A assessment of The Early Lotus Elise Series 2 Sports Car, protecting improvement, crucial functions, and technical records of this the thirty-first model in the Lotus range. In this Article, I offer a nostalgic look at the Early Lotus Elise Series 2, one among an elite group of conventional cars, which turned into manufactured at some point from 2000 to 2003.
The Lotus Elise Series 2
As a result of the latest European Directives concerning the potential of cars to face up to impact, the Elise Series 1could no longer be produced, in its present format, beyond 2000. Accordingly, to fund the essential development work, Lotus needed to set up a brand new enterprise partnership. The outcome became that General Motors agreed to support Lotus, Theproviso that Lotus was to construct clear European Opel And Vauxhall sports activities motors, using GM electricity vegetation and badges.
These GM-branded automobiles had been constructed on the equal manufacturing traces as the existing Lotus fashions till they had been discontinued in late 2005. In October 2000, the Lotus Elise Series, 2 sports activities automobile, changed into launched and consisted of a redesigned Series 1 unit incorporating a modified chassis to accommodate the new regulations. It had a restyled interior and hood, lowered sills for simpler get admission to, uprated suspension, and a stepped forward braking gadget.
In 2004, Lotus commenced replacing the Rover K-Series engine with the Toyota 2ZZ-GE, 1.Eight liter, four-cylinder, sixteen valves, double overhead cam engine, with Variable Valve Timing. A less rather tuned version turned into additionally to be had, within the form of the Toyota 1ZZ. The smooth strains of the Elise Series 1 gave manner to a greater angular form of frame styling in the Series 2 variation, which changed into to be had as Sports Tourer or Race Tech versions. The Sports Tourer featured leather seats, geared-up carpets, an audio gadget, and extra cabin storage.
The Race version had leather-based seats with carbon trim, drilled disc brakes, redesigned suspension, stiffer springs, and new dampers. However, the standard Rover K-Series engine became retained from the Series 1, even as a new Lotus engine control unit was added. Fitted with a near ratio gearbox, it evolved one hundred twenty bhp and produced a top pace of 125 mph, with a zero-60 mph time of five: 6 secs and a zero-one hundred mph time of 17.5 secs. In February 2002, air con became non-obligatory, and a month later, the Cobra immobilizer gadget turned into the now-standard device. Also in March 2002, a new difficult top turned into brought.
The Lotus Elise 111
Based on the Series 1 Elise 111 model, the Series 2 version was added in June 2002. It changed into powered through the 1.Eight liters, Rover K-Series Variable Valve Control (VVC) engine, fitted with a Lotus K4 engine control system, which advanced 156 bhp 7000 rpm, and 129 feet/lbs of torque at 4650 rpm. This produced a zero-60 mph time of five.1 sec. It used sixteen-inch front wheels and 17 inch rear wheels. That same year, the Series 2 Lotus Elise 111S sports activities automobile became brought, powered by the same 1.8 liters Rover K-Series VVC engine. It was supplied with Sports Touring or Race Tech specifications, and each featured drilled disc brakes, exceptional wheels, and metallic paint.
The Sports Touring version blanketed leather seats and trim and geared-up carpets. This variant turned into not equipped with the lengthy roof and turned into discontinued in 2005. The Series 2 Lotus Elise 111R, designed with a watch for the tune, was powered using the Toyota 1.8 liter, 2ZZ engine. Fitted with a six-pace gearbox, it evolved 189 bhp, with a zero-60 mph time of 4.Nine secs. It used a brand new rear subframe, revised rear suspension, and servo-assisted ABS brakes that have been track-tuned.
The Lotus Elise Sport a hundred thirty-five
In January 2002, and inside the UK most effective, the standard Elise Series 2 acquired the Sport a hundred thirty five engine upgrade, which blanketed an aluminium inlet machine, stainless steel sports silencer, and a reprogrammed engine management gadget to enhance energy output. It turned into now known as the Series 2 Lotus Elise Sport 135. This upgrade resulted in a hundred thirty five bhp at 6200 rpm, a29 toes/lbs of torque at 4850 rpm, a pinnacle speed of 129 mph, wanda 0- 0 mph time of 5. Four secs, and a zero-100 mph time of 14.Nine secs.
In March 2002, this upgrade become provided to all Series 2 Elise owners, and blanketed an alternative gasoline flowed cylinder head, but now not a sports activities exhaust. The Lotus Elise 135R sports automobile version changed into a tune-orientated version with sports activities suspension and wider wheels and fitted with the same one hundred thirty-five bhp engine. In a few markets, the Elise 135R changed into substituted for the Sport 111, which became similar, aside from the fact that the hundred thirty-five bhp Rover K-Series engine became replaced by way of a VVC unit, developing 156 bhp.
The Lotus Elise Sport 111
With an emphasis on the right track use, the Lotus Elise Sport 111 sports activities automobile variation become launched in May 2003, focused on Australia and close by international locations, and became based totally on the Series 1 Elise 111, but with the subsequent changes:
- Sports suspension
- Stiffer springs and dampers
- Anti-roll bar
- OZ 16 spoke wheels
- A grille matching the body-color
- “Lotus Sport 111” logos
It became powered by the 1.8 liters Rover K-Series, VVC engine, which advanced 156 bhp.
This marked the give up of the Early Lotus Elise Series 2
Perhaps this stroll down memory lane might have spoken back, or at the least shed mild on a probable query:
Which Lotus Sports Car is Your Favourite?
However, must this question nonetheless stay unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some detail, in future articles inside this website, the entire variety of Lotus sports activities automobiles which have been featured within the memorable technology spanning 1952 to 1996.
