What is it?
The latest Lotus Exige with the middle roof panel missing, to make it a roadster. Actually, delve a little deeper and there is more to it, this car fitted with the supercharged 3.5-litre V6 found in the fixed roof car. Owners can also choose between the six-speed manual and SPS automatic transmissions - the latter with launch control.
Why's it here?
To be honest we're not 100 per cent sure of the answer to this ourselves. Everyone was expecting an Evora roadster, not an Exige with the roof panel removed - a configuration easily achieved with an Allen key and five minutes of your time on previous examples. And surely an Exige without a roof is a little close in concept to an Elise? To be fair, this Exige does come with a (manual) soft top, and it also happens to be the most powerful roadster Lotus has ever made.
Show stopper or floor filler?
Well, compared to previous motor shows, where Lotus stole the show with a raft of new models destined to take over the world, the roofless Exige is a little bit of a letdown. It's not helped by the dark blue/caramel colour combo, but even so we can't help thinking Lotus has missed a trick here.
Graeme Lambert - 8 Mar 2012