Image via lookship/YouTube
We’re big fans of the Lotus Exige, admiring the British track toy for a number of reasons. But for one UK engineer named Kevin, his was loaded with too much potential to be held back by the factory powertrain. That’s why he swapped in a four-cylinder Audi engine in the rear, bolting a big Garrett turbo up to make even more power.
Painstakingly built, this Martini Mustang is a masterpiece.
It took Kevin a decade to build his Exige into the vehicle he wanted. The man didn’t just swap out the engine but also fabricated a number of parts, including the brake discs. He also widened the front and rear fenders, allowing for larger tires and a bigger contact patch. That also allowed him to upgrade the brakes in a way that was impossible with the factory track widths.
That rear wing is attached to bespoke mounts which go through the body and are bolted onto interior panels attached to the rear body shell. Kevin has also fabricated engine mounts so the Audi mill sits square in the frame, all to ensure the driveshafts are at the right angles.
In other words, the guy is meticulous in his work. He’s the kind of person you want doing your car build, although we’re sure he doesn’t come cheap since he’s not cutting corners. But you’re going to avoid problems versus using a shop that just jimmy rigs everything, then it blows up later when you’re trying to enjoy a track day.
As Kevin goes through his build on camera with car YouTuber lookship, it’s apparent the guy really knows his stuff. We suggest watching the video to get more details about this build because it’s really well put together and super interesting.
Kevin has modified other Lotus Exiges for people, but with money being a factor, none have opted for all of the mods he’s done to his own ride.
Images via lookship/YouTube
