First Drive: Lotus Exige S

Brian May might struggle to get his hair inside and Naomi won’t find much space for her Louis Vuitton luggage, but for Lotus purists that want a Porsche 911 GT3 rival for less money the new Exige S fits the bill. Heavier, yes, but no less hardcore. Proportionally the new Lotus Exige S looks fantastic, it swelling in width and length – the stretch in wheelbase necessary to fit in the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 from the Evora S. It’s still recognisably an Exige, only lower and lither, its hunkered stance at odds with the pent-up, insect-like predecessor.

Virtually every panel is new, though the doors remain and the Kamm tail rear is reminiscent of the original car. Externally it might have changed significantly, but the basic structure remains the same, with all the packaging constraints that come with it. Cabin space is tight and access isn’t easy, and while the interior delights with its stark purity in places that does translate to being cheap in others. Sure, the Exige S offers serious performance for relatively sensible money, but it’s difficult not to be a touch disappointed by some of the materials used inside.