Guide Note

Named after the granddaughter of Lotus' former chairman,¹ Romano Artioli, the sporty Elise made its debut in Europe in 1996. Drawing directly from Lotus founder Colin Chapman's motto, "Performance through light weight,"² the Elise is a lightweight car known for its high performance and low price. As a result, the Elise quickly went on to become the best-selling Lotus of all time.³

Fast Facts

1. Class: Sports car
2. Engine: 1.8-liter DOHC 16-valve inline-4
3. Transmission: 6-speed manual
4. Fuel Efficiency: 21/27 mpg
5. Power: 189hp @ 7,800rpm
6. Torque: 133 (lb-ft) @ 6,800rpm
7. 0-60: 4.9 seconds
8. MSRP: $46,270

"It amazes like a Dwyane Wade drive to the hole; nothing should be able to move the way it does."—Car and Driver⁴

"This may be the best car in the world — if all you need it to do is stay ahead of whatever's chasing it."—Edmunds⁵