The original Lotus Elise gave one of our girlfriend piles. It was late January and we'd been crossing the English moors with the roof down. The combination of sub-zero temperatures, a tepid heater and uncomfortable seats did untold damage to her nether regions. She awoke the next morning in agony and was unable to sit down for four days. Unsurprisingly, the word 'ex' soon came before 'girlfriend.'
This anecdote epitomizes the spirit of the original car. Here was a stripped-out sports car that sacrificed comfort in pursuit of the ultimate driving experience. It was, and remains, a seminal roadster. But by 2000, when the second-generation Elise was introduced, Lotus needed to appeal to a wider audience, many of who demanded creature comforts. The recently introduced range-topper, the 111S, therefore features leather trim, a stereo and, god forgive, some carpet.
The price of such luxury is #28,140 ($44,180) but there's also a stripped-out version called the 111, which costs #26,140 ($41,040). It seems pricy when compared with a standard Elise (#23,160 ($36,360)) but the 111 range does provide a useful hike in power.
The 1.8-liter engine, which is sourced from MG Rover, employs VVC variable valve timing to increase the power from the standard car's 120 bhp to 156 bhp, while the torque output has grown by 5 lb-ft. On paper, this increase may sound trivial, but in a car with a mass of just 757 kg (24 kg more than the standard car), it makes a significant difference.
The 111S sprints from 0-62 mph in 5.1 seconds, compared with 5.7 seconds for the base Elise, and it reaches 132 mph (125 mph). The introduction of new gear ratios also helps its cause and the Elise pulls cleanly and consistently from just 2500 rpm, growing in strength and intensity to the rev limiter at 7000 rpm.
A trick exhaust system plays a variety of songs. At near full throttle or above 4000 rpm, 70 percent of the exhaust gases are re-routed to avoid the silencer. It's a clever and highly successful way of combining an acceptable level of refinement with a sporty rasp. And, yes, it sounds terrific.
The basics of the suspension system are unchanged from the standard car, which is a blessing. When Lotus introduced the second-generation Elise, it made it easier to drive quickly, without diminishing its lithe responses or the tactile quality of the major controls. On challenging A and B roads, an Elise is the consummate sports car.
The luxury additions are welcome and worthwhile, but they haven't transformed its character - this isn't a rival to the Porsche Boxster. While the ride quality is impressive and wind buffeting is kept to a minimum, the Elise is still a difficult car to get in and out of. The boot has enough space for an overnight bag but no more, and the hood, while better than the original, is still a hassle.
Using the Elise 111S as an everyday car therefore requires a mental leap, but it's far from unbearable and cheap to run. Hair-shirted enthusiasts may miss the simplicity of the original, but the thinking will appreciate the 111S as the finest road-going Lotus ever built. And the new seats might even help you keep your other half.