The Lotus Exige, the twin brother of the renowned, award-winning Lotus Elise, arrives on America's shores during the first quarter of 2006. Although Lotus prides itself manufacturing vehicles built solely for performance, the Exige comes in 20 exterior colors and offers a Touring Pack that includes leather seats, door panels, full carpeting, additional sound insulation, air conditioning and an upgraded stereo system. However, like a gorilla dressed in a tuxedo, the beastliness prevails. Adrenaline purists even have the option of removing the air-conditioning system to lighten the load. However, we strongly urge you to retain your 'cool'.

The Exige features bodywork that distinguishes it from its rowdy 'brother'. The extra features add approximately 30 pounds of weight, yet the car stills weighs in at approximately 2,000 pounds. Standard equipment includes forged wheels, ultra-high performance tires, a stiffer suspension and twin-oil coolers from the Elise Sport Pack. The bodywork is hand-laid, and the remainder of the car is hand-assembled. The Exige retains an aura of exclusivity as Lotus plans to manufacture only 300 to 350. Not only will this car stop traffic, by comparison, the traffic around you will appear as if it is standing still.

This attention-seeking roadster is truly a ton of fun.

For LxM James Rothaar