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Lotus Exige

From 177 hp in the original Exige to 430 hp in the Cup 430.12

Researched November 9, 2026 from 32 sources

At a glance

0250500
177–430 hpPower
0510
3.2–5.2 s0–100 km/h
0150300
219–290 km/hTop speed
0250500
181–440 N·mTorque
07501,500
780–1,176 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.1241113

Engine
S1: 1.8 L Rover I4; S2: 1.8 L Toyota I4; S3: 3.5 L supercharged Toyota V61
Layout
Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive1
Gearbox
5-speed manual (S1); 6-speed manual (S2/S3); 6-speed automatic option (S3)1210
Built at
Hethel, Norfolk, United Kingdom1
Units built
10,497 across 2000–20211

The story

Created for track-day drivers, the Exige took the Autobytel championship's Sport Elise racer to the road in 2000 under Russell Carr's design leadership. The S3 swapped four cylinders for a supercharged Toyota V6.234

2000: Brands Hatch gets a road racer20002004: S2 arrives with 189 hp Toyota power20042005: 50 supercharged 240Rs20052006: Exige S adds a Roots supercharger20062009: S 260's launch-control warranty catch20092011: Exige S grows a supercharged V620112016: Sport 350 sheds 51 kg20162018: Cup 430 claims 1:24.8 at Hethel20182021: Final Editions hand over to the Emira2021 Lotus Elise Series 1 (Series 1): 1996–2001Series 1Lotus Sport Elise: 2000–2001Lotus Exige S1 (S1): 2000–2002S1Lotus Exige S2 (S2): 2004–2011S2Lotus Exige V6 (S3): 2012–2021S3 1995200020052010201520202025
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones12412141718
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1996–2001Lotus Elise Series 1 (Series 1)
2000–2001Lotus Sport Elise
2000–2002Lotus Exige S1 (S1)
2004–2011Lotus Exige S2 (S2)
2012–2021Lotus Exige V6 (S3)
2000Brands Hatch gets a road racer
2004S2 arrives with 189 hp Toyota power
200550 supercharged 240Rs
2006Exige S adds a Roots supercharger
2009S 260's launch-control warranty catch
2011Exige S grows a supercharged V6
2016Sport 350 sheds 51 kg
2018Cup 430 claims 1:24.8 at Hethel
2021Final Editions hand over to the Emira
  1. 2000

    Brands Hatch gets a road racer

    Unveiled at Brands Hatch before the Autobytel opener, the 780 kg original claims 0–100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and 100 kg of downforce at 161 km/h.145

  2. 2004

    S2 arrives with 189 hp Toyota power

    The S2 debuts at Geneva with a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter Toyota VVTL-i four; its cam-change kick arrives at 6,200 rpm.67

  3. 2005

    50 supercharged 240Rs

    Just 50 240Rs get 243 hp from an Eaton M62 supercharger conversion, with a fifth injector, Accusump and adjustable Ohlins dampers.8

  4. 2006

    Exige S adds a Roots supercharger

    The 220 hp Exige S adds a Roots supercharger and roof-fed intercooler; extra midrange torque smooths out the old cam-change step.17

  5. 2009

    S 260's launch-control warranty catch

    The 257 hp S 260 clocks 0–60 mph in 4.3 seconds in testing, but using launch control voids warranty cover on components exposed to racing-start loads.9

  6. 2011

    Exige S grows a supercharged V6

    The Exige S debuts at Frankfurt with a 345 hp, 400 Nm supercharged V6; the 1,176 kg manual's claimed 0–60 mph time is 3.8 seconds.24

  7. 2016

    Sport 350 sheds 51 kg

    At 345 hp and 1,125 kg, the Sport 350 combines a 51 kg diet with a redesigned, exposed manual gearshift.210

  8. 2018

    Cup 430 claims 1:24.8 at Hethel

    With 430 hp and 220 kg of downforce, the Cup 430 claims a Hethel production-car record, 1.2 seconds ahead of the 3-Eleven road car.21011

  9. 2021

    Final Editions hand over to the Emira

    Sport 390, Sport 420 and Cup 430 farewell models gain a TFT instrument display. The Exige's 2000–2021 production run ends; the Emira succeeds it.112

Every generation

  • Lotus Elise Series 1
    Series 11996–2001
  • Lotus Exige S1
    S12000–2002
  • Lotus Exige S2
    S22004–2011
  • Lotus Exige V6
    S32012–2021
  • Lotus Emira
    Lotus Emira

Power over the years

From 177 hp to 430 hp in 18 years.

