The Lotus Elise, a renowned sports car, was introduced in September 1996 by British manufacturer Lotus Cars. It features a distinctive design with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and is a two-seater roadster. The Elise boasts a fibreglass body shell placed on top of an extruded aluminium chassis, offering a sturdy base for its suspension system, while also contributing to reduced weight and production costs.
Named after Elisa Artioli, the granddaughter of Romano Artioli, who was the chairman of both Lotus and Bugatti during the car's launch, the Elise has a special significance tied to the Artioli family. This compact and agile sports car has gained a loyal following for its performance and handling capabilities on the road and track.
Production of the Elise, along with its siblings the Exige and Evora, came to an end in 2021. However, Lotus introduced the Lotus Emira as the successor to these beloved models, carrying the torch forward with innovative engineering and modern features.
Key points:
- Lotus Elise is a sports car released in 1996 with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
- Features a fibreglass body shell on an extruded aluminium chassis for rigidity and cost-efficiency.
- Named after Elisa Artioli, granddaughter of Romano Artioli, former chairman of Lotus and Bugatti.
- Production of Elise, Exige, and Evora ceased in 202
