Performance Review: Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Exige Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 Koenigsegg Agera S 5.0 V8 Hundra.This particular Lotus Exige has a 3456cc Supercharged Petrol powerplant with 6 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V6's includes the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo

The Exige shares its Petrol V6 engine configuration with the likes of the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo and the 2015 Radical RXC Turbo 500 3.5 V6. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Exige's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1080 kgs (2380 lbs) this makes the Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 in the same weight category as the 2018 Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25 or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Exige shares the same bhp with the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp)

In terms of power the 3456cc 24V V6 engine produces 345 bhp (257 kW) @ 7000 rpm similar to the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp) or the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp).

The Supercharged V6 throws out 295 lb-ft (399.9 Nm) @ 4500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (310 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Lotus Exige you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2017 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat 6.2 V8 (343.7 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Exige.

The Lotus Exige has a Power to weight ratio of 319.4 bhp per ton and 273.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 Exige competing with the 2017 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat 6.2 V8 (343.7 bhp per ton) or the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 4.0 997 (343.5 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Lotus Exige generating around 273.1 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2020 Lamborghini Huracan EVO 5.2 V10 RWD (297.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale (297.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 3.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.0 secs, this made the Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 as fast as the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (3.90 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 Steptronic (3.90 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 3.7 Turbo 992 (3.90 secs) the or the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (3.90 secs). This Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 is also faster than the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (4.00 secs) the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (4.00 secs) the 2021 Audi e-tron GT Quattro (4.00 secs) the and the 2020 Maserati Levante Trofeo 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (4.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Exige and the 2006 BMW Z4 3.2 M Roadster 2d

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Exige on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.03 secs @ 113.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2006 BMW Z4 3.2 M Roadster 2d (11.97 secs), the 2004 Audi A4 S4 4.2 Quattro (11.98 secs), and the 2014 Bentley Continental Flying Spur V8 (11.98 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 has a maximum speed of 170mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 Exige equals the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 (181 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 then how about the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 (181 mph), the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo 992 (181 mph), or the 2019 Aston-Martin DBX 4.0 V8 Turbo (181 mph).

Related Links:

2012 Exige Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison