16.02.2010
Lotus has revealed pictures of its facelifted Elise, which will be displayed at Geneva next month and then go on sale in UK showrooms from April.
The revised Elise features detail changes designed to improve the sport car’s emissions and fuel consumption, as well as update its design in line with its Evora sibling. The Elise receives a new front bumper and splitter, rear bumper, engine cover and new front clamshell including repositioned front light clusters with LED daytime running lights.
The net effect of these changes is a 4% reduction in aerodynamic drag, reducing emissions on the entry-level 134 bhp 1.6-litre model by 13% to 155g/km. The 1.8 litre 189 bhp Elise R and 217 bhp Elise SC emit 196g/km and 199g/km respectively.
Other changes include two new designs of lightweight forged alloy wheel, a new 6-speed close-ratio gearbox and the option of cruise control available as part of the Touring pack.
Prices are yet to be announced but we expect to hear more in a few weeks time, prior to the Geneva show.
About Steve Davies
Steve is a media, venture, and technology advisor and a former Partner at KPMG Consulting, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Managing Partner at EIM - his clients range from global web and media companies to small start-ups. He formed Drivers Republic (DR) in 2007, the UK's first digital automotive magazine, with a team of EVO and Autocar writers before creating SkiddMark, and also writes as a guest contributor on Unruly Media’s Meme Machine blog and for Econsultancy’s digital marketing blog.
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10 Comments
Mike GT
February 16, 2010It looks nice, but a bit like a Ferrari California.
Cruise control??? What fool takes an Elise on the highway?
Mike GT
February 16, 2010It looks nice, but a bit like a Ferrari California.
Cruise control??? What fool takes an Elise on the highway?
Steve Davies
February 16, 2010These days on UK roads there are so many sets of road works on the motorways watched over by average-speed cameras that it’s handy to have cruise control at your disposal.
On one 100 mile journey last weekend I travelled through 5 sets of speed-contolled road works and cruise control was a god-send.
Anything that helps keep a licence clean is probably worth it. Mind you, I would only use an Elise as a weekend car although I know many people use theirs every day.
Steve Davies
February 16, 2010These days on UK roads there are so many sets of road works on the motorways watched over by average-speed cameras that it’s handy to have cruise control at your disposal.
On one 100 mile journey last weekend I travelled through 5 sets of speed-contolled road works and cruise control was a god-send.
Anything that helps keep a licence clean is probably worth it. Mind you, I would only use an Elise as a weekend car although I know many people use theirs every day.
Mike GT
February 16, 2010I forget about your speed-cameras and whatnot over there. How strict are the cameras? There has to some buffer zone. At least five mph or so?
Mike GT
February 16, 2010I forget about your speed-cameras and whatnot over there. How strict are the cameras? There has to some buffer zone. At least five mph or so?
Steve Davies
February 16, 2010“How strict are the cameras? There has to some buffer zone. At least five mph or so?”
That’s difficult to say. They’re ‘SAFETY’ cameras after all and you can’t put a price on safety, 5 mph variance would be reasonable but who knows what each set-up of cameras are set to.
Steve Davies
February 16, 2010“How strict are the cameras? There has to some buffer zone. At least five mph or so?”
That’s difficult to say. They’re ‘SAFETY’ cameras after all and you can’t put a price on safety, 5 mph variance would be reasonable but who knows what each set-up of cameras are set to.
Mike GT
February 16, 2010I would think there would have to be just to at least compensate for variances in speedometers. Here in Florida, you can get pulled over for going within 5mph of the limit, but the fine is literally $0. But, on the highway, you can typically get away with 10mph over and the police typically won’t bother you.
If they were really concerned about “safety” they should do more than just simply install cameras.
Mike GT
February 16, 2010I would think there would have to be just to at least compensate for variances in speedometers. Here in Florida, you can get pulled over for going within 5mph of the limit, but the fine is literally $0. But, on the highway, you can typically get away with 10mph over and the police typically won’t bother you.
If they were really concerned about “safety” they should do more than just simply install cameras.