For the past 15 or so years, Lotus has focused on creating cars that have one simple design philosophy: lose extra weight. It doesn’t matter if that weight is from heavy materials or the creature comforts that are normally found inside sports cars, it has to go. The resulting models, the Elise and the Exige, are incredibly nimble track machines that are a blast to drive. The only problem is that you couldn’t really use them on a day-to-day basis, but the 2011 Evora takes the company’s performance pedigree and adds practicality. Continue Reading
The Lotus Exige S is all about dropping pounds. While, when compared to other sports cars, the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine in the Exige seems far too small, the overall effect is incredible. That’s because the 257-horsepower 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 only weighs 1,962 pounds. This gives a power to weight ratio of 7.63 pounds per one horsepower. A Porsche Cayman, a lightweight sports car itself, has a 9.45:1 ratio with an engine nearly twice the displacement (3.4-liter six-cylinder). The Lotus may not seem like a serious sports car from a numbers perspective, but it will rip around a track better than most of its competitors, and for a smaller price tag. Continue Reading