Performance Review: Lotus Exige S2 1.8 - [2004]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Exige Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Exige S2 1.8 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2004. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2005 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 and the 2005 SSC Aero SC 8T 6.3L.This particular Lotus Exige has a 1796cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Exige shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. 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 875 kgs (1929 lbs) this makes the Lotus Exige S2 1.8 in the same weight category as the 2011 Lotus Elise Club Racer or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Exige shares the same bhp with the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp)

In terms of power the 1796cc 16V St4 engine produces 187 bhp (139 kW) @ 7800 rpm similar to the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 133 lb-ft (180.3 Nm) @ 6800 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2015 Mazda MX5 2.0i Roadster Coupe (148 lb-ft) or the 2013 Caterham 7 485 2.0L (152 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 2012 BMW 7 Series 760 Li (238.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Exige.

The Lotus Exige has a Power to weight ratio of 213.7 bhp per ton and 152.0 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2004 Exige competing with the 2012 BMW 7 Series 760 Li (238.6 bhp per ton) or the 2004 Pontiac GTO 6.0 V8 (238.5 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 152.0 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 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (176.9 lb-ft per ton) or the 1999 BMW 7 Series 750i E38 (176.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.1 secs, this made the Lotus Exige S2 1.8 as fast as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (4.90 secs) the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (4.90 secs) the 2021 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (4.90 secs) the or the 2020 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 16V Touring (4.90 secs). This Lotus Exige S2 1.8 is also faster than the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (5.00 secs) the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 1.6 Turbo (5.00 secs) the 2022 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 Turbo FL5 (5.00 secs) the and the 2020 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP (5.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Exige and the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Exige on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.82 secs @ 99.0 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo (13.77 secs), the 1971 Maserati Bora 4.7 V8 (13.78 secs), and the 2017 Audi A6 3.0T Competition (13.78 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2004 version of the Lotus Exige S2 1.8 has a maximum speed of 140mph.

Top Speed of the 2004 Exige equals the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (151 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2004 Lotus Exige S2 1.8 then how about the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (151 mph), the 2013 Volkswagen-VW Polo R WRC 2.0 Turbo (151 mph), or the 2006 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi Edition 30 DSG (151 mph).

Related Links:

2004 Exige Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison