2011 Lotus Elise
We here in the U.S. have only had access to the Lotus Elise since 2004, but elsewhere in the world, the car has existed in its current form since 2000. Although its relative rarity mitigates the perception that it is aging, the little rocket is still due for a face lift. Lotus isn’t fully revamping the car for 2011, but a mild update is in the cards for the world’s smallest provider of huge thrills. The biggest change is actually one that we won’t see in the U.S.—the addition of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder to the lineup to power base cars. The 134-hp four will stay in Europe, while we on this side of the ocean will retain our choice of naturally aspirated or supercharged 1.8-liter fours making 189 and 218 hp, respectively. No Such Thing as a Mature Lotus What we will see here are a series of small changes to the body. Up front, a new fascia consolidates the various intake elements into one, Miata–like grin—now sans strakes—while single-element headlights replace the staggered-size units ...
