Hard-working spies caught a Lotus Exige that sounded very similar to an accompanying Evora nearby. In addition to the sound, widened wheel arches were noticed. Although not measured, the rear wheels appeared to sit slightly further back, suggesting a longer wheelbase.
The Exige is currently powered by a Toyota-sourced 1.8-litre four-cylinder. At its most hardcore (as used by the supercharged Exige 265E) it makes 197 kW (264 bhp/ 268 PS) and 249 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. Now it seems its days are over.
Big brother Evora is about to donate his own Toyota-based V6 powerplant to the Exige as well as the Elise. Although notably heavier, the V6 also comes with more power and torque to the tune of 206 kW (276 bhp/ 280 PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft).
Rumours of such a marriage first surfaced last autumn but did not translate into anything concrete. Apparently management changes at Lotus put the project on hold until certain financial obligations were cleared. The car was seen less than two weeks ago.
Note: pictures depict Elise facelift which was released earlier this year.
