Hi Everyone!
Lately, I have seen in town these very small Lotus sports cars and I was wondering if they are very fast. I asked a guy driving one how much hp they have and he said220. They look very light, so I'mguessing they'll get a lotout of that 220, but wasjust wondering if anyone has had any experience with them.

Thanks in advance.
Take care, stay safe.
RJ

 

I assume you are talking about the Elise?

0-60: 4.9 sec – (4.7 with Sport Pack)
0-100: 12.9 sec
Top Speed: 150 mph
Fuel Consumption: 24 City/29 Highway
Curb Weight: 1984 lbs

No wait, I'll bet you are talking about the hard top Exige:

0-60: 4.1 sec
0-100: 11sec
Top Speed: 148 mph
Fuel Consumption: 23 City/ 29 Highway
Curb Weight: 2077 lbs

 

Yeah, they rock... if you can fit in them. A good friend of mine bought one before they were allowed in the US and had it rebuilt to be US legal. Lotus used the Rover "K" engine (up to 190 hp), and since Rovers aren't sold in the US, the version sold here has a Toyota/Yamaha engine. The one that I rode in had a blueprinted Honda i-Vtec type R racing engine, at well over 200 hp. Yeah, that's not alot of power, but when you put it in a car that weighs 1500 lbs (half of a Boxster to give some comparison), it will grab the seat of your pants in all 6 gears.

bill.

 

Lotus cars are light and fairly quick in acceleration -- the put in truly impressive stats in magazine road tests but in the real world they accelerate about like a C6 -- but their real forte is handling --- since Colin Chapman first started makingthem (the Lotus 7,decades ago)nothing except a gran prix car could materially outhandle them in twisties. They are just uncanny. But, they are small, cramped, and not really meant as daily drivers, and they tend to be maintenance intensive (not the engines, the suspension and the bodies). I personally think the Elise and the Exige are ugly but some like the looks. Myself, I much prefer the 1964 Lotus Elan, one of the great sports cars of all time (and the inspiration for the looks of the first Mazda Miata).

 

Thanks, Everyone!
Yes, they look pretty quick, but oh so small. Honestly, even I would have trouble fitting into one. I was surprised at how much they cost. []

Thanks again.
Take care, stay safe.

 

I was talking to a local business owner last summer who owns a Elise and like Lee said they are definitely not for daily driving. He said you can ride over a dime and tell what year it was made.

 

The first week my friend had his Elise, with the nice little Acura package in the back, he made a trek to an open track day at Laguna Seca. He could out-corner the 911's, very impressive handling. Unfortunately, he lost a CV with about 20 laps on the car (and well under 1000 miles). He has had a couple other little issues with it, but for the most part, it has been a good car for his 15 mile commute through the hills of northern CA. Of course, his "backup cars" are a 72 Citroen Masserati and a Fiat/PF spyder.

bill.

 

F.ix I.t A.gain T.ony... lol

 

Has anyone seen the new lotus concept? It is hotness on wheels.