New Elise is CO2 champ

Cleanest?

"Lotus claims that the latest Elise S is the cleanest sportscar money can buy – the official CO2 emissions rating has been confirmed at just 149g/km and extra urban fuel consumption is 56.1mpg."

Not quite true. The Lotus-built Tesla does 130mpg equivalent and emits only 80g/km of CO2 when charged on the UK grid. Not that the Elise is a bad car, but it's not the cleanest.

By dpeilow on 13 April, 2010, 9:41am

Dpeilow - you have a point, Lotus ought to be more careful in their claims. They should still be applauded for their approach to this car, though - most modern cars are excessively heavy.

By cakewalker90 on 13 April, 2010, 10:09pm

Boring

it is boring. and uglier than ever.

By julianlee4 on 15 April, 2010, 7:10am

Boring ??

With respect Julianlee4, accepting that this car is not everyone's cup of tea, there is an awful lot that deserves to be recognised here. If you felt inclined to read a book by John Tipler called 'Lotus Elise, the complete story' by you would instantly recognise the fact that so many technologies and concepts were implemented successfully for the first time ever in the motor industry with the S1 Elise, and all with Colin Chapman's design principles in mind, and not forgetting the sheer amount of effort that went into these cars in the early days to get them where they are now.

I own a VX220 (AKA Lotus type 116) and I admit it might not be 'pretty' but I can asure you of one thing...once driven NOTHING comes close. Supreme handling, 5.4 secs to 60 and brakes that wil stop you quicker than you can say 'stop!'. You WILL forgive these cars for their functional looks after driving one...maybe they should even be regarded as 'tools' since they designed for purpose.

I am biased, true, but please make sure you understand the point of something before you condemn it and you may even consider qualifying your statement??!

By ash1968 on 15 April, 2010, 6:13pm

Boring?

I don't own a Lotus, or a VX220, I'm not an Elise fanboy, and the looks are subjective, but "boring"?

I'd be interested to read a professional roadtest where any Elise is considered "boring"...

By BlairG60 on 15 April, 2010, 7:49pm