LOTUS ELISE
A featherweight sportscar icon rich in Lotus philosophy, the Elise is a car for only the most passionate of drivers.
What we have here is a truly iconic British sports car, worthy of being considered alongside some of the finest cars our nation has ever produced. It first arrived back in 1996 with its gorgeous design and driver-centric construction immediately winning over enthusiasts.
The Elise uses a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout (often referred to as ‘MR’) and is built to be as light as possible. Its chassis is formed from bonded aluminium, giving a stiff but light base, and the body upon and around it is constructed from fibreglass. The heavy focus on lowering weight - the true core of Lotus philosophy – means that everything that isn’t essential is removed, even air conditioning and radio are optional extras. With Lotus engineers so determined to shave off grams, the end result is at its lightest, an Elise weighs in at 875kg, making it one of the lightest modern sports cars you can lease.
Sitting at the heart of the car is a 1.8-litre supercharged 4-cylinder petrol engine from Toyota, but Lotus has worked extensively on it to produce an engine producing a minimum of 214bhp, and in some Elise models it can be even more. In the ‘Sport 220’ model, this means a 0-60mph time of just 4.2-seconds and a power-to-weight ratio of up to 253bhp/tonne. Developed extensively with Lotus’s racing knowledge on its own private company race track, the Elise also features AP Racing brakes and extensive carbon fibre use to make this car famously beautiful to drive.
A lightweight car with a mid-mounted supercharged engine, unassisted steering, racing brakes and suspension come together to make this one of the most loved sports cars Britain has ever produced. Its small size and famous agility and feel allow it to feel totally at home on our narrower, more technically demanding roads and choosing to lease an Elise is a choice of real passion. If you love driving, then the Lotus Elise is an experience you simply cannot afford to pass up on.