Vehicle Description
Nobody was fonder of the concept of less weight equaling more
horsepower than Colin Chapman, and this gorgeous, low-mileage 2006
Lotus Elise continues the founder's mission by combining, well,
less weight with more power. Is the Elise the ultimate track-day
weapon or simply a wonderful sports car that does everything right
simply by being lightweight? How about both? With a feisty 1.8L
Inline-4, a quick-shifting 6-speed gearbox, and a sporty Touring
Package leather interior wrapped in that slick Graphite Gray
finish, this real-world "Hot Wheels" race car only needs one thing:
a new owner dying to have a lot of fun.
It's hard to call something this diminutive "imposing," but it has
that sort of presence, so we'll say it's, at the very least,
purposeful. Stripped down to only the bare essentials (which
doesn't mean it's boring, but rather that all the exterior flash
has a vital job helping this Lotus go faster), it's like the
sculpted bodywork on this Targa-top coupe was shrink-wrapped over
the mechanicals. Bug-eye quad headlights, catfish-style front
grilles, an aggressive hood, sharply carved air-scoops inside the
side coves, and that aerodynamically designed rear diffuser are all
part of Elise's electric package, which looks part Miata, part
Corvette, and even part Ferrari from just about any angle you ogle
it. There's plenty of metallic in the gray finish, so it has a
depth and shine that makes it look super-expensive, and there's not
much evidence that it's been used hard for the past 8555 miles.
That translates to just over 500 miles annually, and that wonderful
preservation shows throughout. When these were sold new, Starshield
PPF (paint protection film) was installed at the dealerships, and
if we're honest, those 'clear bra' covers on the hood and lower
portion of the car are the only parts we can complain about, as
they show some cracking in a few places. Thankfully, these can be
removed (and we urge you to leave that job to a professional). If
that protective film has done its job well, the paint underneath
should theoretically be spotless, or at the very least match the
top, driver-quality finish on the rest of the car. Lotus's panel
fit and assembly quality has made great leaps and strides since the
dark days of the 1970s Esprits, and this RTM Composite Body fits
together with great precision, and even all the weather stripping
is still in excellent shape. All the accent trim is black, so
there's no bright trim to speak of. However, the elongated
headlights up front and simple round taillights out back add plenty
of flashes, along with the many vents and cooler openings that help
keep the engine and brakes comfortable. It all comes back to
"purposeful" A paint-matched, removable hardtop turns this coupe
into an open-air cruiser in seconds, although with so few miles and
low ownership, this fair-weather Elise has never had the top
off.
Typically, Elise's interior is stripped down to just the basics.
However, this is the more luxurious "Touring Package" model, which
includes such upgrades as Probax seats, A/C and power
windows/locks, airbags, an anti-theft system with an immobilizer,
and a kickin' stereo. Nevertheless, Elise's mission is plain to
see: less fluff, more speed. The thin-shell, leather-and-cloth
trimmed seats are essentially racing buckets, the Momo
leather-trimmed steering wheel hangs in space well away from the
dash, and the car's backbone is exposed as it merges into the
shifter tower. Big white-faced gauges are reminiscent of a race
car, too, and the use of exotic competition materials is left out
in the open for everyone to see. There's a JVC AM/FM/BT head unit
that powers upgraded dash speakers and a booming JL Audio subwoofer
built into a carbon fiber enclosure, which is nice on a car you
might want to drive regularly. Still, we're pretty sure running the
gears of the 6-speed manual gearbox will be entertaining enough.
Super clean and super sporty, this cabin is dialed in.
With so little weight to haul around, the Toyota-sourced 1.8L I4
16-valve DOHC over-performs and pushes the Elise around with the
athleticism of a Corvette. Mid-mounted for optimum weight
distribution, the peppy motor puts out a robust 190hp, which is a
whole lot when you consider the epoxy-bonded lightweight aluminum
chassis and featherlight body. The valve cover shows Lotus's name,
and they do get credit for the tuning and software, and it gives
this Elise a unique personality that's 100% Lotus. There are also
hundreds of modifications and upgrades for these cars. Still, this
one has none, preferring to go the stock route that enhances
durability and means that this Elise should run practically
forever. It's been properly maintained, and there's a fantastic
sensation of endless acceleration thanks to a sky-high redline. Of
course, it wouldn't be a Lotus without fantastic handling, thanks
to a four-wheel independent suspension featuring Bilstein
dampeners, Eibach coil springs, and a front sway bar. When coupled
with a power-assisted disc brake with vented and cross-drilled
rotors at all four corners, this car is ready for the track without
any major modifications. The exhaust has a fantastic guttural tone,
and those optional black alloy wheels only enhance the "purposeful"
(there's that word again) look, which come wrapped in staggered
195/50/16 front and 225/45/17 rear General G-Max performance
radials with plenty of sticky tread left.
Nicely documented with its original window sticker, owner's
manuals, and original toolkit, this 3-owner Elise offers a ton of
curb appeal and performance on a decidedly lightweight scale. Call
today!
