Only 604 Series 1 Exiges were ever built, and Lotus then left the nameplate dormant for three full years before the Series 2 arrived in 2004.
Lead trim: Rover K-series 1.8 VHPD (177 hp) · up to 190 hp
Lotus Exige Series 12000–2001
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Lotus Exige Series 1 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactOnly 604 Series 1 Exiges were ever built, and Lotus then left the nameplate dormant for three full years before the Series 2 arrived in 2004.
The original Exige was launched in 2000 with a naturally aspirated 1.8 L Rover K Series inline-four in VHPD (Very High Performance Derivative) tune, rated at 177 hp in standard form, with a "track spec" version of 190 hp also available. The car has a five-speed manual gearbox, a claimed top speed of 136 mph, and reached 0–60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The first-generation bodywork was based on that of the Series 1 Elise and added a non-removable hardtop, a "fastback", Kamm-tail style rear with a tinted transparent engine cover and a pylon-mounted rear wing, along with front air intakes and a front splitter, and widened front and rear clamshells for a wider wheel track. The Series 1 was built until 2001, 604 examples in total were made, and the car was not replaced until the Series 2 of 2004.
Collectors Spotted in the Lotus Exige Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Lotus Exige yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover K-series 1.8 VHPD (177 hp) | 2000–2001 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | 177 hp | 126 lb-ft | 4.7 s | — | — | — |
| Rover K-series 1.8 track spec (190 hp) | 2000–2001 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | 190 hp | — | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Series 3 was a different animal: Lotus swapped the Exige's four-cylinder for a supercharged V6, making it the biggest-engined car in the Elise/Exige family.
Lotus's front splitter, hardtop and rear wing turned the Series 2 Exige into a real downforce machine — almost 45 kg of it at 100 mph, versus just 5.9 kg on the Elise it was built from.
Only 604 Series 1 Exiges were ever built, and Lotus then left the nameplate dormant for three full years before the Series 2 arrived in 2004.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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