Rep Power: 432

On sale "late May 2004"

MSRP $39,985

Touring Pack $1,350
* full leather seating w/perforated trim
* electric windows
* upgraded Blaupunkt stereo w/MP3 player
* interior stowage net
* double insulated (thermal & sound) soft top
* additional sound deadening
* "enhanced" full carpet set

Sports Pack $2,480
* larger, lightweight forged aluminum alloy wheels
* track-tuned Lotus Sports suspension
* adjustable ride height
* Elise-specific Yokohama A048LTS tires

body-color hardtop $1,475

3-yr/36,000 mile warranty

Lotus-tuned Toyota 2ZZ-GE 1.8L 4cyl 16-valve w/VVTL-i
all-aluminum Toyota C64 six-speed manual gearbox
190 hp @ 7800 rpm (> 100 hp/liter)
138 lb ft @ 6800 rpm
Will handle just over 300hp

4-wheel independent suspension
Eibach coil springs
Bilstein monotube gas shock absorbers
175/55R16, 225/45R17 Yokohama Advan Neova AD07 LTS tires (designed specifically for the Elise)

AP Racing twin-piston aluminum front brake calipers
Brembo single-piston rear brake calipers
ABS system is the best out there, and that Mr. Becker (with Lotus) will buy you a beer if you can detect it

reflectors attached to wheel well edges (not easily removed--holes in body)
twin exhaust pipes that extend out of the diffuser
silver "LOTUS" letters on rear exterior instead of round yellow/green badge

composite sport seats
dual airbags, including the world's most compact driver's side airbag
extruded aluminum pedals

0-60 mph in 4.9 sec
top speed "almost" 150 mph
> 30 mpg

1,975 lbs, including standard A/C, ABS, power windows, & dual airbags

body made from closed mold composite material that are thinner and lighter than hand-laid glass fiber

500,000 miles of testing on 2 continents

more than 17,000 Elises produced to-date, by far the best selling Lotus ever

 
Rep Power: 364

I bash just about all of the cars posted here, because I think most new cars suck. This, however, restores my faith in car manufacturers and their ability to make a car that doesn't suck.

My hat is off to the Lotus company.

 
Rep Power: 0

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. I saw a few Elises when I was in Europe over the summer, they're amazing cars.

 
Rep Power: 0

Performance: A+, Interior: A+, Options: A+, Looks: ew

i'm just not feelin the outside of that car...too weird lookin, kinda reminds of the Joker from the Batman cartoon

 
Rep Power: 314

where do i sign, i want one!

 
Rep Power: 318

there is a 2 year waiting list for a lotus elise and the engine is taken from a toyota celica.
Good car yes, and the best selling lotus ever? i would have to go with a yes on that too.
However I think the Esprit was the best lotus ever made. I am very found of that car becuase it was a proper, proper supercar.
May the old lady rest after this year.

 
Rep Power: 380

 
Rep Power: 328

Still, for a car with an amazing chassis, suspension, and design, why put in a mid level sport coupe engine such as the 2ZZ-GE? It seems like they could have done more than that. Especially for 40 large.

For that kinda cash, I'd rather get an S2K, RX-8, Z, or G35 Coupe. Seriously. You basically pay for supercar looks with of course, the Lotus handling.

 
Rep Power: 0

^^You also pay for 0-60 mph in 4.9 sec, which comes along with 30mpg when driven like a grandma

Supercars aren't always about speed, this Lotus will dominate those cars you listed on the track... Its a fuggin go-kart

 
Rep Power: 328

I understand that, trust me I'm a Mazda fan remember? I understand perfectly the beauty of a refined chassis and suspension. But why would I pay 40 large for a car with a tuned celica engine? It's a nice car none the less, but I wouldn't pay that much for it. No way in hell. I'd pay upwards of 30, but not 40.

For that amount of green, I'd rather have a car with a thorough bred engine. That's my take on it anyways.

 
Rep Power: 0

Isnt, or wasnt, there an option to get the ITR engine in it, tuned to about 210, and 195tq? I want one so bad(or a lotus esprit TT)

 
Rep Power: 328

How about an S2K engine? With RWD? Now that I'd pay 40 large for. Yes I would mmmmmm.....

Is this incarnation FWD, since it uses a FWD engine? Or did Lotus do something with the drivetrain to make it RWD?

 
Rep Power: 0

I do beleive its RWD, and good idea on the S2k engine, i didnt even think of that... would be very cool

 
Rep Power: 318

its rear wheel drive mid mounted engine , hense they dont have to really alter a thing of the FF toyota celica driveshaft

 
Rep Power: 318

FF I meant Fwd hehe typos....

 
Rep Power: 0

40k for a celica engine cmon i know its light but that does not mean you cant have some tq to.

 
Rep Power: 334

which dealership would u go to buy this car?

 
Rep Power: 380

In a sub 2000 LB car, you dont need a lot of torque to move quickly. to quote Top gear, "you dont need a Rocket enging to move a souffle"

 
Rep Power: 413

For those who dis, they have no clue what Europe has known for years... The Elise is the hands down best sports car for the dollar made today...

 
Rep Power: 364

I thought the Miata had that title. Anyway, this is a prime example of the difference between American cars and foreign cars.

American cars - Put the biggest, most powerful engine possible in anything you can.

Foreign - Don't worry about the engine. The rest of the car will do the trick. At least it can turn.

 
Rep Power: 0

i'm sorry but that looks horrible.

looks like a freakin SRT4 with its face pulled back......pulled back really really far, so far that it now looks like an ugly bug (not VW bettle), just an ugly insect

eww

 
Rep Power: 0

woooooooo... gimme the tires on the yellow one.

 
Rep Power: 359

Wow. . Very sweet . . Crazy styling.

 
Rep Power: 0

MMM, very nice! Hourglass shape

 
Rep Power: 0

I would assume Lotus? There is one by my old house...they are scarce, but still around

 
Rep Power: 0

40k+ for a "exotic" looking car...............i think not

 
Rep Power: 380

Not just exotic, it performs like a SUper car, can out handle just about any thing in stock form and has amazing brakes. think a MR-S on Steroids. For the $$$ its simply the best sports car you can buy.

 
Rep Power: 0

Id love to battle someone in that car with my 510.

the little bluebird weight 1800 Lbds with my SR20 in it ;-D

And when i get the meanT3 on it i can get up to 400 hp... (Im still tryin to figure out how to keep the rear wheels from spinning

 
Rep Power: 0

Oh and btw I know you will agree a z06 vette would toast it :-D and cost just a fraction more.

 
Rep Power: 380

Do what the old Hot rodders do, Tub the rear end and run a REALLY wide tire.....