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Lotus Exige S Roadster UK specs and price

If you were swayed by the Lotus Exige S but fancied a topless model then you’ll be pleased to hear Lotus has made a Roadster version.

The roofless Exige S looks pretty classy. Hold onto your toupe.
The roofless Exige S looks pretty classy. Hold onto your toupe.

The Lotus Exige S Roadster sports a clip-on roof, which can be removed using “two clicks and a roll”. The Roadster also loses the rear spoiler, which arguably makes the thing look a little more classy, despite its humble Norfolk roots.

Somehow Lotus has managed to reduce the weight of the car by 10kg to 1,166kg, a rare feat in the world of drop tops, particularly as most topless models require extra weight to compensate for a loss of structural rigidity.

These tweaks aside, there’s not much to separate the Coupe from the Roadster. You get the same 345bhp, 3.5-litre V6 lump, which propels you from 0 to 60mph in 3.8 seconds. 100mph is reached in 8.5 seconds.

While the Coupe can do 170mph, the Roadster has been slowed down to 145mph, presumably so your toupee remains in place on the motorway.

Driving purists will be pleased to know all that power is channeled through a 6-speed manual gearbox, but there’s every chance Lotus could add its Serial Precision Shift flappy paddle transmission if the masses shout loud enough.

The Exige S manages 28mpg and CO2 emissions of 236g/km. Not too shabby considering this is a serious pocket rocket.

Prices start at £52,900 – the same as the Coupe – and for a few squid more you can bolster its track day credentials with track-optimised suspension and launch control. Two different interiors packs are available.

There’s no word on exact delivery dates but you can put your name down now. We’re guessing in time for the summer would make sense. If we get a summer, that is.

Lotus Exige S Roadster Pictures

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