Speed Freaks

The thing about cars is that we’ve come to expect too much from them. They have to be comfier than a Parker Knoll recliner, safe, economical, environmentally right-on and have racing stripes, oh, and it helps if they’re easy to drive. Unfortunately in trying to do everything adequately they end up doing nothing very well. In the automotive industries’ search for “one car that fits all” even the grand marques have been swayed by market forces, worshipping luggage space and economy over sheer emotional performance. Not so the Lotus Elise …

Don’t buy a Lotus Elise if you’re self-conscious because people will stare. The Elise looks like nothing else on the road. It’s an amalgamation of every classic mid-engined sports car you’ve ever dreamed of owning but it’s more practical, more affordable, probably better-made and a bigger performer than most others.

In fact, the Elise is too inexpensive to be a status symbol, but its single-minded engineering and styling ensure other motorists understand that you take your driving very seriously.

The exterior view is low and extreme; sculptured, air-scooped, vented and sexy from every angle. The front is unfeasibily short with E-type styled headlamps curving to meet the low screen with its single wiper-blade. The bonnet carries the unmistakable green and yellow Lotus badge and two meshed segments venting the radiator beneath. As one would expect it’s a cabriolet and comes with a detachable black fabric roof that’s easily removed and stowed in the tiny luggage compartment next to the engine. It’s cute from behind with neat twin chrome exhausts and a tiny integral spoiler, but don’t be deceived, it’s shod with fat low-profile tyres and branded alloys revealing sizable brake discs lurking behind.

The interior view is every bit as spare and practically stylish as the lightweight plastic exterior bodywork. While the Elise looks great from behind it expects the same of its driver, so if you don’t plan on getting intimate with your passenger you’ll have to drive alone. Occupants sit on the floor, hugged in leather and not much padding, and if you insist on keeping the roof on getting in and out is fun.

The interior is reminiscent of an aircraft cockpit with its beautiful aluminium floor and hi-tech glued construction (I think they made the wheels from glue too because it really sticks to the road.) You sit wedged within the chassis with your outside elbow leaning on the door-sill—this helps provide a snug bracing position against cornering forces, not that this car moves much even when cornering hard. Behind the leather-covered race steering wheel there’s a speedo, a rev counter and a fuel gauge. There’s excellent close-ratio transmission, a cigar-lighter, a heater, the possibility of a radio and, behind the seats, an elasticated bag for maps and snacks. There are no sun visors, navigational systems or electric windows—because this car is designed to be driven by people who adore driving.

The Elise, with its revvy 1,800cc Rover engine, demands you go around roundabouts two or three times and turn-off motorways to find A-Class corners. Ideally, you lose the roof because driving is best when you feel the rush of air above your head and smell the countryside as you fly past.

The Elise will do 0–60mph in 5.5 seconds, accelerating more quickly than all but supercars and sports bikes. It stops with startling efficiency and stability. This car isn’t about top-end speed but it’s peerless handling and driver feedback makes even moderate speeds feel thrilling and rewarding.

It’s tough to find a new car to get excited about, never mind one that’s made in the UK, and it’s a rare pleasure to find one that not only looks good but is fantastic to drive, even if there’s no room for the kids or the shopping. This is a racing car at heart, precision lightweight engineering for the serious aesthete. You’re rewarded for driving well, but rarely punished for getting things wrong. The Elise is designed to entertain you and one lucky friend so throw a toothbrush and some Calvins in the boot and go touring. If you can’t find real country roads, book the race track.