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The Lotus Elise revolutionised the sportscar
market 14 years ago when the small lightweight
agile 2-seat mid engine sportscar was introduced.
By ensuring that the Elise stuck rigidly to
Lotus’ core values of performance through light
weight, the Elise was able to produce supercar
performance with city car economy.
Making its debut at the 80th International
Geneva Motorshow, the 2011 model year Lotus
Elise introduces a number of changes and
improvements to maintain its class leading
position.
For the 2011 model year, the Elise range will
consist of the following variants:
· Lotus Elise – 136 PS, less than 155 g of CO2
/km – new 1.6 litre engine *
· Lotus Elise R - 192 PS, 196 g of CO2 /km - 1.8
litre engine
· Lotus Elise SC – 220 PS, 199 g of CO2 /km -
1.8 litre supercharged engine
Key changes and improvements to the whole of the
2011 model year Elise range
· New evolution body design incorporating new
front clamshell, rear bumper and engine cover
· New all in one integrated headlights including
LED day light running lights and LED direction
indicators
· Improved aerodynamics with a reduction in Cd
by 4%, resulting in better fuel economy
· New cast and forged wheels
· Vehicle warranty increased from 2 years to 3
years and 36, 000 miles
Additional changes for the 2011 model year entry
level Lotus Elise
· New high technology 1ZR-FAE 1.6 litre engine
with Valvematic and Dual VVT-I technology to
optimise the performance and efficiency of the
engine
· Less than 155 g of CO2 per km (an improvement
of over 13% compared to the 2010 Elise S)*
· Combined fuel consumption 6.14 litres / 100 km
(46 mpg)*
· New 6 speed close ratio gearbox
· Cruise control available as part of the
Touring pack
The body – an evolution
The new 2011 model year Elise range is on sale
now and will be in showrooms from April 2010.
The body of the new 2011 model year Elise is an
evolution of the iconic Elise design, retaining
the character and style, while offering a more
planted, purposeful stance and a pure,
contemporary look that links it to the Evora. As
with all Lotus product the design is an exciting
blend of dramatic style and functional
efficiency
The new Elise body has a fresh sculptured front,
including a new bumper, front clam and access
panel that combine to give the Elise a wider
look with more road presence.
At the rear of the car the new engine has been
encased by a distinctive “twin-spine” engine
cover whilst lower down a more aggressive
diffuser is tightly wrapped by an elegant new
bumper design that now includes the rear licence
plate.
New headlamp units with distinctively sculptured
LED lighting guides (incorporating daytime
running lamps and direction indicators) give a
contemporary twist to this classic design.
Elsewhere, the signature, Lotus “mouth” and
familiar sculptured forms have been sensitively
refined to give a crisper, more dynamic look.
The repositioning of lamp functions has enabled
the creation of broad clean surface between the
fenders which combines with sleek corner intakes
and prominent splitter detail to give a broader
more planted stance.
The theme of purity is carried through to the
cooling apertures that are efficiently finished
with a new lightweight aluminium mesh that gives
the car a classically sporting character.
The rear boot is now opened from the cockpit
rather than via a separate key operation. The
high quality feel of the Elise is continued
throughout the car with the Elise graphic
incorporated into the new side LED direction
indicators, like those on the Evora.
The driving position, from the perfectly
positioned pedals and steering wheel, to the
comfortable and supportive seats with ProBax**
technology means that, like all Lotus cars, the
driver becomes part of the car rather than being
just a passenger.
With the sleek new body the aerodynamics have
improved giving a reduction in the coefficient
of drag of 4%.
Finally, a choice of two beautiful, light weight
wheel designs are available; an incredibly light
forged wheel and a new cast wheel completes the
picture for this sensitive update of a Lotus
Icon.
Additional changes to the 2011 model year Lotus
Elise
The new 2011 model year Elise has a number of
additional changes and improvements, with the
installation of a new advanced 1.6 litre
Valvematic engine meeting EURO 5 regulations.
This new engine is 200cc smaller than the
outgoing Elise S model and produces similar
power (136 PS, 100 kW, 134 hp at 6800 rpm) with
maximum torque of 160 Nm, 118 lbft at 4400 rpm,
but offers a significant improvement to fuel
economy of over 23%, to 6.14 litres / 100km (46
mpg)* and a reduction in CO2 emission by more
than 13%*. This provides the new Lotus Elise
with the lowest CO2 per performance for any
gasoline high performance sportscar in the world.
This high technology engine is mated to a new
6-speed manual gearbox, providing closer and
more performance orientated ratios than the
outgoing 5 speed box.
The 1.6 litre engine is controlled via the
bespoke Lotus T6 engine management system.
Cruise control is available on the Elise for the
first time with the controls present on a stalk
located to the left of the steering column.
New cast wheels have been designed specifically
for the Elise and the new optional forged wheels
weigh just 29.26 kg per set, 2.14 kg lighter
than a set of lightweight cast versions. Both
are available in silver or black colour.
Dany Bahar, Chief Executive of Group Lotus said,
“The Lotus Elise revolutionised the sportscar
when it was launched 14 years ago and now the
Lotus Elise has become greener, giving drivers
access to class leading performance with less
guilt.”
Donato Coco, Director of Design said, “The Elise
is an iconic sportscar and it was important that
we did not complicate its design, so we made the
car more pure in its look, improved the
aerodynamics, and gave it a more contemporary
look with high quality detailing.”
Paul Newsome, Director of Lotus Product
Engineering said, “We are always looking at ways
of keeping the Elise ahead of its peers and for
the 2011 model year we have improved efficiency
without losing the innate fun that has made the
Elise legendary.”
Andreas Prillmann, Chief Commercial Officer for
Lotus Cars said, “In its 14 years of production
the Elise has accounted for 32% of all the 61
years of Lotus production, illustrating how
significant to the brand and well loved it is.
The 2011 model year Elise is greener, purer and
more desirable, making it even more relevant to
today’s marketplace. The new Elise underlines
Lotus’ reputation as one of the most innovative
sports car manufacturers in the world.”
Performance
Lotus Elise
0 – 60 mph 6.0 seconds*
0 – 100 km/h 6.7 seconds*
Maximum speed 200 km/h (124 mph)*
Lotus Elise R
0 – 60 mph 5.1 seconds
0 – 100 km/h 5.4 seconds
Maximum speed 222 km/h (138 mph)
Lotus Elise SC
0 – 60 mph 4.3 seconds
0 – 100 km/h 4.6 seconds
Maximum speed 233 km/h (145 mph)
The 2011 model year Elise in more detail.
The Elise - the entry model
Engine
The Lotus Elise introduces the new 1598 cm3,
1ZR-FAE engine, provided by Toyota. The key to
this engine’s performance and efficiency is the
Valvematic system (a variable valve lift
mechanism), which is combined with the dual
VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent). The
engine continuously controls intake valve
opening/closing timing and the intake valve lift
to vary the volume of the intake airflow, giving
significant improvements in efficiency and fuel
economy. This ensures optimal performance based
on the engines operational condition, thus
helping the Elise achieve both high fuel
efficiency and high performance.
First of all, the maximum power output is
achieved at near maximum revs (engine speed) of
6800 rpm and maximum torque (a respectable 160
Nm, 118 lb.ft) is reached at 4400 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 7000 rpm (transient
rev limit). Like all Elise sportscars, there are
three shift up lights, on the binnacle
cumulatively lighting when the driver is getting
closer to the rev limiter and when all three are
illuminated, they flash to indicate that the
driver is almost on the rev limiter so time to
change up a gear!
The height of the engine cover has been raised
by 34mm to accommodate the taller 1ZR engine
compared to the previous 1ZZ engine from the
outgoing model due, in part, to the additional
Valvematic technology included on the new
engine. This has given Lotus engineers an
opportunity to subtly redesign the rear engine
cover to match the design theme from the front
and rear of the car.
Chassis
The Lotus Elise is built around the
revolutionary and award winning extruded and
bonded aluminium chassis, with a lightweight
steel rear subframe. The chassis weighs 68 kg
(150 lbs) and has a stiffness of 9,800 Nm per
degree, giving a high level of control of the
suspension. At the rear, and also acting as a
rear energy absorbing crash structure, a
lightweight steel subframe carries the engine
and gearbox. At the front, the radiator and key
ancillaries are mounted into a high tech
composite energy absorbing crash structure that
is both lightweight, compact and over three
times more energy absorbing than the equivalent
steel structure.
Ride and handling
The legendary Lotus ride and handling gives a
superb high performance, sporty drive, combined
with a compliant ride and progressive on limit
handling, it makes the Elise a car that demands
to be driven.
The entry level Lotus Elise weighs 876 kg,
making it one of the lightest fully homologated
sportscars in the world. This low weight
translates into efficient performance with
minimal environmental impact in terms of
emissions and fuel consumption. The efficiency
of the Elise structure means that the 136 PS
(100 kW, 134 hp) delivers phenomenal
performance.
Few cars can match the delicacy and accuracy of
the steering, throttle and brakes of the Elise
and all of these factors contribute to the
excellent driving experience of the Elise.
Safety
The Elise has high performance AP Racing
callipers at the front and Brembo callipers at
the rear linked to 282 mm vented and
cross-drilled cast iron discs to give excellent
stopping power.
The Elise comes as standard with a track tuned
ABS system that is designed to be unobtrusive
under normal driving conditions. This system is
designed to be used on track and has a high
threshold, only intervening in emergencies.
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.
The impressive braking coupled with excellent
handling gives good primary safety and the
composite front crash structure and rear crash
protection offers efficient secondary safety.
Driver and passenger airbags and pre-tensioning
seatbelt are standard on all Elise models.
Prices will be announced in March 2010.
*The Lotus Elise is currently undergoing EC
Whole Vehicle Type Approval and official fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions figures, plus
performance figures are not yet available. The
official figures for fuel consumption and CO2
emissions and performance will be published on
Group Lotus plc’s web site as soon as they
become available (www.grouplotus.com) or may be
obtained from the PR Department, Lotus Cars
Limited, Potash Lane, Hethel, Norfolk, NR14 8EZ,
UK.
**“ProBax™” seats
Introduced for 2006 Model Year Lotus Exige and
Elise cars, ProBax™ seats are designed by Lotus
and specifically adapted and developed by NuBax.
ProBax™ seats help to significantly improve the
postural position of the occupant’s spine whilst
seated compared to similar seat shells without
ProBax technology. This not only results in an
improved level of comfort, but also has
significant medical benefits - maintaining a
natural curvature of the spine, and markedly
improving the body’s blood flow. Increased blood
flow has been shown to enhance response times,
raise alertness levels and reduce the onset of
muscle fatigue. Tests on Lotus seats, with the
new ProBax™ technology, have shown an
improvement in blood flow of up to thirty per
cent over the pre-2006 Model Year Lotus seat.
ENDS
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