Lotus Elise 1.6

BIG isn’t always best – and the Lotus Elise has turned this approach into an art form. The flyweight two-seater saved the Norfolk company from extinction in 1996, and it has always been the entry-level models that make the most sense.

New for this year is a Toyota-sourced 1.6-litre engine, offering lively performance, low emissions and impressive economy.

Combine the unit’s 134bhp output with the Lotus’ sub-900kg kerbweight, and you get 0-60mph in less than seven seconds. Straight-line pace has never been what the Elise is all about, though, because it makes up for any power deficit in corners. It took 68.5 seconds to lap the Anglesey track – within a second of the more powerful Peugeot RCZ 200THP and SEAT Leon Cupra R.

What makes the Lotus so enjoyable is how you feel behind the wheel. Driving experiences don’t get any purer, with lightweight seats, exposed metal and a canvas roof, plus few creature comforts inside. You can hear grit hitting the underside of the bodywork and the wind buffets your hair. As you dive from corner to corner you really feel connected to the car, and the road.

The communicative steering, positive gearshift and beautifully balanced chassis will delight experienced drivers and complete novices in equal measure. So while it doesn’t have the raw power or pace to worry the big boys in our test, the plucky Lotus holds huge and lasting appeal. The only downside is the high list price – if the firm could turn the Elise into a genuine Mazda MX-5 rival, it would be the performance car of the decade, never mind 2010.

In any other year, it would have made the top 10.