Lotus Exige

Is this the world's finest all-round road and track car? It certainly lays claim to that title with raw performance, agility and almost unparalleled ride and handling good enough round Lotus's test track to make this MK3 Exige model a full five seconds quicker than its predecessor. Yes, it's that much better. So no, the extra weight and power hasn't spoiled this Lotus. It's still a true race car for the road, developed by drivers for drivers. Hugely entertaining, richly rewarding and, if you carefully choose your setting on the clever Dynamic Performance Management system, able to take corners better than Pele thanks to a uniquely formidable downforce package that sticks it to the tarmac. To criticise this car's lack of day-to-day practicality is pointless. That's not its remit and in any case, all likely owners will have other more sensible cars installed in their air conditioned, timber-framed garages. That said, the designers needed to make this an easier car to drive to and from the racetracks it loves most. Good then, that they've done that too. An Exige of course won't be for everyone. But for the committed few, it offers a unique ownership proposition. More of a sportscar. More of an experience. More of a Lotus.