0200400600 20002005201020152020 hp 2000 · 177 hp · Original; 190 hp track option2004 · 189 hp · S2 Toyota VVTL-i2005 · 243 hp · 240R supercharged2006 · 220 hp · Exige S2008 · 240 hp · Exige S 2402009 · 257 hp · Exige S 2602012 · 345 hp · Exige S V62015 · 354 hp · 360 Cup2017 · 375 hp · Sport 3802018 · 430 hp · Cup 4302021 · 420 hp · Sport 420 Final Edition 430 hp Cup 430 177 hp Original; 190 hp track option
12691012
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
2000177Original; 190 hp track option
2004189S2 Toyota VVTL-i
2005243240R supercharged
2006220Exige S
2008240Exige S 240
2009257Exige S 260
2012345Exige S V6
2015354360 Cup
2017375Sport 380
2018430Cup 430
2021420Sport 420 Final Edition

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Exige (Series 1)

    2000–2001

    177 hp

  • Standard

    Exige (Series 2, naturally aspirated)

    2004–2006

    189 hp

  • Performance

    Exige S / S 240 / S 260

    2006–2011

  • Standard

    Exige S V6 / S V6 Roadster

    2012–2016

    345 hp
  • Exige Sport 350 / 380 / 410

    Performance

    Exige Sport 350 / 380 / 410

  • Exige Cup 430

    Performance

    Exige Cup 430

    2018

    430 hp

  • Special

    Exige S RGB

    2010

    256 hp

  • Special

    Exige Sport 410 20th Anniversary

    2020

    410 hp
  • Exige LF1

    Limited

    Exige LF1

    2014

    345 hp

    81 built

  • Limited

    Exige Cup 380

    2017

    375 hp

  • Limited

    Exige 360 Cup

    2015

    354 hp

  • Limited

    Exige 240R

    2005

    243 hp

    50 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Original cars combine a transparent fastback engine cover, chopped-off tail and roof air scoop.18
  • Second-generation coupes have a scooped hard roof, projecting front splitter and raised rear wing.18
  • The V6 Exige S stretches the familiar shape into a longer, wider body.4
  • Cup 430: front wheel-arch louvres and a tall, straight carbon-fiber rear wing.11

Year by year

  1. 2004

    The rounded original gives way to the more angular second-generation body.15

  2. 2016

    Sport 350 replaces the glass engine cover with louvres and puts the revised gearshift mechanism on display inside.10

  3. 2017

    Sport 380 adds paired front canards and changes the rear-light arrangement.10

  4. 2018

    Sport 410 introduces a more curving front-end design.210

Don’t confuse it with

  • Lotus Elise

    An Elise can wear a hardtop. On second-generation cars, check for the Exige's roof scoop, distinct engine cover, splitter and raised rear wing.1817

Against its rivals

Prices

Value today $53.5K–$120.0K2930

Price when newAuction saleValue today
$0$50K$100K$150K 20052010201520202025 Value today: $53,500–$120,000 2006 · $51,860 · US base2007 · $57,915 · US base, S2009 · $76,120 · US base, S 2602009 · $79,420 · US as tested, S 260 2006 · $51,860 · US base price, 2006 model year 2021 · $120,546 · 2019 Cup 430, Collecting Cars2023 · $132,909 · 2020 Exige 430 Cup GP, Collecting Cars2023 · $97,552 · 2018 Cup 430, Collecting Cars2024 · $35,500 · 2010 S260 Sport race car, 1 mi shown (TMU), auction2025 · $111,111 · 2011 S 260 Final Edition Matte Black, 19k mi shown, BaT2025 · $53,500 · 2007 Exige S, 24k miles, BaT2025 · $75,000 · 2006 Exige, 18k miles, BaT2026 · $117,759 · 2023 Cup 430, Collecting Cars2026 · $116,594 · 2018 Cup 430, Collecting Cars $132.9K Collecting Cars, 2023
79192829303132
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2006Launch price$51,860US base price, 2006 model year
2006Price when new$51,860US base
2007Price when new$57,915US base, S
2009Price when new$76,120US base, S 260
2009Price when new$79,420US as tested, S 260
2021Auction sale$120,5462019 Cup 430, Collecting Cars
2023Auction sale$132,9092020 Exige 430 Cup GP, Collecting Cars
2023Auction sale$97,5522018 Cup 430, Collecting Cars
2024Auction sale$35,5002010 S260 Sport race car, 1 mi shown (TMU), auction
2025Auction sale$111,1112011 S 260 Final Edition Matte Black, 19k mi shown, BaT
2025Auction sale$53,5002007 Exige S, 24k miles, BaT
2025Auction sale$75,0002006 Exige, 18k miles, BaT
2026Auction sale$117,7592023 Cup 430, Collecting Cars
2026Auction sale$116,5942018 Cup 430, Collecting Cars
2026Value today$53,500–$120,000

