Ah, you spotted the fact this is no merefacelift. The Exige, Lotus’ most hardcore, track-focused model, has beenthoroughly overhauled, gaining new design, a rather funky wing and a longerwheelbase to make room for the supercharged V6.Yes, the Exige used to have a teensy1.8-litre four cylinder and the new Exige S has the same 3.5-litre V6 as theEvora. This has changed the car somewhat.Yes, by around 240kg. But there’s more thanenough power to offset that – 345bhp gives the Exige S a similar power toweight ratio to a Porsche 911 Turbo, and means 0-62mph in four seconds flateven with a standard six-speed manual rather than some super-snappydouble-clutcher. Major league performance.No, it was about handling purity, not bluntacceleration. But the feeling at Lotus was that the Exige needed to changetack, to become more habitable, to be an everyday-feasible car, one that youcould take to a track day without needing the services of a towbar-equipped SUVand a trailer. The trouble is, adding everyday comfort (and that big V6) upsthe weight and loses the focus. But hell, 1176kg isn’t much in the grand schemeof things and Lotus is capable of handling miracles.This might just be a) one of the greatestdriver’s cars Lotus has ever made and b) one of the best handling carsavailable today. Seriously. It’s just sensational. It single-handedly provesthat Lotus has lost none of its ability to make cars ride, handle and steerbetter than just about anyone else on the planet. It’s not just that it’schuffing fast across country due to the outlandish grip and mighty V6 shove,but that it’s just so pure, so much fun. You can pootle around town and stillget loads of enjoyment from the steering response, the way the ride deals witheverything with so little fuss. I was skeptical about the Exige’s newdirection, the extra weight, but I’m 100 per cent convinced that this is theway to go.Nope, think Porsche 911 GT3 instead.You did. The Exige may not have thepedigree, or quite such a charismatic engine, but that’s the way to look at it– as a 911 GT3 for £30,000 less.It is noisy on long trips and the radiostruggles to overcome the road noise. The manual gearshift is also a bit stiff.But this is a hardcore driver’s car, you have to be prepared to makesacrifices. One of them might be your ears. Another your back when clamberingin and out. Small price to pay.Don’t be so hasty. Yes, Proton, theMalaysian company that owns Lotus, has been bought by an even bigger fish andthat big fish is currently evaluating its options. Based on their latest wordsto the media, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and we remainhopeful that the ambitious model plans laid down by Dany Bahar will one day bearfruit. After driving this Exige, the thought of never experiencing the 550bhpEsprit supercar fills us with horror. Formore pictures and the full story on the new Lotus Exige