Introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011, the third generation of the legendary Exige, the 2012 Exige S was powered by the 345bhp, 3.5-litre V6 from the Evora S.

The following year, a roadster version was introduced and shortly afterwards the range was completed by the track-focused, ‘V6 Cup’ and subsequently the track- only ‘V6 Cup R’.

The standard Exige is a supremely competent road car, benefiting from being uncluttered by unnecessary luxuries and its supercharged Toyota V6 engine provides it with enough grunt – 345bhp and 295lb/ft of torque – to embarrass all but the most ambitious ‘supercar’ drivers.

Combine that with its focused, mid-engined chassis, superb, non-power assisted steering that offers rewarding feedback and hugely capable brakes, the result is another example of the type of thinking that has provided Lotus enthusiasts with rewarding sporting motoring for over five decades.

But for those that require more of the same, there is the Exige V6 Cup.

The V6 Cup i...