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It seems that Lotus was pretty busy this year before the Paris Auto Show. Next to the new generation Esprit, Lotus will also bring the new Elise that will go on sale in 2015 at a price of £35,000 ($55,000 at the current exchange rates). The 2015 Elise was rumored to be powered by a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine delivering a total of 320 HP and 330 NM of torque. However, since the company’s announcement of an in-house developed V8 engine, more rumors are circulating about what will be found under the hood of the next gen Elise. These whispers are hinting that the V8 engine is serving as inspiration for a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that will be used for the Elise replacement set to be launched in 2014. Whichever engine makes its way under the Elise’s hood, it will probably be mated to the new start-stop technology. The goal is to make the Elise hit the 0 to 60 mph mark in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 167 mph. "The Elise you can buy now is still a fantastic car, make no mistake, Lotus remain very proud of it, but this is a natural progression for us moving forward. The Elise 2015 will also be class-leading in terms of performance and efficiency but it will do more than that it will take the Elise model to the forefront of its class across the board. The design of the Elise 2015 is perfect for the target market, it’s young, strong, confident, verging on ruthless, it mirrors the engineering and technology. It’s the next generation Elise for a new generation of Lotus drivers." Press release after the jump. Press release Oh yes, here it is! There’s still room for the Elise at Lotus but what a difference a decade or two makes. The Elise due for release in 2015 is a sexy, agile beast of a car. Finally the Elise comes of age.   Perhaps a small example of how the car has changed would help. Aside from strong graphic styling, the practicality of the car has had a major overhaul too with sizeable improvements made to the ingress and egress – in simple terms, no more acrobatics but still all the fun you expect from the Elise.  “The design of the Elise 2015 is perfect for the target market, it’s young, strong, confident, verging on ruthless, it mirrors the engineering and technology. It’s the next generation Elise for a new generation of Lotus drivers.” Specifications
32 comments: Lotus Elise One buys a Lotus for one reason and one reason only: road glue. Whether the fuel economy suffers from the extra weight doesn’t matter. However, how that weight affects the handling matters a TON!
 I like it. People say it’s generic... OK. Point out the other 2400 lb mid engined cars available for 60K. 80K. 100K. It’s still very unique; it just made the move into the 21st century.
 I agree looks great but I was hoping for more of a evolution of the Elise. Carbon Fiber Cabin, Carbon Fiber body panels, no carpet, no plush seats, hell no leather shift boot.
 Speaking of Toyota, there really is something familiar about the new Elise, and that’s the 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine riding behind the cabin.
 Lest you fear the Elise will lose some of its purist sports-car persona in this generational update, Lotus seeks to reassure one and all, stating unequivocally that “the Elise 2015 has lost none of the cheeky charm” and that it “handles like a dream—albeit a quite aggressive and tension-filled dream.”
 It is still a light weight!! only 1 ton, and great accl. so I dont know what the fuss is all about! I actually think its better, since it looks like you can drive this everyday and not only for track  An incredible chassis that is maybe weighed down and padded with a little too much fluff for the most hard-core enthusiasts.
 Yes indeed this would be a good car but, NO! This is a Lotus !! Go back to Colin Chapman’s lightweight principle !
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Posted on
01.25.2011 @ 22:26