For twenty years, despite its small stature, each edition of this small-batch British roadster has been a giant in its field. And the 2001 Elise S2 had it all. The Mazda Miata was the roadster for every driver. The Lotus Elise was the roadster for the driving enthusiast.
The Elise debuted in 1996, and it was a raw, stripped-back roadster, weighing in at just over 1,543 lbs. This true automotive featherweight was the first of its kind to use cutting-edge weight-saving measures like bonded aluminum and sophisticated composites. These measures would be later adopted by some of the most well-known sports car manufacturers eager to keep their cars as slim as possible.
But why exactly do we love the Lotus Elise S2? Let's take a closer look at what made this sports car an exceptional ride.
What Made The Elise So Special?
The first entry into the Elise lineup, thanks to its low weight, was able to achieve a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds. The Elise, however, was never intended to be an animal on the straights. Where the Elise came to life was in the corners.
Combining rear-wheel drive, a road scraping ride height, and a center of gravity an ant would have been proud of, the Lotus Elise could take on corners like no other road-going car. This made the car perfect for the winding roads of the UK and Europe but also made it a fierce track day car. This low-riding, lightweight ethos was the backbone for future Lotus Elise editions.
What's more, the Lotus was a reasonably priced roadster, relatively speaking. While the mass-produced Miata is notoriously good value for money, the Elise wasn't too far behind, costing around $28,000. However, in this respect, Lotus have forgotten their way a little. New models cost anywhere between $70,000 and $140,000, but that is not to say they aren't still great bang for your buck.
At the turn of the century, while many of us were worried that the machines were readying themselves for human subjugation, Lotus had problems of their own to contend with.
Their concerns came in the form of safety regulations. As the increased demand for driver safety took hold in the UK and Europe, Lotus were forced to rethink some of their earlier design ideas. However, they never lost sight of what made the first edition special.
Coming To America
After the introduction of tighter safety regulations, Lotus discontinued the first edition Elise but came back in 2001 with the S2.
The apple did not fall far from the tree with the Elise S2; despite the demands for increased safety, the Elise S2 still only weighed in at about 1900 lbs. This 352 lb weight gain is little more than a hefty meal in the car world. Fortunately, with a greater center of gravity and in some models a larger engine, the S2 Elise was meaner than that which came before.
The demands for increased safety came from both sides of the Atlantic. A US visa is difficult to come by for most Brits; the Elise was no exception. Because it failed to meet national safety standards, the first edition Elise was unavailable to US drivers. Fortunately, the second edition didn't have the same problem.
With a few modifications to the chassis and the addition of anti-lock brakes, and an airbag here and there, the second edition Elise met these safety requirements. Not long after, the Elise joined the huddled masses, welcomed by Lady Liberty herself.
A Short Stay
The Elise S2 reached American shores in 2001. The only difference between the European and American editions was the replacement of the Rover engine with one developed by Toyota. Making the Elise S2 everything the MR2 dreamed of being. This, above all, is why the Elise S2 captured our hearts.
Now the Elise could take center stage on US tracks and along US mountain roads, where the Elise is most enjoyed. The brilliance of the Elise was widely recognized, with Tesla even adapting the S2 for their inaugural EV, the Tesla roadster.
Sadly, the Elise's time on American soil was short but sweet. History so commonly repeats itself, and for Lotus and the Elise this would be no different. The first edition was kept out of the hands of American motorists because of safety regulations, and the third edition was to be barred entry on the same grounds. The Elise S3 was not granted access to the US market due to the airbags used in this rendition.
However, the Elise's lifespan wasn't destined to extend too far beyond this anyway. Lotus has recently announced that the Elise has been discontinued altogether, along with their Evora and Exige models. Fortunately, this is not the end for this plucky British sports car manufacturer as it has been announced that a new model is on its way—code-named Type 131.
Although It is time to say goodbye to the Elise and other masterful creations from Lotus, while we sit in eager anticipation for what Lotus has to offer us next, we can still sit in reverence of the Elise and all it offered to the automotive world as the masterpiece it was.