Is the track even any wider than the S2 Elise? Or the bodywork, for that matter?
The only real differences are the rear wing, the undertray, the side intakes and the mechanicals - whereas a list for the S1 series' differences would go on considerably longer.
DE
The suspension setup on the S2 Exige is different than the regular Elise. however, if you order the sports option for the Elise (Lotus Sport Suspension, LSS) you get the same suspension setup as the Exige. From there, LSS Elise cars differ from Exiges only in the bodywork, where the Exige benefits from a broader, flatter nose with splitter, reworked side panels, the fastback design, non-functional roof scoop and rear wing. This generates about 100lb of downforce at 60mph, which isn't much, but it does balance the car quite well. Removing the wing on the Exige has proven to be catastrophic on track. There are no differences in undertray between Elise and Exige. The only thing possible is the higher regularly sprung Elises drag their trailing arms through the windflow under the car, whereas the lower Elise w/LSS and Exige don't. The European-style central exhaust also messes up air exiting under the car by sticking right through the diffuser.
This is all for 2006 Elise LSS vs. 2006 Exige in the US market and 2006 Elise R w/LSS vs. 2005/2006 Exige for the rest of the World.
For 2007, the street-legal Exige S replaced the NA Exige worldwide (and was introduced as the first Exige in Canada), which was identical but with the supercharger, adding weight but also adding 30 more hp. The short roof scoop was opened, providing air for the intercooler. The track-only Exige Cup cars were available up to 255hp from the factory, with various bolt-on upgrades and deletes, better cooling and better brakes. The power gain is attributed to ECU tuning, and cooling efficiency is maximized by a roofscoop that extends all the way to the windscreen. There was also a British GT Championship package which offered the Cup car's various performance levels but with street legality (only 50 offered, all Euro market).
Then for 2008, now officially worldwide offered are the Elise, Elise SC, Exige S, and Exige S with Performance package. The Elise SC is mechanically identical to the regular Exige S, minus the intercooler. The Exige S with performance package has an ECU remap to push 240hp, lowers the cam switch, and has the mohawk roofscoop all the way to the windscreen, previously only available on Cup cars. This essentially makes Cracker's step-brother's Exige 240R completely obsolete, other than he got his a good while ago. This is one of Lotus's marketing flaws that is slowly being ironed out by more controlled production and export numbers, as well as secrecy regarding future models and options. Nothing is retrofittable on existing Elises or Exiges from the dealer either.
That pretty much sums up the Elise vs. Exige differences over the last 4 model years. Any clarification is expected and available
Kikie - expect the GT3 to appear as a compliment to the release of the Project Eagle 2+2 GT for 2009, in either track-only form, or entirely replacing the Exige to further seperate it from the Elise. That is current speculation, and not even the little birdies are singing about that yet.
), and this really highlights it.
I also like the rearless CF 69 Elise. Pretty sick indeed. Lightweight FTW!!!!! 
