2017 Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 Review and Performance Comparison

Lotus Exige Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 2017 Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 is a powered by a Petrol V 6. This variant of the Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 2017. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport 8.0L W16 Quad Turbo and the 2018 Bugatti Divo 8.0L W16 64 Valve Turbo.

This particular Lotus Exige has a 3456cc Supercharged Petrol powerplant driven by the Lotus Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol V 6's include the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo

The Exige shares its Petrol V 6 engine configuration with the likes of the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo and the 2024 Maserati GT2 Stradale.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Exige's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1110 kgs (2447 lbs) places the Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 in a similar weight category as the 2022 KTM X-Bow GT-XR 2.5 Turbo and the excellent 2020 Lotus Exige Cup 430 3.5 V6, give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Exige shares the same bhp with the 2024 Maybach S 580 e EQ Hybrid Technology (362 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 3456cc 24 valve, V 6 engine produces around 375 bhp (279 kW) @ 6700 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Maybach S 580 e EQ Hybrid Technology (362 bhp) and also the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp).

The Supercharged V 6 throws out 302 lb-ft (409.4 Nm) @ 5000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2025 BYD Han L LiDAR Premium (310 lb-ft) or the 2025 BYD Han L LiDAR Flagship (310 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 2017 Lotus Exige in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2009 Wiesmann GT MF5 (362.3 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Exige.

The Lotus Exige has a power to weight ratio of 337.8 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 2017 Exige 380 3.5 V6 means you're competing with the 2009 Wiesmann GT MF5 (362.3 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2011 Audi R8 GT 5.2L V10 (361.9 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 generates around 272.0 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale (297.0 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2020 Mercedes GT AMG 4.0 V8 Bi Turbo (296.6 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 can accelerate 0–60mph in 3.50 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 3.6 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 include the 2025 Mercedes Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed Roadster (3.50 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2024 Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo (3.50 secs).

The V 6 engine of the Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2023 BMW i7 M70 xDrive G70 (3.60 secs) and the 2022 BMW 4 Series M4 CSL (3.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 and the Nissan Skyline GT-R Premium Edition R35

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 2017 Lotus Exige can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 11.74 secs with a trap speed around 116.0 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Nissan Skyline GT-R Premium Edition R35 (11.75 seconds @ 115.9 mph) and a close race between the Mercedes S Class 63 AMG S 4Matic (11.75 seconds @ 115.9 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 2017 version of the Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 has a maximum speed of 178mph.

Top Speed of the 2017 Exige equals the Alfa-Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (177 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 2017 Lotus Exige 380 3.5 V6 then there's the slightly slower the Alfa-Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (177 mph) or how about the impressive Maserati 4200 GT 4.2 V8 (177 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 2017 Exige Rivals List.
• 2017 Exige: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Lotus
• Compare the 2017 Lotus Exige