Lotus Exige

MSRP: $59,890 - $59,890
Fiorano, but for barely a quarter of the price.

The name Lotus has also had a certain cachet among automotive aficionados, and last year’s introduction of the Elise roadster put the British brand within reach of a broad audience of American sports car fans. For 2007, Lotus is adding this new fastback. At $56,990, it’ll set you back another $8000, but with its new, supercharged engine, stiffer suspension, and high-performance aerodynamics, the Exige S is likely to gain even more traction for Lotus in a market it long has coveted.

TheCarConnection.com jumped at the opportunity to test out the mid-engine sports car a few weeks back, spending a day driving it along the open roads of Nevada, as well as an afternoon on the demanding, South Road Course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

 Lotus Elise.

and svelte-looking Elise roadster has previously been sold throughout Europe, it debuts on American shores for 2005 and replaces the long-running Esprit in Lotus' U.S. line. A fuel-efficient 190-horsepower Toyota 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and promises 0-60 mph times at around five seconds. The vehicle's bonded and extruded all-aluminum lightweight chassis is said to afford exceptional structural rigidity, which in turn translates into improved ride and handling characteristics. Anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, and a CD player are among its standard features. An optional Touring Pack includes a leather-trimmed interior, while a Sports Pack features an upgraded suspension with performance wheels and tires (16 inches in the front and 17 at the rear). A hard top is offered for when the weather turns nasty.

2005 Lotus Elise by Marty Padgett (4/26/2004)
It's all or nothing for the sprite-sized successor to the Esprit and Elan.

Lotus Motorsport Elise 2009

Lotus motorsport elise 2009 Car Racing

Lotus Motorsport Elise 2009

Lotus motorsport elise 2009 Car Racing