Car Review: Lotus Elise Sport

23 09 2008

The Elise was initially introduced way back in 1996. This exotic car stayed many years in Europe because its dimensions were not allowed in the United States of America. However, things looked bright for this car when the new Lotus Elise Sport was finally released. The new version was tinkered and had a facelift, and it was specifically built to compete against the ultra-competitive American market.

The Car

The car has a humble 1.8 liter engine that a lot of cars like what the Toyota Corolla has. However, the Lotus Elise Sport is just under 2,000 lbs. and that made the whale of a difference when it comes to its street performance. The car is surprisingly fast because it can reach the 60-mile barrier in only 4.7 seconds and it can release as much as 189 horsepower. The Lotus Elise Sport is also a serious speedster, because very few cars with its engine can go as fast as 150 mph in an open freeway.

The great thing about the Lotus Elise Sport is its sticker price, which is pegged around 43,000 USD. That’s still a bit pricey, but if you compare it to other exotic cars like a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Reventon, you’re getting a huge bargain no doubt.

Performance

The Lotus Elise Sport features impressive suspension system upgrades that include Ohlin shock absorbers. With that being said, driving the Lotus Elise Sport is effortless, although you need to be quiet lanky in order to fit inside this car. The Lotus Elise Sport does not have enough space to fit several people. Although when it comes to protection, its lightweight carbon-fiber frame makes it a tough customer during road collisions. When it comes to skin-deep beauty, the Lotus Elise Sport certainly has it. It’s great to look at and it has more than enough speed that you need for your daily driving.

The Practicality

It took quite a while before the Lotus Elise Sport made it to the American market. The truth is, it’s perfectly the car that you need if you want to look good out on the street. In addition to that, it’s also extremely easy to drive, although its downside is its rather limited luggage space. The Lotus Elise Sport only has a grand total of four cubic feet of space for your stuff. So if you plan to go out of town, this isn’t really the car that you would want to bring.

The fact is, the Lotus Elise Sport is all about driving without the unwanted weight. It does not have enough space for both people and baggage that can affect the whole experience of bringing this on the road. However, if there’s one good reason of buying this, it is because this car is extremely fuel efficient. Unlike other sport cars, the Lotus Elise Sport can extend a gallon of fuel to 22 miles in the city. When it comes to the highway the Lotus Elise Sport needs at least 29 miles, before emptying a gallon of gasoline. I know the price is no longer an issue if you can afford this ride, but then again, having a fuel-efficient fuel car won’t hurt, does it?

Without a doubt, the Lotus Elise Sport is a bachelor’s car because of its solid lines and slick contours. Moreover, this car is built to race that’s why it would be such a waste if you’re going to bring it to where traffic jams usually happen. At less than 50,000 dollars, this car is a solid steal and you’ll surely have a great feeling just knowing that you have this parked in your garage.