After a prestigious run that covers 25 years for the Elise and a respectable 23 years for the Exige, sports car manufacturing supremo Lotus has decided that both models are to be retired. In a clean sweep that will also see the ultimate sports car, the Lotus Evora GT discontinued, a new model code-named the 131 will break cover. It will likely be powered by a hybrid drivetrain, while the all-electric Evija hypercar and a rumored SUV will fill in the other gaps.

Rolling back the clock to 1996, the original Series One Elise arrived with a fanfare of praise. Here was a sports car that proudly turned its head away from what mainstream manufacturers were doing with cars like the Toyota Supra, the BMW E36 M3, and MK3 Volkswagen Golf GTI. While these vehicles were getting heavier, more luxurious, and more mechanically complicated, the Elise went with the stripped-out, lightweight approach, creating a nimble car that could beat all-comers.

Far from refined or comfortable, both the Elise and Exige were tools built for one simple purpose, to destroy roads and cut up a racetrack. Uncompromising, beautifully simple in their approach, and each having evolved into the ultimate road racers, here are 10 reasons why we'll Miss the Lotus Elise and Exige.

10 The Awesome Elise

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The Lotus Elise was a revelation upon its release. A small, affordable sports car that would obliterate cars with three times the horsepower, five times the cost, and with far more prestigious badges. Yet it also proved to be economical to run.

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Using advanced engineering techniques, Lotus took a cutting edge approach to create the Elise sports car. It sported bold bodywork, slim tires on small aluminum wheels, but a huge attitude and abilities so fierce they impressed anyone who drove it.

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9 Lightweight Brilliance

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The idea was basic, adding lightness, a principle that Lotus founder Colin Chapman had applied to all the company's cars, and by stripping away frivolity, the result was a sports car like no other.

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Constructed around a glued and riveted aluminum tub that used advanced bonding techniques, the Elise was truly a next-generation, groundbreaking machine serving up mid-engined thrills in a completely innovative way.

8 Not All About Power

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With many car manufacturers looking to turn the dial up on power in the '90s by increasing displacement and adding turbos, the Elise burst onto the scene with a 1.8-liter Rover engine spitting out what seemed like a paltry 118 hp.

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Yet weighing in at only 725 kg the Elise took that relatively low power output and put it to very good use, 60 mph would snap by in as little as 5.7 seconds whilst cornering prowess was truly sublime and second to none.

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7 The 340R

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A special edition based on a wild concept, the skeletonized 340R is custom built to feature no roof or doors. It is fitted with an uprated 1.8-liter Rover engine putting out 177 hp and cracks 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, while 100 mph takes 10 seconds.

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Road legal in the UK, most examples of the 350R Elise are kept for track days or used as show car specials, with all coming in silver and black finish. A collector's piece, the 340R is a rare and, ultimately, hardly ever seen track star.

6 The Sublime Exige

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Taking the rampant 340R powerplant the speed addicts at Lotus evolved the Elise into the hardtop Exige, building just 604 cars in total over a short two-year run. A track specification version with a meaty 190 hp was also available.

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Still sticking with the stripped-out racer theme, the Exige proudly showed off its manual window winders and would make owners fold themselves in half as they attempted to scrabble and crawl into the very restrictive, cramped cockpit.

5 The Electrifying Zytek And Eco

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Way ahead of its time the jointly created Zytek Elise, released in 1998, was powered by a 300-volt battery that would allow for an average 100-mile range, do 0-90 mph in 9 seconds and take just a little over an hour to recharge.

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Via Lotus

A 2008 prototype, the Lotus Elise Eco ramped up the planet saving credentials even further. It featured a wool-lined interior, woven hemp bodywork, roof-mounted solar panel for the radio, and is finished with water-based paints to reduce atmospheric pollutants.

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4 The Ballistic Exige Cup 260

Via: Bing
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One of the most extreme Exiges available, the Cup 260 was even more spartan than its siblings. It made do without floor mats, sun visors, a battery cover, or gas hood strut all to shed additional weight.

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Powered by a Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter engine with an Eaton supercharger bolted on for good effect, the unit kicks out 256 hp and, with a howling shrills rasp, will romp to 60 mph in as little as 4 seconds thanks to its launch control.

3 Lotus Exige Special Editions

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There has been a wide range of special edition cars, each presenting a development or advancement over the original with models such as the Stealth being draped in matt black paint and featuring an Öhlins/Eibach suspension setup.

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Experimenting with cleaner fuels, the Exige 265E was tuned to run on E85 Ethanol and used as a bio-fuel demonstrator. It was capable of rocketing to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds whilst returning an impressive 54 mph when cruising on the highway.

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2 Series 3 Exige V6

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Looking to add more firepower, the third-generation Exige dumped the highly-strung in-line four engine in favor of the brawny V6 from sister car the Evora. This 3.5-liter supercharged unit generated 345 hp and would give the little racer a whole new personality.

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Now able to hit 60 mph in a little over 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 172 mph, plus in-gear acceleration far superior to previous cars, the Exige blasts forward as the throttle is buried in any gear, anywhere within the rev range.

1 Monstrous Exige 430

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As a swansong to the last of its breed, the Lotus Exige bows out with the raucous Final Edition 430, a car that proudly wears its horsepower on its sleeve and obliterates the 0-60 mph run in a conservatively stated 3.2 seconds flat.

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Now boasting modern features such as a TFT driver display, sculpted bucket seats plus a range of unique colors those looking to grab a slice of the Lotus action best do so now before the car imminent and ultimately, regrettable extinction.