The Elise is a compact, lightweight sports car meant for track driving. As such, its competitors, such as the BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster, generally boast more comfort but fewer at-the-limits performance attributes. The Elise comes in two trims: the entry-level Elise with a non-supercharged four-cylinder, and the Elise SC, which adds a supercharger for more horsepower.
New for 2011 There are no significant changes to the Elise and Elise SC for 2011.
Exterior Countless cars are described as “aggressive,” but the Elise truly looks the part, with its huge air intakes behind the doors; its long, sloped headlight covers; and its ground-hugging stance. Exterior features include:
LED taillamps
Composite body panels are used, and the entire car weighs slightly less than 2,000 pounds
Standard removable black cloth top, available body-colored hardtop
Sixteen-inch alloy wheels up front, 17-inch alloys in back
Interior Two occupants sit in composite sport seats. The cabin is sparse, with an Alpine head unit for the stereo and an aluminum gearshift knob and handbrake. Interior features include:
Momo steering wheel
LCD screen displays essential vehicle information
Standard air conditioning
CD stereo with optional iPod compatibility
Power windows and locks
Starter button and immobilizer alarm
Optional leather sport seats, center cupholder, stowage net and additional sound insulation
Under the Hood The Elise has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine sourced from Toyota and tuned by Lotus. It incorporates variable cam timing and lift technology to produce 189 hp and 133 pounds-feet of torque. The Elise SC adds a supercharger to make 217 hp at 8,000 rpm and 155 pounds-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. Mechanical features include:
Six-speed manual transmission
Coil-spring suspension can be equipped with Bilstein shock absorbers
Eight-spoke cast-aluminum wheels
16-inch tires in front, 17-inch tires in rear
Optional lighter wheels
Twin-piston front brake calipers and single-piston rear calipers; all four discs are cross-drilled to resist brake fade
Optional traction control and limited-slip differential
Safety While traction control is available on the Elise, stability control is not an option. Safety features include:
