by some margin: down the back straight at the Ethel test circuit, you turn into the ballsy Windsock corner at 80mph (if you’re a bit chicken like me), or 90mph if you’re trying, and don’t brake for the second-gear chicane until you’re knocking on the door of 140mph.

At which point, in fairness, the aero stabilising effect is so powerful you can stop the Exige with the accuracy of the Queen’s chauffer arriving at Buckingham Palace.

The brakes are unassailably strong and perfectly modulated. It just feels so tough, the Exige. Like you could abuse it to the point of violence on a trackday and you’d stagger into the pit lane exhausted before its temperature gauge woke up.

So is it a bit of a Terminator? Too fast and focused for mere humans?

Nope. There’s loads to enjoy when you’re not trying for a new lap record. The unassisted steering is the king of feel almost to the point of hyperactivity.

There’s quite a lot of effort to it – a quarter-hour’s circuit lapping left me with the claw-hand as a morning’s karting from gripping the Alcantara wheel tightly in the low-speed stuff, but if you like your driving alive and tactile – and we really do – this is where to find it.

The exposed gearshift as much a delight for its noise as its tactility. It’s not a dainty, light shift like an Elise; you can feel there are sizeable chunks of metal clacking together in the mechanism, and if you try to fingertip a shift home, you’ll miss it. Or bash the punishing rev limiter.

You’ve got to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in to get the best from it. In traffic, you can just ogle the mechanism.

Would you spend £67,900 on one?

I would, because it’s how I like my fast driving – involving, a bit brutal at times but ultimately forgiving if there’s a sudden and catastrophic blockage in the talent department. I like the Lotus way of fine-tuning a fundamentally good set-up car to make it a bit lighter, a bit louder, faster, angrier. How something this furious came out of sleepy Norfolk is beyond me.

No, it’s still not as everyday useable as what Germany will sell you for £68k – even with the freakish ride comfort, it’s still loud, still single-minded. It’s a Lotus.

And many folks weened onto a diet of DAB radio, squishy dashboards and, err, useable rear visibility would be mortified by the Exile. But let this be a lesson to anyone who says all modern cars are anaesthetised. A novice could learn to drive this car fast, but it’d leave an F1 pilot giggling like a lunatic too.

When’s Lotus going to do a brand new car, though?

True, there’s a whiff of McLaren-itus going on here, using a familiar platform and recipe to create a range of fabulously talented but very similar sports cars.

Happily, Lotus is now selling enough cars that it can afford to build a new Elise in 2020, and keep little crackers like this coming in the meantime.