Lotus Elise Parts and Spares

Lotus Elise Parts

August 15th, 2009

Elise_SC_Type25_FL_Static_HighR Anyone who has ever owned or driven an Elise for more than 5 minutes can easily see why the Elise has remained one of the favoured Lotus models for real car enthusiasts. While the exterior styling begins to tell the story of the Elise it's not until the accelerator is mashed to the floor that the true nature of the car emerges. The Lotus was never designed for straight-line performance. From the high-grip tires to the quick acceleration the Elise was meant, from start to finish, to be a scream to drive on the track.

Of course, no Lotus driver would ever dream of driving an Elise around a track with only left-handed turns. The Lotus corners equally well to the right as well, thank you, and the newest Lotus models boast a lightweight chassis and composite body panels which are designed to keep weight down and track-feel tight and controlled. Even taking a slalom at over 125 miles per hour is a cinch when the entire car beneath you weights less than 2,000 pounds. Astoundingly, even the convertible Elise models keep their curb-weight to respectable levels, and beneath the hood beats the heart of a car that dares even the most experienced track star to push the car to its limits. Of course, it's not likely you'll ever find those limits, but having fun trying is why the Elise is worth every penny of its price tag.

Many Elise drivers lament the fact that the engine is built by Toyota, but as soon as the car comes off the line it's blatantly obvious that while Toyota designed the engine, what remains bears little resemblance to a beefed-up Camry. Once the engine reaches Lotus it's completely retuned with the latest that Lotus can cram beneath the bonnet. Lotus craftsmen work their magic in the hand-built process to bring the 0-60 time to under 4.5 seconds, and the limited-slip differential helps keep that power under control and headed the right direction. The Elise is so well-heeled, as a matter of fact, that it makes the traction control options seem a little overkill . . . until you try to pass that BMW driver in the corner and the lout tries to cut you off.