The Sport 350 Version of the Lotus Exige is the most hardcore version of this model and comes as a superb addition to the range of the automaker from Hethel.
It has brought the “Sport” name to model versions in the Lotus range, and is the lightest possible incarnation of the current Exige range.
Since Lotus has a passion for trimming weight from its models, offering the least heavy Exige ever, but with plenty of power and torque, has the potential of putting one of the most capable, pure, and unfiltered driver’s cars on the market for the 2016 model year.
This model was not all about maximum performance, as it is available with a removable top, and its interior can be ordered with a “Heritage Tartan” upholstery, among other elements. It appears that Lotus has found the recipe for the perfect mid-engine sports car optimized for the lightest possible weight in the modern age.
It won’t be available in the USA because it is not approved for road use, but customers in Europe and other markets can already purchase one.
When asked about design, engineers will say that form follows function, while designers will say the opposite. Every car available on the market has compromises made by one of the development teams, and the result is the best product of its kind they could make at that time.
Lotus’ Exige Sport 350 seems to have been someplace else when the memo regarding compromises arrived at the company headquarters. The British sports car features a fabulous design, which blends elegance with simplicity in a way that you cannot help but admire. It is all not fun and games, as some components are not as pretty as they could be because of practical or technical reasons.
The engine cover has a less than aesthetic look, but it has been done this way because Lotus managed to make it three kilograms lighter than on the regular Exige. The side mirrors are not pretty either, and their mounting brackets are not to our liking either, but we are sure they have this shape for aerodynamic reasons.
The rear of the car is simple, and Lotus even turned to stickers to fit its brand name and model name instead of conventional plastic letters on the rear cover. Interestingly, you can still get this car with modern elements that blend in without looking like a pig on stilettos. Moreover, the rear wing brings up to 42 kilograms of downforce at high speeds.
If the exterior was not simple enough for you, Lotus has made an interior for the Exige Sport 350 that seems to be the definition of simplicity.
Whenever possible, the bolts are visible, while all unnecessary elements have been eliminated. Lotus says that the visible mechanism of the gear leaver has managed to save the car about 1.5 kilograms. We must note that it looks superb, and reminds us of the beautiful creations from Spyker, which were slightly more complicated than Lotus’.
The dash comes with the bare minimum elements, but you still get an infotainment unit, gauges, and the general controls one seeks in a vehicle. The Exige Sport 350 also comes with the “Heritage Tartan” upholstery, which you can see in the photo gallery. If you will, it is Lotus’ equivalent of the Volkswagen tartan pattern used in GTI models.
Only two people can take a seat in the Exige, and those without acrobatic abilities need not apply. The car is low, and it has a solid side skirt and step plates, which involve difficulty in accessing the interior. The best option is to sit with your back side first, and then insert your feet. At the end of the day, it is up to you how you get in the Exige Sport 350.
The front bucket seats have a sporty design that matches the rest of the interior. Lotus does not mention any specification of the trunk of the Exige Sport 350 because the car does not have a trunk or a “frunk.” The only place where you could store luggage is at the feet of the passenger.
If the last mention did not send you running, the Exige Sport 350 might be the car for you.
Gadgets a is a big word for the simplicity offered by Lotus’ Exige Sport 350.
Unlike the Caterham Seven Sprint, another British two-seater that has been simplified to the max, the Exige does offer a set of comfort features.
It is worth noting that “regular” features are an option to the people of Lotus. Alcantara? Option. Leather? Option. Tartan package in Yellow or Red? Option.
The same goes for air conditioning, an automatic transmission, metallic paint, black or yellow calipers, signature paint, Clarion MP3/CD/WMA unit with Bluetooth? All optional. The latter also comes with a full carpet and sound insulation. Otherwise, the customer does not get those either.
There are a few standard elements, like central locking, an immobilizer with an alarm, a part leather interior to go with the black fabric seats, and frontal airbags for driver and passenger.
The ESP has three operating modes – Drive, Sport, or Race. We also noticed a few options that are not mentioned by the brand, like electrically operated windows, rear parking sensors, and LED daytime running lights.
The rest is just exhilarating acceleration with added lightness, for absolute driving satisfaction. Ten exterior colors are available to order.
Lotus’s Exige Sport 350 comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that has been supercharged. It provides 351 HP at 7,000 rpm, and a peak torque of 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) at 4,500 rpm.
The engine is transversely mounted behind the occupants, making this model a mid-engine car. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3,9 seconds, while top speed is rated at 274 km/h (170 mph).
Fuel economy in the regular European combined cycle is estimated at 10,1 liters/100 kilometers. In city driving, something that the Exige Sport 350 is not meant to do, fuel consumption is rated at 14,5 liters for every 100 kilometers, while taking it outside the city brings 7,6 liters for every hundred kilometers.
Its fuel tank has a capacity of 40 liters (10.5 US gallons), so fuel stops might become an everyday affair if you have a heavy right foot.
The six-speed automatic variant has a lower top speed, of “just” 261 km/h (162 mph), while the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint is faster by 0,1 seconds. Fuel economy is also improved in all environments, according to Lotus’ submitted figures.
The version with the manual weighs 1,125 kilograms (2,480 lbs), while the one with the automatic only weights five kg (11 lbs) more, which is an impressive result in itself. The key figures here are at the power to weight ratio, where every “horse” has to pull 3,2 kilograms (7 lbs).
Lotus models have not been tested by the EuroNCAP, IIHS, or NHTSA organizations.
The British automaker makes a small number of vehicles each year, and it does not address the public in the same way that a conventional automaker will.
For the same reason, other exotic brands are not crash tested by authorities. Furthermore, since these organizations buy those vehicles to ensure objective results are produced, acquiring a few Ferrari or Aston Martin models would make the entire exercise costly for the institution.
Instead, the makers of vehicles that are built in such small numbers have to comply with a set of European and American regulations (case dependent, naturally), which include mandatory airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, and other elements like these.
From there, the manufacturers are known to perform internal tests, which produce results that are presented to authorities upon homologation.
In the case of the Lotus Exige Sport 350, the model has front passenger and driver airbags, ABS, brake assist, Cornering Brake Control, Electronic Brake Distribution, and a Lotus-tuned stability control system. The differential comes with an electronically-controlled Limited-slip function developed by Bosch and optimized by Lotus.
No side airbags are present or available, and this is one of the reasons why this model is not homologated for road use in the USA.
The Lotus Exige Sport 350 is to the automotive world what single malt whiskey from the Islay region is to the world of fine alcoholic beverages. Some would call it an acquired taste, but it will never suit some consumers.
It is natural for this car not to be for everyone, and that one might feel it is entirely different from what they appreciate most in a vehicle. While some find the peaty whiskeys of the Islay region awful because of their smoky character, others believe that Lotus cars are too extreme for their taste.
This does not mean anyone is entirely right or wrong in this aspect, as this is the deal with acquired tastes that might never suit one’s palate. Do you love tacos but hate sushi? This is the same situation.
On the other hand, if you are a malt aficionado, there is a big chance you appreciate the peaty and smoky character of single malts from the Isle of Islay.
In the automotive world, a car from Lotus, especially a model like the Exige Sport 350, is similar to a single malt from Islay. It has a particular character that will be appreciated by enthusiasts, but regular people will walk away.
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