Loss of the Rover K series engine had temporarily created a hole in Lotus’ portfolio and its disappearance from the range was not good news for entry level sports car lovers across the globe. The challenge of plugging the gap has now been addressed with the launch of the new Lotus Elise S – a sub 6 second 0 – 60 mph sports car, available at a stunning 35,365 Euros.

Lotus has shoehorned in a high technology 1.8-litre 134 hp Variable Valve Timing Toyota engine, which complements the phenomenal handling characteristics of the Lotus Elise. This delivers a cracking new entry-level car, capable of taking you from 0 – 60 mph in just 5.8 grin-inducing seconds (0 – 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds) and onto a top speed of 128 mph (205 km/h).

As the new entry-level car, the Elise S may not be the fastest or quickest Elise in the range, but the acceleration, performance and handling is class leading in its price bracket and belies the cost and real substance engineered into the new vehicle – what other sub-£24,000 roadster can reach 60 mph in less than 6.0 seconds?

It’s all down to lightweight. Weighing in at just 860 kg, the Lotus Elise S is one of the lightest fully homologated sports cars in the world. Light weight has benefits for acceleration, the environment, handling, ride comfort and braking.

The Lotus Elise S is built around the revolutionary and award winning extruded and bonded aluminium chassis, with a lightweight steel rear subframe. The chassis itself weighs just 68 kg (150 lbs) and has a stiffness of 9,500 Nm per degree. The body design remains unchanged from the classic 190 hp Lotus Elise R.

Braking comes from AP Racing callipers at the front and Brembo Calipers at the rear linked to 282 mm vented and cross-drilled cast iron discs. The advanced ABS system incorporates an anti-lock system which is very unobtrusive and most drivers will not even notice that it is there.

The full Lotus Elise option menu is also available on Elise S, with the exception of a limited slip differential, ensuring the new car is easy to personalize to a customer’s individual requirements and preferences. There are no plans to launch the Elise S in the USA market for homologation reasons

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