Lotus Elise

Lotus Eco Elise: Less Weight Equals Greater Fuel Economy, Green Movement Scoffs

Who does Lotus think they're fooling? The huge, evil corporation is now claiming that by trimming 70 lb. from the 1895 lb. Lotus Elise S, they've made it more fuel-efficient. Oh yeah? Those of us in the Birkenstock-wearing, wood-burning-stove-using intellectual elite — we know better. Where's the trunk full of batteries? Where's the electric plug? Where's the giant green leaf badge? Brown? Everyone knows that's the color of pollution. Where's the hybrid sticker on each and every side of the car proclaiming your environmentally-friendly ways? No, a lightweight track car with a small engine can't be green! We're going to get you outlawed, you evil speeders.

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11:20 AM on Thu Jul 10 2008
By Wes Siler
3,020 views, 65 comments

Latest by ccc40821: They really didn't do it for better fuel economy, but for the driver to better be able to accellerate his/her way out of a dangerous situation. more »

british motor show

2010 Lotus Eagle Teases Us Ahead Of British Motor Show

We've spent months seeing the 2010 Lotus Eagle in get-ups ranging from an old Lotus Esprit mule to an homage to the caped crusader with makeup and heavy camo obscura. Now, thanks to a single image making its way onto the internet by way of Lotus, we're now finally get our first idea of the Eagle's real shape. The teaser shot hints at a surprisingly Elise-like hood and headlight treatment. Visible under the shroud of Lotus, the sharp fenders and slanted headlight treatment are clearly visible, as is the center hood spine over the front mounted radiator outlets. More »

11:01 AM on Mon Jun 30 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
5,067 views, 13 comments

Latest by Lost_in_the_valley: Lets start again, for the hard of learning;- Small convertible sports car: Elise Small coupe based on Elise but more hardcore: Exige Small unloved and underestimated coupe: Europa New 2+2 Coupe (i.e. this car): Code named 'Eagle' Under development super car with V8 BMW engine more »

novelties

Speed:Sport:Life Pits GT500 Against F430 Against Elise Against... Caliber SRT-4?

In what they're dubbing the "Imaginary Internet Millionaire Track Test," the assemblage of miscreants that traffic in words under the banner of Speed:Sport:Life have assembled a Ferrari F430, Mustang GT500, Lotus Elise and a Caliber SRT-4 for a head-to-head showdown at MSR Houston. We're guessing the equally arbitrary Sentra SE-R Spec V wasn't available? Their observations of the Caliber come close to our views, but the results didn't come anywhere close to our expectations. You'll never believe who won. [Speed:Sport:Life]

3:00 PM on Wed Jun 25 2008
By Matt Hardigree
5,665 views, 52 comments

Latest by kaneshadow: Fantastic article! I love the unconventional approach. Obviously many people here hated the fact that they're not simply ranked by BHP and cannot grasp a comparison where lap time is the ultimate machiavellian scoring (you like that historical reference don't you?). You more »

down on the street bonus edition

DOTS-O-Rama Sunday: Vauxhall VX220

When was the last time you saw a Vauxhall VX220 in North America? ß®@ƒƒ managed to find one in California, Newport Beach to be exact (we're starting and ending the Down On The California Street DOTS-O-Rama Sunday in Orange County). The VX220 is a Lotus Elise chassis with an L61 engine from The General, and we're wondering what sort of crazy hoops the owner had jump through to get it registered here... oh, wait- is that a temporary tag in the rear window?

6:00 PM on Sun Jun 15 2008
By Murilee Martin
2,210 views, 49 comments

Latest by n/a: Came across this via Google. I have one of these little cars and since I bought it in 2001 I have only ever seen 2 others when out driving mine apart from when I met up with bunch of more »

novelties

Hot Exotic Car-On-Car Mating Action

The purveyors of plunked Porsches, crushed Caterhams and other assorted crumpled cars at Wrecked Exotics have put together a collection of some of the hottest exotic car mating you're likely to see on the web. Want to see a Lotus get all up on a cab? What about a Ferrari 360 that likes to be on bottom? We know one Porsche 911 that has a deep yearning for Fiat-based foreign transportation. We guess it's safe for work, unless you work at an exotic car dealership. Our favorites are below and more are at Wrecked Exotics. [Wrecked Exotics]

