2011 Lotus Elise Review

The Lotus Elise has revolutionized the sports car 14 years ago when the small and light, agile two-seater mid-engined sports car was introduced. Ensure that the Lotus Elise stuck strictly to the fundamental values ??of performance through lightweight Lotus, Lotus Elise was able to produce supercar performance with the city economy.

Making its debut at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show, the 2011 model year Lotus Elise introduced a range of changes and improvements to maintain its position as a leader in its class.

 

The body - a development

The body of the new Lotus Elise 2011 is an evolution of the design iconic Elise, retaining the character and style, while a more planted, focused attitude and a clean, modern look that connects to Evora. As with all Lotus product design is an exciting blend of dramatic style and functional efficiency

The new Lotus Elise is a fresh body design, the front, including a new bumper, front of the door shell and a Lotus Elise which together give a broader look more road presence.

Behind the new engine of the car is housed in a typical hood "double spine ', while more aggressive lower diffuser is securely wrapped in a sleek new bumper now includes a rear license plate.

 

Projector new units clearly sculpted LED light guides (including daytime running lights and turn signals) give a contemporary touch to this classic design. Moreover, the firm, "mouth" Lotus and familial forms have been carefully carved refined to give a clearer, more dynamic look. The repositioning of the functions light led to the creation of the large cleaning surface of the wings combined with the angle of entry and elegant details leading distributor providing a more extensive planting.

The topic is brought up to clean the cooling fans that are actually finished a new lightweight aluminum mesh, which classically gives the car a sporty look.

The trunk is open from the cockpit instead of a key operation separately. The quality of the impression that the Lotus Elise is continuous throughout the car with the Lotus Elise graphics incorporated in the new LED direction indicators, such as the Evora.

 

The driving position, pedals and steering wheel perfectly placed to support and comfortable seating with ProBax technology means that, like all Lotus cars, the driver becomes part of the car instead of being just a passenger.

The sleek new body aerodynamics are improved with a reduction in the drag coefficient of 4%.

Finally, the choice of two beautifully designed, lightweight wheel, using an incredibly lightweight forged wheels and a new cast wheel completes the picture of this upgrade Lotus sensitive icon.

 

Other changes to the 2011 Lotus Elise

New 2011 Lotus Elise has a number of other changes and improvements with the installation of advanced new 1.6 liter Valvematic meet the Euro 5 legislation. This new engine is a 200cc smaller than the outgoing model Lotus Elise S, and produces a similar power (136 hp, 100 hp, 134 hp 6800 rpm), maximum torque of 160 Nm, 4400 rpm 118 lbft, but offers significant improvements in fuel economy for more than 23%, 6.14 liters / 100 km (46 mpg) and CO2 emissions by over 13%. This provides a new Lotus Elise with the lowest CO2 performance of any gasoline for high-performance sports cars worldwide. This high-tech engine is mated to a new 6-speed manual gearbox, which offers a closer relationship and performance-oriented than the outgoing five-speed transmission.

The 1.6 liter engine is controlled by the management system adapted T6 engine Lotus. Cruise control is available on the Lotus Elise for the first time with the controls on a stalk to the left of the steering column.

New cast wheels are designed specifically for the Lotus Elise and the new option forged wheels weighs only 29.26 kg per set, 2.14 kg lighter than a set of lightweight molded version. Both are available in silver or black.

Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus, said: "The Lotus Elise revolutionized the sports car when it was launched 14 years ago, and now the Lotus Elise has become more environmentally friendly, giving drivers access to the first category of performance with less guilt. "

Donato Coco, Director of Design, said: "The Lotus Elise is an iconic sports car and it was important not involving its design, which made the car more pure in his eyes, improved aerodynamics, and gave a more contemporary look with high quality finishes. "

 

Paul Newsome, Director of Product Lotus Engineering, said: "We are always looking at how to keep the Lotus Elise in front of his peers and the 2011 model year, we have improved efficiency without losing the pleasure inherent in making the Lotus Elise legendary. "

Andreas Prillmann Commercial Director of Lotus Cars says, "the 14 years the production of the Lotus Elise is 32% of total production in 61 years shows how important the Lotus brand and much loved. 2011 Lotus Elise is a greener, cleaner and more desirable, it is becoming increasingly important in today's marketplace. new Lotus Elise to underline his reputation as one of the most innovative manufacturers of sports cars in the world. 

 

Engine

Presents the new Lotus Elise 1598 cm3 1zr-FAE engine supplied by Toyota. The key to this engine performance and efficiency of the system are Valvematic (a valve mechanism of variable lift) that is combined with the dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent). The engine of the current order intake valve opening / closing timing and intake valve lift varying the amount of intake air, resulting in significant improvements in efficiency and fuel economy. This ensures optimal performance based on operating conditions of the engine, thus contributing to the Lotus Elise to achieve both high energy efficiency and high performance.

First and foremost is the maximum effect is reached near maximum speed (engine speed) at 6800 rpm and maximum torque (160 Nm of respectable 118 lb.ft) is reached at 4400 rpm. It gives a good combination of features mid-range, but also encourages the driver to operate the engine at the maximum speed of 7000 rpm (transient speed limit). Like all Lotus Elise sports car, there are three teams on Binnacle lights cumulatively lighting when the driver approaches the rev limiter and when all three indicated that they flash to indicate that the pilot is almost the rev limiter so time to change up a gear!

 

Height of the hood is lifted 34 mm 1ZR top spot in the engine than the previous 1zz the engine from the previous model is due in part to Valvematic technology with the new engine. This has given engineers the ability to Lotus subtly redesign the rear panel to respond to the theme from the front and rear of the car.

Chassis

Lotus Elise is built on the revolutionary and award winning extruded and bonded aluminum frame, lightweight steel rear subframe. Body that weighs 68 kilograms (150 pounds) and has stiffness 9800 Nm Fri able, which provides high suspension control. Behind, and also serve as the rear energy absorbing crash structure, light steel frame located on the engine and transmission. Equipment in front of the radiator, and auxiliary installed in the main part of the high-tech composite structure to absorb crash energy, which is both lightweight, compact, and more than three times more energy absorption than the equivalent steel structure.

 

Ride and handling

The legendary Lotus ride and handling provide superior high-performance, sporty driving style combined with a progressive and consistent race on the treatment threshold, makes the car Lotus Elise, which needs to be guided.

The entry level Lotus Elise weighs 876 kg, making it one of the lightest fully homologated sportscars in the world. The low weight results in a powerful performance with minimal impact on the environment in terms of emissions and fuel consumption. Effectiveness of Lotus Elise structure means that the 136 hp (100 kW, 134 hp) offers phenomenal performance.

Few cars can match the delicacy and precision steering, acceleration and braking of the Lotus Elise, and contribute to the excellent leadership of the Lotus Elise.

Security

Lotus Elise is a high performance AP Racing calipers Brembo calipers front and rear 282 mm vented and cross-drilled cast iron discs provide excellent braking.

Lotus Elise comes standard with a track tuned ABS system that is designed to be unobtrusive in normal driving. This system is designed for use on the track and have a high threshold, only to respond to emergencies.

 

ABS is associated with a small pedal box with steel pedal arms and extruded aluminum plates. This unit also has an electronic (drive-by-wire) throttle for quick throttle response, smooth and more linear.

 

The active braking, combined with excellent handling and offers a safe primary asset composite crash structure of front and rear impact protection provides an effective security effects. Driver and passenger airbags, as well as pre-tensioning seat belts are standard on all models of the Lotus Elise.