Lotus Elise S1/S2

HPDE Overview

The Lotus Elise is the purest driver's car money can buy. At under 2,000 lbs with a mid-engine layout and no power steering, no ABS, and minimal electronic intervention, the Elise communicates with an immediacy that nothing else can match. Colin Chapman's "simplify, then add lightness" philosophy is fully realized. The S2 Elise with the Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine is the track driver's choice. The 2ZZ revs to 8,000 RPM with VVTL-i (Toyota's version of VTEC), and the Toyota reliability is a significant improvement over the S1's Rover K-Series. At under 2,000 lbs, the power-to-weight ratio is competitive with cars making twice the horsepower. On track, the Elise is telepathic. Every input is felt, every response is immediate. The car rewards smooth, precise driving and punishes ham-fisted aggression. The brakes, while small, work brilliantly because they are stopping so little weight.

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