1:00 PM on Thu Apr 3 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,913 views, 38 comments

Latest by Buzz Killington: How on gods green earth did that pickup/ferrari combination even happen? I can't even wrap my head around that. more »

geneva motor show

Rinspeed sQuba: Bond's Lotus Submarine Made Real

Of all the Bond films over the years, one the most memorable gadgets to emerge from Q-branch was the Lotus submarine-car from The Spy Who Loved Me. Of course that was all just movie magic special effects— until now. Rinspeed has taken an ordinary Lotus Elise, and turned it into a real working vehicle that drives on land and "flys" underwater. Though you're not going to stay dry if you want to go diving, because theres no airtight canopy to enclose you. To breathe, you'll have to wear a scuba mask connected to the car's integrated compressed-air tank. But who cares?! This is a car that goes underwater! And if that isn't enough, the sQuba is a zero-emissions vehicle powered by rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries, so you don't have to worry about polluting your lake (or getting water in your intake). The only thing it lacks is a surface-to-air missile launcher. More »

11:45 AM on Thu Feb 14 2008
By Mark Arnold
18,586 views, 41 comments

Latest by gadgetfanatic: OK, I can't hold this in any longer. Will it blend? more »

geneva auto show

The Rinspeed sQuba Dives Into Our Hearts

There's something about Lotuses that make designers want to submerge them in water, which is fine by us. While we've heard of no Lotus/Bond deals, the Rinspeed sQuba concept makes a fine heir to the swimming Louts Esprit that submerged in The Spy Who Loved Me. While these are obviously computer animations, a real version is going to debut at the Geneva Auto Show, though we're curious if it'll still have the carbon nano tubes that allow the driver and passenger to drive straight into the water without closing the roof. Awkwardly translated press release below the jump:

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11:15 AM on Mon Dec 17 2007
By Matt Hardigree
1,652 views, 15 comments

Latest by Hello_Newman: Yeah I'll believe it when I see it actually do those things. more »

custom cars/hot rods

I See It In Your Eyes, Take One Look and Die? The Bastard

Created by the folks at Sweden's unfortunately-named Street Xtreme magazine, this Vauxhall VX220/Opel Speedster apparently features a "grunty" 2.2L engine, and makes some pretty damn good noise while cutting a sinister swath. Its project name is "Bastard," which coincidentally, was Lemmy Kilmister's post-post Rockin' Vicars band's original moniker. Better known as Mot rhead, the group's classic "Ace of Spades" contributed the soundtrack to the ridiculously awesome "Clarkson in an Exige vs. Apache" segment on Top Gear a couple of years back, thus bringing the Elise-VX220/Speedster-Lemmy connection full circle. Somebody cue the Hawkwind, please. [Thanks to Claes for the tip.] – Davey G. Johnson More »

3:00 PM on Mon Dec 4 2006
By Davey G. Johnson
105 views, 5 comments

Latest by Downtown Joe: Any reason to post that Top Gear segment should be reason enough for anyone. more »

alternative energy

Separated at Birth: Lotus Elise and Tesla EV Roadster

The supra geniuses over at Sili Valley's Tesla motors have been unquick to admit their hot new EV is really a Lotus Elise in drag — or reduced drag, as the case may be. It's not that we're deriding their choice of underpinnings for the electric supercar; the Elise is perfect: light, well balanced and built by a company that's not adverse to doing for others if the price is right. But c'mon, judge from the images above. The Tesla — at least in prototype form — is so Elise on the inside it hurts, from the dash binnacle to the air vents to the steering wheel — right down to the parking brake handle. Sure, the cars have their differences — allowances made for the differing drivetrains and the like, but they're undeniably dopplegangeresque. Oh wait, the Tesla comes with floormats!? – Mike Spinelli More »

12:50 PM on Thu Nov 30 2006
By Mike Spinelli
931 views, 19 comments

Latest by lascauxcaveman: John Edison, he was Thomas Alva Edison's stupid younger brother. All he could come up with in the lab was 'direct current' and ended up eletrocuting himself. Tom made a half-ass attempt at marketing it anyway, just make mom happy, more »

news: racing

More La Carrera Panamericana: Rachel's Blogging, Too!

