ADDED LIGHTNESS

Power for the Elise came from Rover’s 1.8-litre, 118bhp K-Series engine coupled to a 5-speed gearbox. Mounted transversely behind the driver and combined with the car’s incredibly light weight, this could launch the first Elise models to 100kph in just 5.5 seconds.

In August 1996, after taking its first drive in the Elise, CAR magazine wrote: ‘The acceleration, the zest, the eye-popping ability to change speed and direction, the sheer unbridled sense of motion – these are what make driving the Elise so special and intense.’

A MOTORSPORT REVOLUTION

The rebirth and still-growing popularity of the Lotus brand in club motorsport is un-questionably a direct result of the continued success of the Elise. The Lotus Cup Europe is one of several one-make racing series around the world, including races in Japan, USA, Italy, Malaysia, and Australia.

AN ENDURING ICON

Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 2000, the second-generation Elise featured a heavily restyled body and interior, a revised soft top, chassis side-rails lowered at cockpit sides, revised suspension, a revised engine spec, and larger diameter road wheels, now fitted with Bridgestone Potenza tyres.

In practice, the biggest changes to the ‘Elise Series 2’ were without doubt to the overall appearance, styled by Steve Crijns under the supervision of Lotus Design Chief Russell Carr. “We wanted to create a more exciting shape that would reflect an incredible driving experience. But we also wanted to be honest and not have any features just for stylistic effect.”

In the spring of 2004, a revised Elise S2 was aptly poised for a new lease of life that would also reinvigorate the Lotus Brand well into the 21st Century. Styling design credits on the new car weren’t really necessary as exterior changes were minimal, but the new models, each fitted with the 4-cylinder, Toyota VVTL-i powertrain, released the S2’s full potential. This meant an Elise for North America (at long last!) and a 111R model across Europe.

25 YEARS OF THE ELISE

When the 2011 Model Year range from Lotus was announced at the 2010 Geneva Motorshow, revisions to the Elise were more than simply cosmetic. The base model now had a smaller 1.6-litre Toyota-sourced engine, to replace the last generation’s 1.8-litre unit, but the basic chassis, brakes and dimensions essentially remained unchanged. The overall styling on what is now regarded as a ‘Series 3’ Elise was subtly tweaked and whilst the headlights were the stand-out change, revisions to the new-look Elise also included a revised front body design with enlarged oil cooler intake ducts and chin spoilers, new 12-spoke lightweight alloy cast road-wheels or new 5-‘Y’ spoke forged wheels.