Tag Archives: Elise

Uncompromising Acquired Taste – Lotus Elise Sport 135R

The second series Lotus Elise shares the same 111 type number as the original Elise despite sharing the same up dated Elise chassis as the Vauxhall VX220 (Lotus Type 116) which I looked at last week.

Lotus Elise Sport 135R, Race Retro

To meet new safety regulations Series 2 Elises goined over 100 kgs in weight but they were also more powerful which made up for some of the in creased weight.

Lotus Elise Sport 135R, Race Retro

One of the major differences between the VX220 and second Series Elise is that the Lotus has 16 inch front wheels and 17 inch rears where as the Vauxhall has marginally compromised the handling of the VX220 by having 17 inches wheels all round.

Lotus Elise Sport 135R, Race Retro

For those who can master the technique of getting into an Elise the handling and acceleration are said to go kart like as is the absence of any carpets, fuel gauge engine temperature gauge or central locking.

Lotus Elise Sport 135R, Race Retro

This 2002 Sport 135R version comes with sports suspension, for ever closer to go kart like handling and a Rover K series motor tuned to produce 135 hp.

Lotus Elise Sport 135R, Race Retro

In this trim an Elise is said to be able to accelerate from rest to 62mph in 5.4 seconds and on up to a top speed of 129 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this “Uncompromising Acquired Taste” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Romano’s Granddaughter – Lotus Elise Series I

In 1993 Lotus was purchased from GM by Romano Artioli chairman of the revived Bugatti manufacturer, and the following year the Type 111 was conceived by Julian Thompson with Richard Rackman and given the Elise name after Romano’s Granddaughter Elisa.

Lotus Elise Series 1, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The Series 1 Elise was launched in 1996 powered by a mid mounted 4 cylinder Rover K Series motor that produced just 118 hp, however thanks to the fiberglass body and bonded aluminium chassis the Elise only weighed 725 kg / 1,600 lbs so the car could accelerate from rest to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph.

Lotus Elise Series 1, Bristol Pegasus Motor Club, BAWA

Getting in and out of a Lotus Elise are probably the most difficult features of the car, the ergonomics are secondary to track day performance, but apart from that the Elise is said to be great fun to drive and economical to run thanks to the light weight and virtually non existent load capacity beside the passengers.

Lotus Elise Series 1, Bristol

In 1996 Romano had sold Lotus on to current owners Proton in order to fund the losses that had accumulated due to the insolvency of Bugatti.

Thanks to changes in crash sustainability regulations the Series 1 Elise was replaced in 2000 after more than 8600 had been built by the more sustainable and consequently slightly heavier Elise Series 2.

The top and bottom cars featured today are standard ’98 and ’97 1.8i models while the middle one is a later ’99 111S which came with variable valve timing 143 hp and a 130 mph top speed.

Thanks for joining me on this “Romano’s Granddaughter” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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