A few long hours ago, we pointed you in the direction of Coop's Positive Ape Index in hopes of enlightening those of you who don't yet understand the sheer awesomeness of the Mexican Road Race. We also mentioned Rachel Larratt, who would be a mensch if mensches had vaginas. Plus, she's occasionally Canadian, has many tattoos and drives a Lotus. Is further endorsement needed? Anyway, Rach just informed us that she's got a blog of her own, and will be — as time allows — writing down her adventures in Mexico for all to scope. So go scope. Meanwhile, Wert...what's the feminine of "mensch?" – Davey G. Johnson More »

12:31 AM on Tue Nov 7 2006
By Davey G. Johnson
176 views, 3 comments

Latest by thlaylira: Pfft... Elise? At least it's a hardtop... Well, perhaps she does know better than to spend the cash letting Lotus tweak it and just got a stock Elise and did the adjustments herself... but I need my dorsal air-intake more »

news

Get the Upgrade: Lotus Launches Elise Rental Program

Good news for those shut out of a Lotus Elise due to expense, the need for more cargo space or a trick lumbar spine (actually it's just good news for the first two groups, the third should buy a Buick and consult a physician). Lotus Cars USA is launching a rental program that will allow dubious fly-by-night drivers to get their hands on a 2007 Elise, at least temporarily. The program, which will be launched first in California, Florida, Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania, will most likely discourage track-day debauchery — possibly through a no-hoonage clause that limits insurance coverage to street use. Learn the VIN code, kids, you don't want to end up with one of these poor, pummled souls on the pre-owned market a few years from now. More »

1:00 AM on Tue Sep 19 2006
By Mike Spinelli
647 views, 1 comment

Latest by fussychicken: Hmmm... Any Phoenicians up for a Devil's Highway run in one of these things? more »

bugatti

Power-to-Weight vs. POWERRRR: Elise and Veyron on the Track

Frankly, we're somewhat amazed that the Elise managed to keep up with the Bug as well as it did, gaining in the corners and then getting left behind like so many Liz Taylor's ex-husband-units on the straights. Now and then, though, "overcomplicate and add weight" still beats the crap out of "simplicate and add lightness." This is one such instance. [Thanks to Tom for the tip.] More »

12:30 AM on Fri Jul 14 2006
By Davey G. Johnson
310 views, 5 comments

news

Entry Level for the UK: The Lotus Elise S

Goodbye Rover K series, hello Toyota 2ZZ-GE. Engine geeks will understand that phrase refers to Lotus's European-spec, entry-level Elise being left engineless as the Rover company circled the drain last year — and what the company's doing to get the entry Elise back into production. What it's doing is launching the Elise S, which will get the same Yamaha-designed, Toyota-built powerplant as the federalized US Elise. (Its next-level 111r model will get a new name, Elise R). According to the company, it's a "cracking new entry-level car" whose heads won't crack (we added that last part.) Around $45,000 is the fee for entry. More »

9:20 AM on Wed Jun 7 2006
By Mike Spinelli
194 views, 3 comments

Latest by wannabewannabe: 24/29 MPG is kind of shitty in a car with a 1.8L four that only weighs 1950 lbs, no matter how fast it is. The Celica from which the engine is lifted makes 24/33 and weighs 500 more lbs. more »

custom cars/hot rods: tuners

Turbo Sled: More on Forcedfed's Tuner Elise

According to they guys at turbo-happy tuning house Forcedfed, 75 percent of Elise buyers in Europe and Japan have bought aftermarket engine mods for their cars. That gave them the idea to create a kit for US customers, which we mentioned last year became their "275" kit, which boosts the Elise's horsepower rating to that exact number. Now, The Detroit News is on the beat, reporting that the 275 kit sold so well the company came up with a track-ready package, Race 380R, priced at a neck-snapping $44,995. That, of course, is above the price of the car. Actually, considering what some track cars cost, it seems like a bargain. More »

9:42 AM on Thu May 25 2006
By Mike Spinelli
422 views, 2 comments

Latest by wohho: Well, that douche probably just hooked his man bag on the purse clasp of his porsche. hello, stainless steel interior, carpets? We dont need no stinkin' carpets, bone crushing ride, barely muffled four-banger screaming at you through the firewall... if more »

Jalopnik

Production 2010 Chevy Camaro Revealed!

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