Lotus Elise SC

The fact that the three lightweight contenders have finished together is not deliberate, but it tells an interesting tale. It’s the evergreen appeal of the Elise that’s seen it triumph among its low-weight competitors, so why hasn’t it made the grade in the top 10?

There’s no doubt that the Lotus is great fun to drive on both the road and the track. With more substantial protection from the elements than its two rivals, and offering a smoother ride, it takes less commitment, too. Equipped with a powerful new supercharged 2.0-litre Toyota-derived engine, the little Lotus feels agile and fun regardless of how hard you’re pushing. Its greater comfort comes at a price, however. The softer set-up leads to more body roll and pronounced dive under braking. On the plus side, this helps let you know when you’re approaching the limits of grip.

So the Lotus is fast and agile, but in the end it’s the lack of depth to the abilities of all the lightweight models that has pushed them down the chart. Relaxed cruising to your track day or favourite road is off the menu. The Elise is the pick of the trio, yet its failure to evolve significantly in terms of styling or image is beginning to make it look dated.

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