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “1:24.8 at Hethel”
    • “Champions with a race to spare”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 6 generations

  • Market

    • 5 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 32 sources
  1. Lotus Exige - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Lotus Exige V6 (S3, 2011-2021) review – a mini supercar for Golf GTI money | evo evo.co.uk
  3. Retour sur la genèse de la Lotus Exige qui fête ses 20 ans en 2020 - Guide des Sportives guide-autosport.com
  4. Lotus Exige – Raises the bar | Lotus Cars lotuscars.com
  5. Sub 20K performance cars - Lotus Exige S1 | evo evo.co.uk
  6. Lotus Exige S2 buying guide | evo evo.co.uk
  7. 2007 Lotus Exige S caranddriver.com
  8. Elise model history - TechWiki wiki.seloc.org
  9. 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 First Test - Motor Trend motortrend.com
  10. Exige V6 model history milestones - TechWiki wiki.seloc.org
  11. 2018 Lotus Exige Cup 430 - Images, Specifications and Information ultimatecarpage.com
  12. Lotus Exige Sport 390 and 420 Final Editions | 2021MY caricos.com
  13. 2004 Lotus Exige S2 - Images, Specifications and Information ultimatecarpage.com
  14. Lotus Exige (S2, 2004-2011): the ultimate lightweight sports car? | evo evo.co.uk
  15. Lotus Exige 20th Anniversary special edition revealed | CarExpert carexpert.com.au
  16. Lotus reveals limited edition Exige LF1 | Autocar India autocarindia.com
  17. Lotus Elise - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  18. 2000 - 2002 Lotus Exige - Images, Specifications and Information ultimatecarpage.com
  19. 2006 Lotus Exige vs. 2006 Porsche Cayman S caranddriver.com
  20. Top Gear series 4 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  21. 2006 Lotus Exige S British GT - Images, Specifications and Information ultimatecarpage.com
  22. About the B12hr class battles | Bathurst 12 Hour bathurst12hour.com.au
  23. Forza Horizon 5 Car List forza.net
  24. Dive into the Horizon Realms on April 25! forza.net
  25. 2001 LOTUS EXIGE S1 | Sat 14th & Sun 15th June | Anglia Car Auctions angliacarauctions.co.uk
  26. Bonhams Cars : 2001 Lotus Exige S1 Chassis no. 001903 carsd.bonhams.com
  27. Lotus Exige S2 buying guide - Lotus Exige S2 buying checkpoints | evo evo.co.uk
  28. 2010 Lotus Exige S260 Sport Race Car — Sold | PCARMARKET pcarmarket.com
  29. No Reserve: 24k-Mile 2007 Lotus Exige S for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $53,500 on September 30, 2025 (Lot #212,542) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  30. Lotus Exige 430 For Sale & Price Guide | The Classic Valuer theclassicvaluer.com
  31. 2011 Lotus Exige S 260 Final Edition Matte Black for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $111,111 on December 30, 2025 (Lot #225,439) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  32. 18k-Mile 2006 Lotus Exige for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $75,000 on May 28, 2025 (Lot #193,642) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • evo.co.uk
  • guide-autosport.com
  • lotuscars.com
  • caranddriver.com
  • wiki.seloc.org
  • motortrend.com
  • ultimatecarpage.com
  • caricos.com
  • carexpert.com.au
  • autocarindia.com
  • bathurst12hour.com.au
  • forza.net
  • angliacarauctions.co.uk

Photo credits

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