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Lotus is back with an entry level Elise that is set to propel
the Hethel based sports car manufacturer further up the sales charts.
The loss of the K series engine had temporarily created a hole in
Lotus' portfolio and its disappearance from the range was not good
news for Pure sportscar lovers right across the globe.
The challenge of 'plugging the gap' has now been spectacularly
addressed with the launch of the new Lotus Elise S -a car that will
cover 0-100 km/h in a very impressive 6.3 seconds, yet sell for
below EUR36.000 in lower-tax countries.
Lotus has shoehorned in a high technology 1.8-litre 136 PS
Variable Valve Timing Toyota engine, which perfectly complements the
phenomenal handling characteristics of the Lotus Elise. This
delivers a cracking new entry-level car, capable of taking you from
0 - 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and onto a top speed of 205km/h, law
permitting!
As the new entry-level car, the Elise S may not be the fastest or
quickest Elise in the range, but the acceleration, performance and
handling is class leading in its price bracket and belies the cost
and real substance engineered into the new vehicle - what other
roadster at this price can reach 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds? For the
sake of comparison, a 2.0 litre MX-5 reaches the same speed in 7.9
seconds (Source Mazda Germany website June 06)
Add this to one of the lowest depreciation rates of any car in
the market and the purchase of the new Elise S becomes one of the
soundest retail propositions to be found.
The Lotus Elise S is built around the revolutionary and award
winning extruded and bonded aluminium chassis, with a lightweight
steel rear subframe. The chassis itself weighs just 68 kg and has a
stiffness of 9,500 Nm per degree.
The body design remains unchanged from the classic 192 PS Lotus
Elise R (with the launch of the Elise S, the Elise 111r will become
known as the Elise R) - why change the award-winning aerodynamic
package and an elegant Lotus design just for the sake of it?
The car's standard specification will also delight, as nothing
has been removed from the car to undermine the real value for money
proposition afforded by Lotus' new 'firecracker'.
The full Lotus Elise option menu is also available on Elise S,
with the exception of a limited slip differential, ensuring the new
car is easy to personalize to a customer's individual requirements
and preferences.
The driving experience
How does just 136 PS (100 kW) deliver such phenomenal
performance?
First of all, the maximum power output is achieved at near
maximum revs (engine speed) of 6,200 rpm and maximum torque (a
respectable 172 Nm) is reached at 4,200 rpm. This gives a good
combination of mid range pull but also encourages the driver to rev
the engine to the maximum permitted engine speed of 6,800 rpm. A
bright red LED "change-up light" tells the driver when to change
gear, the point of illumination from the "red-line" variable and
dependent on the gear selected.
Driving any Elise is an experience like no other - and the Elise
S is no different. Few cars can match the delicacy and accuracy of
the steering, throttle and brakes. Only a Lotus has the relatively
soft springs and firm damping to give superb body control and a
truly exhilarating ride.
And only a Lotus can turn in such performance with such minimal
environmental impact in terms of emissions and fuel consumption.
It's all down to light weight.
Weighing in at just 860 kg, the Lotus Elise S is not just one of
the lightest fully homologated sportscars in the world, but also one
of the lightest cars in the world, period!
Lightweight has benefits for acceleration, the environment,
handling, ride comfort and braking.
Braking comes from AP Racing callipers at the front and Brembo
Calipers at the rear linked to 282 mm vented and cross-drilled cast
iron discs - you can never call an Elise under braked!
The advanced ABS system incorporates an anti-lock system which is
very unobtrusive and most drivers will not even notice that it is
there - unless it is needed of course and even then, the system
keeps a subtly low profile.
The ABS system is linked to a lightweight pedal box with steel
pedal arms and extruded aluminium pads. This unit also has an
electronic
(drive-by-wire) throttle for quick, smooth and more linear engine
response.
Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc explains: "The arrival of
our new Elise S is good news for lovers of Pure sportscars in all
intended markets. The value for money proposition offered by the car
is second to none and takes the wonderful Lotus Elise range back
into the heart of the mainstream sportscar market. We now have a
Lotus Elise to tempt the existing or would-be MX-5 or MG driver away
from these altogether more cosmetic offerings. They now have an
opportunity to get back into a car that is the very essence of what,
in our view, a real sportscar should be all about!"
The Lotus Elise S is priced at:
Mainland Europe: From EUR 35.400 depending on individual
market taxes (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price)
(Germany EUR35.400, France
EUR36.500, Italy EUR37.936, Switzerland SFr. 52.100)
Market Availability
UK: From July 2006
Mainland EU: From July 2006
Japan and APac: From September 2006
USA: There are no plans to launch the Elise S in the USA market
for homologation reasons
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