The new Lotus Elise probably has the lowest CO2 for its performance for any gasoline high performance sportscar in the world

Photo: 2011 Lotus EliseView more 2011 Lotus Elise pictures in our 2011 Lotus Elise photo gallery

The Lotus Elise revolutionised the sportscar market 14 years ago when the small lightweight agile 2-seat mid engine sportscar was introduced. By ensuring that the Elise stuck rigidly to Lotus’ core values of performance through light weight, the Elise was able to produce supercar performance with city car economy.

Photo: 2011 Lotus Elise

Making its debut at the 80th International Geneva Motorshow, the 2011 model year Lotus Elise introduces a number of changes and improvements to maintain its class leading position.

Photo: 2011 Lotus Elise

June 2008 -- Jim Clark is considered by many as the finest and most naturally gifted racing driver of all time. He won the F1 World Championship twice for Team Lotus in 1963 and in 1965.

In total, he won 25 Grand Prix races and was the first Briton to win the Indianapolis 500. Clark won a third of all the F1 races he entered, as well as racing in other formulae such as F2, F3 and Touring Cars. Typically he would race in as many as three different categories per race meeting! How many of the current crop of F1 drivers would do that?

Jan. 15, 2008 -- The Lotus Elise was first released in England in late 1996. This roadster has a hand finished fiberglass body shell on top of its aluminum extrusion and bonded frame. It is capable of speeds up to 150 mph.

K&N Engineering has designed a performance intake system (57A-6030) for the 1996-2003 Lotus Elise 1.8 liter engine. It is a custom design that uses K&N's Apollo air filter enclosure and a washable reusable K&N air filter. See application details below.

This K&N Apollo cold air intake system comes with adaptors to fit the Lotus Elise. The Apollo is designed to eliminate hot air problems and provide the benefits of an open cone filter and a standard air box in one unit.

23 November 2007 -- Lotus Cars is very pleased to release its limited edition for Mainland Europe – the Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition.

This unique limited edition is based on the entry-level model of the Elise Range – the Elise S – and commemorates the 40th anniversary of production at the Lotus factory in Hethel in 2007.

2008 Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition

The specification of the car is as follows:

Elise S – Model Year 2008, featuring twin airbags
Burnt Orange Premium Paint
Hardtop
Painted rear diffuser and wheels
Leather trim in orange stitching
Painted centre consol & exterior panels in body colour
Coloured brake calipers
Build plate
Country specific unique Decals
40th commemorative letter signed by Mike Kimberley, CEO of Lotus Cars Ltd.

The car is available from official Lotus dealers in Mainland Europe from today and the production numbers will be strictly limited to the following countries as below:

Germany 15
Switzerland 10
France 5
Belgium 5
Italy 6