2001 Lotus Exige S1 - Honda K20A Turbo

Highlights 

• Fully built and tuned 494bhp Honda K20A turbocharged engine

• Rebuilt gearbox with uprated clutch and lightweight flywheel

• Upgraded suspension and brakes

• Numerous interior enhancements

• Low mileage

• Large history file

• In good condition throughout

• Long, advisory-free MOT

• Additional tuning potential should you feel brave enough

Overview

There's no denying that the Lotus Exige is the perfect example of a modern day two seater sports car. Lightweight, agile and with plenty of usable power it's a formula carried over from the Elise that dates all the way back to Colin Chapman's first forays into automotive design. But then there are some that see the hidden potential. The possibilities to utilise that most adept of platforms to create something a little more aggressive. 

Lotus itself would see this potential, too, developing the Exige over the course of its 21 year lifespan culminating in the 430bhp Final Edition Series 3. But, as far as the original Exige is concerned many felt, as Lotus clearly did, that the car could handle quite a bit more grunt than the 1.8-litre Rover K-Series provided and this particular example is the epitome of that train of thought.

Gone is the aforementioned Rover lump in favour of the venerable DOHC Honda K20A four-cylinder in turbocharged form that's mated to a rebuilt gearbox with an uprated clutch and lightened flywheel. With a fully built bottom end and complete with all supporting mods to see a peak power output of almost 500bhp this car is not for the faint of heart, but then wasn't that a large part of the Exige's appeal in the first place?

The suspension and brakes have also been beefed up to deal with the massive increase in power (over 300bhp more than an original S1) and as a result this Exige has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous in the best possible way. The full spec is listed below but suffice to say this is one serious piece of kit. Complete with a large history folder including numerous specialist invoices for parts, servicing and maintenance, as well as a legitimate dyno printout showing 494bhp, the car presents in great condition overall and has recently passed its MOT with zero advisories.

History and documentation

• 2001 model year

• V5C present and correct in the vendor's name

• In current ownership since 12 Dec 2023

• First registered 27 Dec 2001

• Five registered former keepers

• Original book pack 

• Exige service parts list

• Large history folder

• Numerous specialist invoices for parts, servicing and maintenance

• Work history report from Maidstone Sports Cars dating from 2015 to 2025 listing all work carried out

• Dyno printout showing 494.7bhp and 352.3lb ft of torque

• HPI clear

• Advisory-free MOT until 27 Apr 2027

• 59,537 indicated miles

Interior

• In good condition throughout

• No signs of any major damage

• Minimal wear and tear

• Original Motorsports seats with Safety Devices harnesses for both driver and passenger

• Momo flat-bottomed steering wheel

• Additional dashboard digital gauges, including oil pressure and temperature, intake air temperature and boost pressure 

• Blaupunkt stereo head unit

• Original Exige floor mats and Alcantara door inserts look to be in good shape

• Dashboard remains intact

• No reports of any electrical issues

• Engine bay presents well overall

Exterior

• All panels appear straight with uniform gaps

• No evidence of any major damage or corrosion

• The grey paintwork presents as expected for its age and style of vehicle with some visible stone chips and blemishes to note

• All glasswork appears to be in decent order

• HID headlight kit fitted

• Louvred rear window cover

• Extended rear diffuser

• Black air intake scoops

• The black staggered 12-spoke alloy wheels look to be free from any significant damage or oxidisation but the “Lotus Sport” lettering is flaking in places and there are some light marks here and there to mention

• Avon ZZS tyres all round which the vendor reports are in good condition

• The underneath looks to be in decent shape with the vendor informing us that the chassis is good

Mechanical

• 494bhp, 2.0-litre Honda K20A turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine

• Six-speed manual gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• Built bottom end with 9.6:1 87mm pistons, forged rods, uprated bearings, block guard, ID1050x injectors, new timing chain and tensioner plus other items such as head gasket and ARP head studs

• Garrett GTX3071 spec turbo with 45mm Turbosmart external wastegate and four port Hondata boost controller

• 70mm throttle body

• Dual PWR barrel charge coolers and CWA200 charge cooler pump

• Pro Alloy triple pass rad and Pro Alloy charge cooler rad

• Oil/water cooler

• Hondata Kpro V4 ECU

• Zircotec coated turbo manifold and 1.06 AR exhaust housing

• Custom 3” exhaust with dual silencers to meet track noise limits

• Pro Alloy 48l fuel tank with Spitfire Engineering updated fuel pump (700bhp rated)

• Rated at 550bhp and 400lb ft at 1.6bar (additional tuning potential with turbo/injectors upgrades

• Rebuilt gearbox with Exedy uprated clutch and lightweight flywheel

• New OEM syncros with GearX forged helical 1-4th gearset

• OEM 5th and 6th

• OEM FD 4.764:1

• MSC gear cable setup

• Kazz 1.5way Limited Slip Differential

• Nitron 40mm Club Sport coilovers with helper springs

• Adjustable anti-roll bar, rose jointed bushes and Spitfire toe links

• Full suspension refresh, including all wishbones and bushes and fresh powder coating 

• AP Racing four piston front calipers

• Bigger discs all round – 308/304mm

• The vendor informs us that the car is mechanically sound and extremely lively, weighing around 1200kg with 494bhp and that the engine has done less than 1,200 miles since the full rebuild

Summary

The Exige was built to be driven, hard, and this professionally yet tastefully modified 494bhp pocket rocket represents the absolute distillation of that ethos. If you're after a brutally fast two seater sports car that can easily embarrass far more expensive and exotic fare then you have to seriously consider this Honda K20A swapped weapon. With just 604 ever built the Series 1 Exige is already a rare thing but an example such as this, with this level of performance, is a truly unique proposition. What a thing.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Maidstone, Kent.