Performance Review: Lotus Exige Cup 260 1.8 Supercharged - [2009]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Exige Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Exige Cup 260 1.8 Supercharged is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2009. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2010 Hennessey Venom GT 6.2L V8 and the 2010 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 Super Sport.This particular Lotus Exige has a 1796cc Supercharged 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 890 kgs (1962 lbs) this makes the Lotus Exige Cup 260 1.8 Supercharged in the same weight category as the 2007 Lotus Elise SC 1.8 or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Exige shares the same bhp with the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp)

In terms of power the 1796cc 16V St4 engine produces 256 bhp (190 kW) @ 8000 rpm similar to the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp) or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (266 bhp).

The Supercharged St4 throws out 174 lb-ft (235.9 Nm) @ 6000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 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 2020 BMW 5 Series M5 Competition 4.4 V8 Turbo F90 (312.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Exige.

The Lotus Exige has a Power to weight ratio of 287.6 bhp per ton and 195.5 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2009 Exige competing with the 2020 BMW 5 Series M5 Competition 4.4 V8 Turbo F90 (312.6 bhp per ton) or the 2006 Mercedes CLK DTM Cabriolet (311.9 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 195.5 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 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 320R - Saloon (220.5 lb-ft per ton) or the 2012 BMW 1 Series M135i F20 (220.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.1 secs, this made the Lotus Exige Cup 260 1.8 Supercharged as fast as 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 or the 2020 BMW 4 Series M4 Coupe 3.0 Bi Turbo G82 (4.00 secs). This Lotus Exige Cup 260 1.8 Supercharged is also faster than the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (4.10 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 (4.10 secs) the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.10 secs) the and the 2022 BMW XM 4.4 V8 Twin Turbo G09 (4.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Exige and the 1993 Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo S

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Exige on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.51 secs @ 109.3 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1993 Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo S (12.46 secs), the 1992 Maserati Ghibli 2.0 V6 Biturbo (12.46 secs), and the 1970 Aston-Martin DBS Coupe 5.3 V8 (12.47 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2009 version of the Lotus Exige Cup 260 1.8 Supercharged has a maximum speed of 152mph.

Top Speed of the 2009 Exige equals the 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8 (163 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260 1.8 Supercharged then how about the 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8 (163 mph), the 2019 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy-R (163 mph), or the 1996 Lotus Esprit 2.0 Turbo GT3 (163 mph).

Related Links:

2009 Exige Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison