Minitest 2008 Lotus 2-Eleven

VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 0-door roadster
BASE PRICE (U.K.): $68,532
ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 90.6 in Length: 150.5–152.4 in Width: 67.3 in Height: 43.8 in
Curb weight: 1650 lb

We are amazed and mostly delighted by the way Lotus has played so many tunes on the theme of the Elise. Lightweight cars are the thing today, so it is a surprise to learn that this thoroughly modern British sports car dates back 10 years—although it only came to the U.S. officially for 2005.

Milestones in Elise development were the introductions of the Exige coupe, the 2-Eleven-style 340R, and a redesigned roadster, and the replacement of the original Rover engine with the 1.8-liter Toyota VVTL-i (for the U.S. launch) and supercharging that engine for the Exige S. Along the way, the same chassis, made with bonded aluminum extrusions, has been adapted to create the Opel Speedster for GM, the Lotus Europa S, and the electric Tesla roadster, and it will be further modified for Lotus's Project Eagle, a two-plus-two scheduled to appear by the end of 2008.

This is an ultra-quick car (0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, claims Lotus) that is also agile, with so much grip and responses so perfect it makes an average driver look heroic. But only on a track, because in the U.S., the Lotus 2-Eleven is not certified for public roads.

© Source: caranddriver