October 2000
Facelifted with new targa top and uprated standard engine. Rover K Series 1,796cc engine.
May 2002
New variant called Elise 111 got power hike to 156bhp, 0-60mph dropped to 5.3 seconds and top speed went up to 132mph. Priced at £25,999, but options such as a/c, hardtop and leather can take it over £30k.
January 2004
Huge step forward in January 2004 with Elise 111R, which has 192PS (189bhp) 1,794cc 2ZZ-GE VVT-i chain cam Toyota engine and Toyota 6-speed box. Does 150mph and 0-60 in 4.9, 32.1mpg and 208g/km CO2. Priced from £27,995.
July 2006
Back to basics Elise S with 140PS 1,794cc chain cam Toyota engine does 0-60 in 5.8, top speed 128, CO2 196g/km, 34mpg combined, price a more sensible £23,995.
October 2007
220PS SC version announced. 0-60mph 4.4 seconds. Top speed 150mph. On sale from january 2008 at £32,550.
March 2015
Lotus Elise 20th Anniversary model weighs 10kg less than the Elise S
and, priced at £39,995 has £5,150 of additional kit at a price of £2,700 more than an Elise S. Weight saving (down to 914kg) came from new matt-black alloy wheels, a lightweight body-coloured centre console and lightweight sports seats trimmed in leather or suede-like Alcantara.
Engine is a 1.8-litre supercharged Toyota tgiving it a 0-60 of 4.4 seconds and a 145mph top speed. Because of the car's light weight – it tips the scales at just 914kg – it's still capable of 47.6mpg, with CO2 emissions of 173g/km.
Has a sport mode that sharpens the accelerator pedal's response and reduces the electronic stability control system's intervention. Available in blue, green, yellow and silver.
Spec list:
- Body colour, lighter weight interior centre console
- Leather, or Alcantara (no cost), lighter sports seat trim option
- Colour-coded stitching on seats and door cards
- Colour-coded seat hoops
- Matt black forged alloy wheels
- Matt black distinguishing exterior trim
- Four paint colours - Classic Blue, Green, Yellow and Silver
- Auxiliary driving lights
- Elise 20th Anniversary decals externally and on dashboard stereo blanking-plate
March 2017
Elise revised for 2017
Pride of place in the latest Elise line-up is the new Sprint edition, capturing the spirit of Lotus by offering the latest in efficient engineering to deliver a car that sets the standard at under 800 kg.
Featuring a host of weight-saving items as standard, as well as the Elise's distinctive new styling, the new Lotus remains true to the company’s founding principles. Benefitting the range as a whole, all new Elise editions receive the car’s new look and new interior options, and every single one of the Sprint’s lightweight components can be specified on the standard Elise Sport and the Elise Sport 220 variants.
The Sprint edition of the Lotus Elise has removed 41 kg from the previous model, to reach a benchmark dry weight of just 798 kg.
Integrating a new front and rear aesthetic with Lotus’ established design language, this latest Elise also receives a wide range of cabin enhancements - including the lightweight open-gate gear select mechanism first introduced on the Lotus Exige Sport 350. The Sprint is available in both the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated and 1.8-litre supercharged versions. Delivering an exciting mid-point in the range, it broadens the car’s appeal by including lightweight and carbon components as standard.
External design touches for the Sprint range include a matt black transom panel, black wheels which come with custom contrasting metal spun rims, distinctive yet subtle side stripes on the bodywork and unique side and rear badging.
The new Elise Sport and Sprint are available in two engine options: the 1.6-litre or the supercharged 1.8-litre. Offering 134PS and 160Nm of torque and 217PS with 250Nm of torque respectively, they have been specifically tuned to suit the Elise. Being so lightweight, emissions are 149g/km CO2 and 173g/km CO2 for the 1.6 engine and 1.8 engines respectivel
Stopping power is provided by AP Racing twin-piston front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear-calipers - optional lightweight two-piece brake discs are also available. All cars benefit from userselectable ESP driving modes - Drive / Sport / Off.
The new Elise also carries over the same suspension setup as before, with fully independent double wishbone suspension and a front anti-roll bar, coupled with Bilstein high-performance gas dampers and Eibach coaxial coil springs front and rear. Being lighter than the preceding model, the effective spring rate is marginally increased, retaining the compliant ride for which all Lotus cars are legendary.
A new version of the Elise’s most popular model, the Cup 250 has a list price of £47,400. Also, incorporating all the Elise range updates, the Elise Cup 250 model is 23 kg lighter than its predecessor, with lightweight options including a Carbon Aero pack, front access panel, roll hoop cover and engine coverto take this to 40 kg, providing even more blistering performance.
Elise Sport £32,300
Elise Sprint £37,300
Elise Sport 220 £39,300
Elise Sprint 220 £44,300
Elise Cup 250 £47,400