2014 Lotus Elise Review
You’re at the single’s bar and get asked the question, “What do you drive?” If you answer a Lotus, you’re likely to get a positive response from your prospective mate. They don’t need to know that you own the semi-economical Lotus, the 2014 Lotus Elise.
Performance
Just because you don’t need rock star income to afford the 2014 Lotus Elise, doesn’t mean you won’t feel like one while driving. All of the Toyota made engines make more than enough power to give the light weight roadster some serious scoot. In entry level form, you get the 134bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine that propels the tiny car (weighing in at just 876kg ) to 60mph in just 6.7s. Oddly enough, the 1.6-litre is the most technologically advanced of the lineup. While all of the engines feature variable valve timing, the bargain bin model also features variable valve lift. If you move up to the Elise R, you get a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre power plant putting out 189bhp. This configuration is good for a 0-60 time of just 5.1s and a top speed of 138mph. If you want to make other Elise drivers green with envy, pick up the out-of-sight 1.8-litre supercharged version which packs 217bhp, a resume of 0-60mph in 4.3s, and a top speed of 145mph.
Ride & Handling
If you prefer to drive the same way you live – by choosing the curves over the straight and narrow – you won’t be disappointed by the 2014 Lotus Elise. This car was made to hug the curves like a dress from Neiman Marcus. The chassis is made from bonded aluminium, and has the engine mounted smack dab at the centre for surperb weight distribution. The rear wheels do all of the work, with power being dispensed through a six-speed manual transmission. If Newton were still alive, I’m sure he would have chosen the Elise to demonstrate his laws of physics instead of a humdrum apple.
Looks
While the performance exuded by the 2014 Lotus Elise might impress history’s top physicists, the bodywork is sexy enough to impress today’s top fashion designers. The latest iteration of the little Lotus has a reshaped front end that appears wider and more firmly planted. The headlamps now also incorporate the daytime running lights and indicators. The flowing body lines have also been re-penned to achieve a 4% reduction in aerodynamic drag.
You can have it all for between £27,500 – £36,200. The Elise might look fantastic and run like a scalded dog, but it is far from a comfortable daily drive. To begin with, you need to be in premiere physical shape to hoist yourself in and out of the low slung car, especially if the roof is in place. The living quarters are equally as cramped at the boot. The engineers obviously planned for the Elise to spend more time tearing up the track than running errands. Though the rest of your body may be twisted like a pretzel, at least your back will be comfortable since seats offer plenty of support.
Equipment
There isn’t a lot of luxury or electronic wizardry decorating the 2014 Lotus Elise. This is done intentionally in order to keep weight and production cost low. What you do get is an accoutrement of race track goodies including brakes with AP Racing calipers at the front and Brembo clamps at the back, linked to 282mm vented and cross drilled rotors. The ABS system is superb as well, only making its presence known with a slight, unobtrusive pulsation when called upon. Driver and passenger both get airbags as well as seatbelts with pre-tensioners – though most owners will want to ditch these in favor of a full race harness.
The Elise has exotic styling and performance at an obtainable price. In fact, the petite Lotus is less expensive than almost any cars in its bracket. As mentioned earlier, pricing starts at just £27,500, meaning you can enjoy a track day without the pressing guilt of taking food out of your kid’s mouths. You can live free of shame at the pump too, as all trim levels of the Elise get excellent mileage. The 1.6-litre engine is the most miserly of the lineup, achieving a combined fuel economy of 46mpg while emitting 155g/km of CO2. If you opt for the supercharged 1.8-litre, those numbers shift to 38mpg and 199g/km. In addition, the light weight of the Elise means less wear and tear on the items such as brakes, shocks, etc. As usual, the insurance companies don’t like having fun, so the Elise is slapped with an insurance group of 20.
If you were contemplating a leather draped, luxury touring car before, you are unlikely to be swayed into buying an 2014 Lotus Elise after reading this article. It’s a bare bones sports car, made for play. If you’re looking for a track car – or a daily driver if you don’t have an aversion to complete discomfort – you should consider taking the 2014 Lotus Elise for a test lap.
If you want to get hold of the 2014 Lotus Elise then don’t hesitate to leave us a message on our contact us page or give us a call on 01903 538835 to find out about our Lotus lease deals.
