2011 Lotus Elise

Lotus Elise Review

The Lotus Elise has raised the bar of excellence and standard of performance with its distinctive features that are typical of an industry-leading mid-engine sports car. Group Lotus has carried on with the tradition of producing a lightweight super car which has been its trademark since introducing its first generation agile super roadster some 14 years ago.

This Group Lotus masterpiece made a rousing debut during the 80th International Geneva Motor Show after months of dogged anticipation by industry observers. This latest generation of Lotus Elise went through some major design and development changes while retaining the distinctive character and winning form of its older siblings that have won the nod of industry experts. Since the inception of the first generation of this popular Lotus line, it has won adulation and recognition from various sectors; winning countless awards for its unparalleled performance and application of cutting edge technology.

The Lotus Elise was designed and developed with the hardcore driving enthusiasts in mind. This modern speedster features a wide range of proprietary technologies and design concepts, setting the new standards for the top end sports car category. This latest model of Lotus Elise boasts of a lightweight yet extremely sturdy chassis made from bonded and extruded aluminum core material, impact-absorbing crash front structural frame for unmatched safety and a light composite panel. This Lotus Elise tips the scale at just half the weight of a typical family saloon, giving it a clear edge over its competitors in terms of acceleration and road handling.

The Elise line has been the hallmark of Lotus adherence to unrivalled performance and durability. It has inarguably taken a stranglehold of the pole position among all of the company's creations for the last 50 years. The Lotus Elise is a strong reaffirmation of the company's indubitable reputation and passion for cutting edge technology and revolutionary design concept. It is a strong statement to all and sundry that Lotus is determined to continue to take the initiative by its commitment to industry leading quality and performance standards. While others consider it a major leap forward, Lotus looks at the task as nothing more than just a norm that is expected from a marquee sports car manufacturer.

Clear Edge in Design and Performance

Lotus Elise scores high with its gritty stance on tried and tested features that have propelled it to new heights while staying the course in its focus on the brand's evolving design and development templates. This means that we will still see the distinctive character of the old Elise, but blended with significant enhancements. One of the major modifications of the Elise model is the new bumper, access panel and front clam. The front end also boasts of a pair of exquisite headlamps with LED lights, giving it a distinctive and vibrant look. Its sporty look is extended to the rear end which is highlighted by its unique engine cover with "dual spine" design and a new bumper design that is topped by an aggressive diffuser. Its solid and sturdy look is further enhanced by a set of lightweight alloys with an updated modern multi-spoke design which is exclusive for this Elise model.

The adherence to purity and classic sporty look is pervasive in the cooling apertures of this latest Lotus offering which adopts a seamless design and finish using a lightweight mesh made of aluminum core material. On the other hand, the rear boot can now be accessed through the cockpit instead of the usual opening through a separate key operation. The unmistakable top quality elements are also evident in every detail and in every component of this top performing Lotus roadster, and this marked excellence is encapsulated in the Elise graphic that is clearly highlighted along its side LED direction indicators, which are somewhat similar to the ones found in the Evora.

Driving the Lotus Elise is an exquisite experience of immersion, which gives prime consideration to unmatched control and comfort. Once behind the wheel, you will be instantly enwrapped by the unmatched control that the car provides. You become the master of a real power house with carefully positioned steering wheel and pedals. On top of these dominating features in the overall design and configuration of the Lotus Elise, you can also find added reason to go for the best mid-engine sports car with the infusion of proprietary ProBax technology in its seats.

Seamless Mix of Power and Efficiency under the Hood

On top of this dominant exterior appeal, the Lotus Elise is also powered by an advanced 1.6-liter dual VVT and Valvematic engine, which meets all regulations under EURO 5. This Lotus powerhouse is a perfect combination of power and fuel efficiency, making it the top choice in the mid-engine sports car category, especially for those looking for the adrenaline rush without getting that heavy punch on the pocket. This new Elise power plant delivers a strong kick with extreme efficiency and even tops the performance ratios of its Elise-S sibling by 23% while retaining the same output figures of 160 Nm torque and 134 horsepower.

If you are looking for the lowest CO2 figures in your high performance petrol-powered speedster, then this sleek Lotus model is definitely your top pick. The Group Lotus has developed its inimitable reputation of being the power behind top performing roadster by taking the lead in the introduction of cutting edge design concepts and applications. The Elise model epitomizes the core values of unrivaled performance of a Lotus masterpiece that is anchored on cutting edge technology, lightweight core materials and distinctive design concepts.

These are the strong statements that were delivered during the unveiling of the Lotus Elise during the 80th International Geneva Motor Show. This Lotus offering comes in 3 variants - the Lotus Elise standard variant with 1.6 liter engine, Lotus Elise R with 1.8 liter engine and the top of the line Lotus Elise SC with the super-charged 1.8 liter engine.

Evolutionary Elements of the New Lotus Elise

The Lotus Elise boasts of a new 1ZR-FAE gasoline engine which is designed and manufactured by Toyota for Group Lotus. This 1,598 cm3 engine has demonstrable advantage in terms of performance and efficiency through its dual VVT-I and variable valve lift assembly. The engine is provided with intuitive control capability in regulating the volume of airflow through timely closing and opening intake valve. This provides for higher efficiency in fuel consumption while maintaining optimal engine power and performance.

Top end power output is achieved by this Elise model at the point of maximum engine speed which is at 6,800 rpm, and maximum torque, which is equal to 160Nm, is achieved at 4,400 rpm. This means that you are able to enjoy the perfect combination of middle range pull and maximum permitted engine speed which is at 7,000 rpm. Just like with the earlier Elise models, the Lotus Elise comes with 3 up-shift light indicators. These light indicators are activated when you get close to the rev limiter. When all 3 light indicators are activated, they will flash to warn the driver that he has almost reached the rev limiter, and it is time to change gear.

For this version of Lotus Elise, there is an upside variance in the height of the engine cover of about 34 mm in order to give space for the taller engine with its added Valvematic component. With this reconfiguration requirement, Lotus engineers have found the perfect opportunity to make the necessary design enhancements on the cover panel of the rear engine so that it perfectly matches the design theme of the front end of the sports car.

The Lotus Elise has also set new standards with the adoption of the state-of-the-art bonded and extruded aluminum chassis frame and combined with a lightweight core steel material front end subframe. The weight displacement of this revolutionary Elise chassis is about 150 lbs (68 kg) and has a rated 9,800 Nm per degree stiffness. This differential factor is responsible for the higher level of suspension control of this mid-range speedster compared to other sports car under its category.

On the other hand, the rear end is outfitted with a lightweight but extremely durable subframe which supports the engine and gear box and primarily acts as impact-absorbing crash protector. The front end features a compact but lightweight frame structure which has three times more energy absorbing capacity than any other steel material under the same class.

The Lotus Elise has been a long time coming, but the long wait is all worth it. Once Group Lotus has made the bold move to put the Elise under the knife, they were able to make a masterpiece out of an already amazing creation. The critical enhancements and design shifts have all but conspired to create a familial cohesion of everything that makes a sports car a truly amazing automotive masterpiece. Indeed, if you are going for the best mid-range speedster, the Lotus Elise is your top pick.