After a healthy dose of seat time in a pre-production Exige S 240 at Spring Mountain Raceway, just outside of Las Vegas, to say it has 'kart-like handling' would be an insult. It's way better. With the shocks set right, the understeer of the old car can be dialed out completely. Then the variable traction control can be adjusted to achieve just the right amount of slip angle while exiting the corners. As with any British car, the Lotus has quirks to pick on, like a completely useless rear-view mirror and oddly placed horn buttons that are triggered at extreme steering angles. But these only add more character to a machine as famous for its styling as its purely performance-oriented design. We can't wait to have an SCC project car that could take down the Exige S 240, but at this point, we can't imagine what car that would be.
2008 Lotus Exige S 240
Price as Tested: $64,890
Engine Displacement/Type/Valvetrain: 1796cc in-line four, aluminum block and head, supercharged and intercooled, DOHC, VVTL-I variable valve timing
Claimed Crank HP: 240 @ 8000rpm
Claimed Crank Torque: 170lb-ft @ 5500rpm
Drivetrain/Layout/Transmission: Transverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, six-speed manual, adjustable launch/traction control
Curb Weight: 2077 lbs
Weight Distribution (F/R): 37/63
Suspension (Front): Double wishbone with anti-roll bar
Suspension (Rear): Double wishbone
Brakes (Front/Rear): 12.1-in. cross-drilled rotors, AP Racing four-piston aluminum fixed calipers/11.5-in. cross-drilled rotors, Brembo single-piston sliding calipers
Wheels (Front/Rear): 16x6.5 (F), 17x7.5 (R), forged aluminum
Tires (Front/Rear): 195/50/16 (F), 225/45/17 (R), Yokohama Advan AO48LTS
By Andy Hope
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