Performance Review: Lotus Exige Sport 380 3.8 V6 Auto - [2017]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Exige Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Exige Sport 380 3.8 V6 Auto is the 6 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 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 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 1121 kgs (2471 lbs) this makes the Lotus Exige Sport 380 3.8 V6 Auto in the same weight category as the 2020 Lotus Exige Sport 410 Roadster 3.5 V6 or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Exige shares the same bhp with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp)

In terms of power the 3456cc 24V V6 engine produces 375 bhp (279 kW) @ 6700 rpm similar to the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp) or the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo (360 bhp).

The Supercharged V6 throws out 302 lb-ft (409.4 Nm) @ 5000 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 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 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE 5.7 V12 (359.3 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Exige.

The Lotus Exige has a Power to weight ratio of 334.5 bhp per ton and 269.4 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2017 Exige competing with the 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE 5.7 V12 (359.3 bhp per ton) or the 2003 Ford GT 5.4 V8 (357.6 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 269.4 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 2003 Ascari KZ1 5.0 V8 (294.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 7.2 V8 (294.2 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 3.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 3.6 secs, this made the Lotus Exige Sport 380 3.8 V6 Auto as fast as the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 6.2 V8 Convertible (3.50 secs) the 2023 Aston-Martin Valour 5.2 V12 Twin Turbo (3.50 secs) the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6.2 V8 (3.50 secs) the or the 2022 BMW 4 Series M4 CSL 3.0 Twin Turbo G82 (3.50 secs). This Lotus Exige Sport 380 3.8 V6 Auto is also faster than the 2023 BMW i7 M70 xDrive G70 (3.60 secs) the 2020 Audi TT RS 2.0 Turbo (3.60 secs) the 2020 Iso Rivolta GTZ 6.2 V8 Supercharged (3.60 secs) the and the 2019 BMW X6 M Competition 4.4 V8 Turbo F85 (3.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Exige and the 2004 Vauxhall-Opel Monaro 5.7 V8 VXR

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Exige on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 11.98 secs @ 114.2 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2004 Vauxhall-Opel Monaro 5.7 V8 VXR (11.93 secs), the 2003 Maserati 4200 GT 4.2 V8 (11.94 secs), and the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged (11.95 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2017 version of the Lotus Exige Sport 380 3.8 V6 Auto has a maximum speed of 170mph.

Top Speed of the 2017 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 2017 Lotus Exige Sport 380 3.8 V6 Auto 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:

2017 Exige Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison