The Lotus Exige is the kind of car that doesn't need a thumping great V8 or a few dozen turbochargers to be faster than most cars more powerful than themselves. That's reason number one of several why Lotus opted to use the engine out of Rovers and Toyota Camrys in them for the longest time.
But that doesn't mean we'll look in the other direction when someone decides that their Exige needs more power. Have a look at this fantastic 2000 Lotus Exige Series One coupe swapped with a turbo Audi four-cylinder engine. It's for sale on pistonheads.com via a very dedicated Lotus broker and enthusiast in the United Kingdom named Will Blackham.
As it sits today, this Audi-powered Lotus jets 350 horsepower to the rear wheels. The car sports just 45,600 original miles (73,386.08 km), with just 7,000 (11,265 km) of those coming after the Audi engine conversion.
It's fed through a six-speed manual gearbox with an upgraded performance clutch to a Quaife ATB limited-slip differential. This should keep the car from spinning its wheels in hard corners, as will the fully adjustable coil-over suspension. The radiator is aftermarket and constructed entirely of aluminum.
Little trinkets like the prominent hood and roof scoops ensure everyone knows this is not just a typical Lotus but a racecar you can drive on the road. It makes for a package that's bound to excite fans of Lotus who are as die-hard for the brand as Will Blackham himself is.
At a price of £35,999 or approximately $48,695, it's bound to give more thrills than the middle-of-the-road Lexus or BMW that kind of money would fetch you in the new car market. Will Blackham is one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable Lotus sellers and technicians we've come across in a long time. It's our privilege to give his work a bit of spotlight, and his awesome Audi swapped Exige deserves such love.
As it sits today, this Audi-powered Lotus jets 350 horsepower to the rear wheels. The car sports just 45,600 original miles (73,386.08 km), with just 7,000 (11,265 km) of those coming after the Audi engine conversion.
It's fed through a six-speed manual gearbox with an upgraded performance clutch to a Quaife ATB limited-slip differential. This should keep the car from spinning its wheels in hard corners, as will the fully adjustable coil-over suspension. The radiator is aftermarket and constructed entirely of aluminum.
Little trinkets like the prominent hood and roof scoops ensure everyone knows this is not just a typical Lotus but a racecar you can drive on the road. It makes for a package that's bound to excite fans of Lotus who are as die-hard for the brand as Will Blackham himself is.
At a price of £35,999 or approximately $48,695, it's bound to give more thrills than the middle-of-the-road Lexus or BMW that kind of money would fetch you in the new car market. Will Blackham is one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable Lotus sellers and technicians we've come across in a long time. It's our privilege to give his work a bit of spotlight, and his awesome Audi swapped Exige deserves such love.