Lotus Elise Range : BASIC INSTINCT

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As a template for the modern sports car, nothing beats the Lotus Elise. Andy Enright explains why

First, some backstory. When it was first launched back in August 1996 as an entry-level model to a range which at that point consisted solely of the ageing Esprit, few realised quite what a landmark sports car the Elise would become, especially as it followed hot on the heels of the commercial flop that was the Elan. Using a Rover 1.8-litre four-cylinder K Series engine, it was made of glass fibre and featured a bonded aluminium chassis. The back to basics approach was an instant hit and for the next five years across a wide range of subtly different versions, the Elise racked up some very respectable sales.

An all-new Elise line up was announced for the 2001 model year with sleeker styling and some modifications to the engine and suspension. With the implosion of the MG Rover Group, Lotus lost its supplies of K-Series engines but the firm was already well placed with a longstanding business relationship with Toyota. The current Elise line up is powered exclusively by Toyota powerplants and makes as much sense, and maybe more, today as it did in 1996. Whichever Elise variant you opt for, there are certain constants in the driving experience. Excellent vehicle dynamics come courtesy of some of the best chassis engineers in the business. Low mass spells fantastic agility. The last nuances of suspension castor, toe, camber and tyre sidewall stiffness have all been agonised over so that you don't have to. You'll appreciate the way the steering never feels heavy but always tells you exactly what the front tyre contact patch is doing. Unlike earlier Elise models, the pedals are now perfectly spaced for flamboyant footwork. Even prodigiously talented rivals, a Porsche 911 for instance, feels lardy and artificial in comparison. Performance depends on quite how much horsepower is being generated. Even the entry-level 134bhp Elise S will get from standstill to 60mph in just 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 127mph is also attainable. The 189bhp Elise R is quicker still. Finally, just 4.4 seconds is all the 0-60mph sprint will detain the supercharged 217bhp Elise SC for and it will be blasting through 100mph before the clock has ticked much past 10.5s.

"â€¦more than a decade years after its initial launch, it's still the undisputed pick of the lightweight roadsters"

Lotus enjoys an efficient feedback loop with its owners and now that the Elise has been in series production for quite some time, many of the teething issues that afflicted earlier cars have been well and truly ironed out. One thing's for sure. If you can't rely on a Toyota-built engine, you can't rely on anything in the automotive world. Metronomic reliability is a virtual given where the Japanese firm is concerned and the 1.8-litre VVT-i engine is in a relatively modest state of tune which should also help to prolong its already enviable durability. The extruded and bonded aluminium chassis is still a thing of beauty, albeit a little more concealed by mats and panelling than in earlier cars. A lightweight steel rear subframe helps with weight distribution and Lotus claim a torsional rigidity of 9,500Nm per degree, making the old car's superstructure seem like a bit of a noodle. The styling of the second generation Elise has also worn extremely well given that it's been with us since 2001. Space and versatility have never been Elise keywords but the `federalised' dashboard that the latest cars adopt has a little more oddment stowage than before. Look at the Lotus price lists and you'll be bamboozled by all manner of packs for the Elise models. These tend to change in rather rapid order, but to all intents and purposes there are three Elise models - the entry-level S, the midrange R and the range-topping SC. Prices are no longer the conspicuous bargains they once were and you'll need to budget from around £25,000 to witness your name on the V5 document. Equipment levels aren't judged in the way we'd normally judge equipment levels. Instead of talking about stereos, cup holders, electric seats and so on, let's take a look at what you get with the Elise S. Look at the bits that really count. The brakes feature AP Racing callipers at the front and Brembo clamps at the back, linked to 282mm vented and cross drilled discs. Lotus has engineered one of the world's most subtle anti-lock braking systems as well. Rather than a manic juddering of the middle pedal when you get a little enthusiastic in the braking zone, you'll only feel a distant pulsing as the system unobtrusively and efficiently does its stuff. A drive by wire throttle is also featured. What's so clever about the Elise is that it manages to offer a sensible level of safety provision without dulling the car's edge noticeably. Cost of ownership is where the Elise scores big. Again, the entry-level Elise S is the best exemplar. Excellent fuel economy and low emissions are corollaries of the 860kg weight (by contrast, a modern MX-5 tips the scales at nearly 1,100kg). Lotus founder Colin Chapman would have approved. He would also have endorsed the way that this car holds its value. The most recent figures suggest that after 12 months/10,000 miles, your Elise will still be worth 82% of what you paid for it. Not that we should be evaluating any Lotus in such cold, boring terms. This one, after all, is the finest car the company has yet produced. A combined fuel economy figure for the S model of 37mpg is a fantastic return for a car that's quicker to 60mph than a Porsche Cayman. The 179g/km emissions figure isn't bad either. Another benefit of the Elise's light weight is that it doesn't eat through tyres, degrade its brakes or destroy shock absorbers in the way an enthusiastically driven heavier vehicle will. The Toyota engines have proven extremely durable (no great surprises there) with lower servicing overheads than the old Rover K Series lump. Insurance for all Elise models is rated at Group 20. The Elise is a surprisingly easy car to take for granted but one only has to look at how, more than a decade years after its initial launch, it's still the undisputed pick of the lightweight roadsters to gauge the scale of Lotus' achievements. The entry-level car is always the one which is the definitive model and the Elise S is probably the pick of the bunch. If you want excitement and a premium badge without huge running costs, this model still represents the class standard. Of course there will be some who can't resist the opportunity to go supercar baiting and for these customers, the Elise R and the supercharged SC will perform that function brilliantly. Thing is, the ability of the Elise is no great secret and few Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini owners would back their odds against a top-line Elise on a track day. Working smarter not harder is a good maxim to live life by. It's served the Elise very well and makes this Lotus ever more relevant.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Lotus Elise range
PRICES: £25,712-£32,067 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 179-199g/km
PERFORMANCE: [Elise S] Max Speed 127mph / 0-60mph 5.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [Elise S] (urban) 26.6mpg / (extra urban) 48.7mpg / (combined) 37.2mpg
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Widthmm 3785/1719/1117mm