When the original Lotus Exige came to market in 2000 it was a magnificent, hairy-chested beast. It was a raw, untamed experience that Elise spirit channelled into something approaching a full-on racing car. It was a formidable track day car, and the Lotus faithful were suitably impressed.
With the second generation, however, Lotus had to dial it back a bit because it was scaring the children. The newer Exige comes with such decadent accessories as carpets and cupholders. It is a reluctant nod to people who want to avoid massive chiropractor bills, the sharp edge of the previous car having been filed away.
That's not to say that it has become a particularly practical, friendly car - the cabin is purely functional, with none of the theatrical flair you might expect in a car of this price. There is some storage space at the front of the car you might fit some luggage into, but the Exige is no Porsche Cayman
.
It does, however, manage 0-60mph in under 5 seconds and provides one of the most viscerally thrilling yet elegant drives you could hope for. The steering is meaty and talkative and the controls have a pleasing heft to them. There's a poise and balance to the car that allows you to exploit its grip to the maximum - it's like a ballet dancer on amphetamine.The 1.8-litre Toyota engine sounds great but brings welcome reliability to the Exige - the Rover K Series unit that previously powered the car was no help to Lotus's image of unreliability.
We'd have to say that the changes that have made between generations of Exige are entirely for the better - whilst you wouldn't want to use the Exige as your only car, it is a more palatable prospect for an actual journey, yet still retains the power to thrill if it finds its way onto a track.
Lotus build quality still isn't fantastic though, and certainly has no hope of competing directly with Porsche and others. The Exige only really begins to make sense as a toy; it is almost literally a fair weather car when you take into account the likely leaks you'll end up with.
Rivals will offer a better-resolved package if you're looking for a car that will slot into your life, but you buy an Exige you'll find your life slotting around the best drives you can imagine.