2001 LOTUS EXIGE S1

This Lotus Exige S1 is an incredible lightweight sports car, which boasts a substantially upgraded mechanical specification, and now has a power-to-weight ratio of around 481bhp per tonne. Under the rear engine cover is now a supercharged 2.0-litre Honda Type R K20A2 inline-four engine, coupled to the Honda six-speed manual transmission with an uprated Exedy clutch. The odometer shows 43,643 miles from new.

First registered on 9 January 2001, this Exige has only two previous keepers on the log book. Its current owner acquired the car in August 2004.

Shortly after acquiring the Lotus, when it had around 27,000 miles on the odometer, the vendor sent it to Maidstone Sports Cars in 2005 to be put through their HPE (Honda Powered Exige) conversion programme. This was the third car built, and has since been fitted with a raft of additional performance-enhancing upgrades.

Its Honda engine is fitted with a Jackson Racing Eaton M62 supercharger, as well as a Link-Up conversion charge cooler kit, and an aluminium radiator with alloy end caps. The motor itself has Toda A3 camshafts, Eibach valve springs, ported exhaust and supercharger inlets, and a Skunk2 Racing 70mm throttle body. It is now reported to produce around 385bhp at the flywheel, and 341bhp at the hubs.

There is also an ultralight flywheel from Competition Clutch Inc., an Exedy uprated clutch, and an EliseParts short shift kit. An upgraded fuel pump from a Porsche Turbo, plus a brand-new OE fuel tank with original in-tank pump, are also installed, along with a 4-into-1 S2 longer primary exhaust manifold, which retains the original boot space.

Beyond the substantial powertrain upgrade, this Exige's chassis setup has also been modified. There are 40mm one-way adjustable Nitron dampers, plus Eibach springs, and a JS Racing wishbone rose joint kit. The car has also been fitted with a toe link kit from EliseParts, and an adjustable front anti-roll bar. Stopped power is provided by AP Racing front and rear brake discs with PF01 pads.

The current specification represents a finely honed selection of components, and the car benefits from two comprehensive chassis-up rebuilds in the past; firstly in 2008 and then again between 2016 and 2018, with a full respray being carried out during the latter.

Today, the car’s body panels and silver paintwork are in excellent condition. In fact, even since the photos were taken, the vendor has had some paint correction carried out to ensure that it presents in superb order, and has also had the front bonnet grilles and wing supports resprayed back to black. While this car has been driven and enjoyed as intended, there are no signs of abuse, and it has evidently been cherished by the vendor.

Inside, the lightweight sport seats are upholstered in a combination of black leather with blue Alcantara centre panels, with the suede fabric also accenting the sill covers, door cards, and the steering wheel. There is some slight wear to the driver’s seat outer bolster and the leather sill cover, but otherwise the cabin is in great shape. Driver and passenger are both secured by five-point Luke safety harnesses, while other equipment includes a heater/demister, a Blaupunkt stereo head unit, and an aftermarket shift light indicator on the steering column. The air-conditioning button remains in the dashboard, but the system was removed when the engine conversion took place.

Its last routine maintenance was carried out in December 2020 at 43,630 miles by John Shorrocks of JS Racing, who has conducted all servicing on the car over the last 10 years. The latest work included an oil and filter change, brake fluid change, and brake system bleed. Prior to this, the car was given a complete chassis-up rebuild in 2018, so it remains in excellent mechanical order.

The most recent MOT test was on 20 November 2020 at 43,617 miles, when it achieved a first-time pass with no advisories or defects whatsoever. All four Avon ZZS tyres were fitted in 2018, and the car has only covered around 130 miles since then, so they are as-new.

This Lotus Exige S1 is a bespoke example of the breed, which benefits from a significant powertran upgrade, as well as a raft of other high-performance components. With a substantial boost in output, this lightweight sports car now boasts a power-to-weight ratio that bests a Ferrari Enzo. The vendor says that it is an incredibly responsive car, and makes for a genuinely thrilling driving experience, whether on the road or the track.

Specification:

• Honda K20A2 engine
• Jackson Racing Eaton M62 supercharger
• Link-Up charge cooler kit
• Competition Clutch ultralight flywheel
• Exedy uprated clutch
• Uprated Porsche Turbo fuel pump
• New fuel tank with in-tank pump
• EliseParts short shift kit
• Toda A3 camshafts
• Eibach valve springs
• Exhaust ports ported, Honda S2000 +1mm exhaust valves
• Skunk2 Racing 70mm throttle body
• Supercharger inlet casing ported to throttle body
• Supercharger nose support bracket
• Motorsports engine cover
• Aluminium radiator with aluminium end caps
• 4-into-1 S2 longer primary exhaust manifold (retains boot space)
• AP front and rear brake discs
• PF01 brake pads
• 40mm single-way Nitron suspension fitted with helper springs and Eibach springs
• JS Racing wishbone rose joint kit
• EliseParts toe link kit
• Adjustable front anti-roll bar
• 4 new Avon ZZS tyres (2018); covered 100 miles since
• Motorsports seats with Luke five-point harnesses
• Both footwells cleaned and treated, then POR15 coated
• Shift lights
• New parts fitted:
• Driveshafts refurbished (New boots and GKN Motorsport grease)
• Ball joints
• Track rod ends
• Anti-roll bar drop links
• Front brake callipers
• Braided brake lines front and rear
• All body panel fixings replaced with stainless steel
• Handbrake cable
• Both headlights
• Headlight covers
• Front indicators
• Rubber fuel pipes
• Windscreen
• Windscreen wiper with spray bar
• External waste glass seals
• Immobiliser bypass

Items treated with Cerakote ceramic coating:

• Wishbones
• Various engine and suspension brackets
• Cam cover
• All bodywork grilles
• Number plate plinth
• Tow post

Please note: DVLA data shows the car is recorded as being gold, but this is an administrative error. Quartz Metallic is its original factory hue.

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