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

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Exige Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 Roadster 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 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged.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, Cabriolet 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 1100 kgs (2425 lbs) this makes the Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 Roadster in the same weight category as the 2020 Lotus Exige Sport 410 3.5 V6 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 2000 Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 V12 (338.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Exige.

The Lotus Exige has a Power to weight ratio of 313.6 bhp per ton and 268.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 Exige competing with the 2000 Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 V12 (338.4 bhp per ton) or the 2007 Lotus 2-Eleven 1.8 Supercharged (338.2 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 268.1 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 2003 Mercedes E Class 55K AMG (293.1 lb-ft per ton) or the 2023 BMW i7 M70 xDrive G70 (292.7 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 Roadster 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 Roadster 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 Coupe 2d

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Exige on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.1 secs @ 113.1 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2006 BMW Z4 3.2 M Coupe 2d (12.05 secs), the 1969 Dodge Charger 7.0L Daytona Hemi (12.05 secs), and the 1975 Ferrari 308 GTB (12.05 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 Roadster has a maximum speed of 145mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 Exige equals the 2007 Lotus 2-Eleven 1.8 Supercharged (156 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 Roadster then how about the 2007 Lotus 2-Eleven 1.8 Supercharged (156 mph), the 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 (156 mph), or the 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR (156 mph).

Related Links:

2012 Exige Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison