Lotus Elise (2001 – 2011) Review
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Lotus Elise (2001 – 2011) At A Glance
Quick, engaging roadster with terrific handling and grip.
They're getting cheaper second-hand but good used ones are still quite pricey. Potential head gasket failure models with the K Series engine.
Reviews for Lotus Elise (2001 – 2011)'s top 3 rivals
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Lotus Elise (2001 – 2011) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3785–3824 mm |
| Width | 1719–1850 mm |
| Height | 1117 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2300 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 860–932 kg |
| Boot Space | 112 L |
| Warranty | 2 years / Unlimited miles |
| Servicing | 9000–18000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £27,450–£49,495 |
| Insurance Groups | 43–44 |
| Road Tax Bands | F–J |
| Official MPG | 33.2–45.0 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until June 2021
| Roadster | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Roadster 1.8 VVT-i Cup 250 2dr | - | 37.7 mpg | - |
| Roadster 1.8 VVT-i Sport 220 2dr | - | 37.7 mpg | 4.6 s |
| Roadster 1.8 VVT-i Sprint 220 2dr | - | - | - |
On sale until November 2018
| Roadster | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Convertible 1.8 VVC S Sports Tourer 2dr | £31,668 | 34.0 mpg | - |
| Roadster 1.6 VVT-i Sport 2dr | £32,470 | 44.8 mpg | 6.5 s |
| Roadster 1.8 VVT-i 250 Special Edition 2dr | £49,495 | 37.7 mpg | - |
On sale until April 2017
| Roadster | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Roadster 1.6 VVT-i 2dr | £31,810 | 45.0 mpg | 6.0 s |
| Roadster 1.6 VVT-i Club Racer 2dr | £31,810 | 45.0 mpg | 6.0 s |
| Roadster 1.8 VVT-i 250 Special Edition 2dr | £48,965 | 37.7 mpg | - |
| Roadster 1.8 VVT-i Cup 250 2dr | £47,565 | 37.7 mpg | - |
| Roadster 1.8 VVT-i S 2dr | £38,265 | 37.5 mpg | 4.2 s |
| Roadster 1.8 VVT-i S Cup 2dr | £44,565 | 37.5 mpg | 4.2 s |
| Roadster 1.8VVT-i S Club Racer 2dr | £38,265 | 37.5 mpg | 4.2 s |
On sale until October 2015
| Convertible | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.6 Sport 2dr | £30,520 | 45.0 mpg | 6.5 s |
| 1.6 Touring 2dr | £30,820 | 45.0 mpg | 6.5 s |
| 1.8 S Sport 2dr | £38,765 | 37.5 mpg | 4.6 s |
| 1.8 S Touring 2dr | £39,065 | 37.5 mpg | 4.6 s |
On sale until January 2015
| Convertible | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.8 S CR 2dr | £35,600 | 37.5 mpg | 4.6 s |
On sale until January 2011
| Open Car | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| R 2dr | £31,450 | 34.4 mpg | 5.4 s |
| SC 2dr | £34,450 | 33.2 mpg | 4.6 s |
On sale until April 2010
| Open Car | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| S | £27,450 | 37.2 mpg | 6.1 s |
Model History
- October 2000
- May 2002
- January 2004
- July 2006
- October 2007
- March 2015: Lotus Elise 20th Anniversary model weighs 10kg less than the Elise S
- March 2017: Elise revised for 2017
October 2000
Facelifted with new targa top and uprated standard engine. Rover K Series 1,796cc engine.
May 2002
New variant called Elise 111 got power hike to 156bhp, 0-60mph dropped to 5.3 seconds and top speed went up to 132mph. Priced at £25,999, but options such as a/c, hardtop and leather can take it over £30k.
January 2004
Huge step forward in January 2004 with Elise 111R, which has 192PS (189bhp) 1,794cc 2ZZ-GE VVT-i chain cam Toyota engine and Toyota 6-speed box. Does 150mph and 0-60 in 4.9, 32.1mpg and 208g/km CO2. Priced from £27,995.
July 2006
Back to basics Elise S with 140PS 1,794cc chain cam Toyota engine does 0-60 in 5.8, top speed 128, CO2 196g/km, 34mpg combined, price a more sensible £23,995.
October 2007
220PS SC version announced. 0-60mph 4.4 seconds. Top speed 150mph. On sale from january 2008 at £32,550.
March 2015
Lotus Elise 20th Anniversary model weighs 10kg less than the Elise S
and, priced at £39,995 has £5,150 of additional kit at a price of £2,700 more than an Elise S. Weight saving (down to 914kg) came from new matt-black alloy wheels, a lightweight body-coloured centre console and lightweight sports seats trimmed in leather or suede-like Alcantara.
Engine is a 1.8-litre supercharged Toyota tgiving it a 0-60 of 4.4 seconds and a 145mph top speed. Because of the car's light weight – it tips the scales at just 914kg – it's still capable of 47.6mpg, with CO2 emissions of 173g/km.
Has a sport mode that sharpens the accelerator pedal's response and reduces the electronic stability control system's intervention. Available in blue, green, yellow and silver.
Spec list:
- Body colour, lighter weight interior centre console
- Leather, or Alcantara (no cost), lighter sports seat trim option
- Colour-coded stitching on seats and door cards
- Colour-coded seat hoops
- Matt black forged alloy wheels
- Matt black distinguishing exterior trim
- Four paint colours - Classic Blue, Green, Yellow and Silver
- Auxiliary driving lights
- Elise 20th Anniversary decals externally and on dashboard stereo blanking-plate
March 2017
Elise revised for 2017
Pride of place in the latest Elise line-up is the new Sprint edition, capturing the spirit of Lotus by offering the latest in efficient engineering to deliver a car that sets the standard at under 800 kg.
Featuring a host of weight-saving items as standard, as well as the Elise's distinctive new styling, the new Lotus remains true to the company’s founding principles. Benefitting the range as a whole, all new Elise editions receive the car’s new look and new interior options, and every single one of the Sprint’s lightweight components can be specified on the standard Elise Sport and the Elise Sport 220 variants.
The Sprint edition of the Lotus Elise has removed 41 kg from the previous model, to reach a benchmark dry weight of just 798 kg.
Integrating a new front and rear aesthetic with Lotus’ established design language, this latest Elise also receives a wide range of cabin enhancements - including the lightweight open-gate gear select mechanism first introduced on the Lotus Exige Sport 350. The Sprint is available in both the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated and 1.8-litre supercharged versions. Delivering an exciting mid-point in the range, it broadens the car’s appeal by including lightweight and carbon components as standard.
External design touches for the Sprint range include a matt black transom panel, black wheels which come with custom contrasting metal spun rims, distinctive yet subtle side stripes on the bodywork and unique side and rear badging.
The new Elise Sport and Sprint are available in two engine options: the 1.6-litre or the supercharged 1.8-litre. Offering 134PS and 160Nm of torque and 217PS with 250Nm of torque respectively, they have been specifically tuned to suit the Elise. Being so lightweight, emissions are 149g/km CO2 and 173g/km CO2 for the 1.6 engine and 1.8 engines respectivel
Stopping power is provided by AP Racing twin-piston front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear-calipers - optional lightweight two-piece brake discs are also available. All cars benefit from userselectable ESP driving modes - Drive / Sport / Off.
The new Elise also carries over the same suspension setup as before, with fully independent double wishbone suspension and a front anti-roll bar, coupled with Bilstein high-performance gas dampers and Eibach coaxial coil springs front and rear. Being lighter than the preceding model, the effective spring rate is marginally increased, retaining the compliant ride for which all Lotus cars are legendary.
A new version of the Elise’s most popular model, the Cup 250 has a list price of £47,400. Also, incorporating all the Elise range updates, the Elise Cup 250 model is 23 kg lighter than its predecessor, with lightweight options including a Carbon Aero pack, front access panel, roll hoop cover and engine coverto take this to 40 kg, providing even more blistering performance.
Elise Sport £32,300
Elise Sprint £37,300
Elise Sport 220 £39,300
Elise Sprint 220 £44,300
Elise Cup 250 £47,400
What to watch out for
Weakest point is 1,796cc Rover K Series engine's water heated inlet manifold gasket failing leading to head gasket failures. Bore liners can also drop. Website link www.shame.4mg.com
Check for track day 'offs' damage.
On both S1 and S2 models the fan speed control module (a resistor box) sits somewhere behind/below the heater fan unit, usually in a puddle of water most of the time if the car is in daily use in the UK. As a consequence failure is common. To gain access to replace it requires the front clamshell to be removed, a major task that accounts for the apparent £600 bill to replace a £10 part.
Don't use in winter road salt. The Elise and subsequent Exige and Europa were all designed on a non repairable aluminium chassis. But this has steel suspension wishbones and steel washers that act as the spacers to adjust the castor and camber of the suspension. They form an electrolytic corrosion battery with the aluminium suspension mounting points. Lotus insists all dealers use a coating compound where steel is in contact with aluminium. The problem is when wet, especially when there is salt on the road, the steel washers corrode and then the form a battery with aluminium chassis, corroding the chassis where exposed, which is the edge of the suspension mounting bush. The suspension mounting points are particularly susceptible to this as not only are they exposed, but are the first place to get wet and the last place to dry out and even in the summer will suffer from condensation
The fact that the chassis is non repairable means that when this happens the car is dead as it costs several times the cars value to replace the chassis and rebuild the car. So inspect these areas carefully when buying/maintaining one of these cars.
