The pictures of the yellow Elise posted is not the lastest that the Americans are getting. That's a 111S. What's going to America is the 111R. The 111R has got, side indicators on the wheel arch, the exhaust sits in the middle, and under the diffuser. Frankly, it doesn't look as nice.
The reason why the Elise didn't make to American any earlier was due to safety regulations. Then the car does not come with ABS, AirBags...
$40k! that's a steal! It's going for US$120k where I'm coming from...

 

This was news when I heard it was coming to the US 5 years ago.

 

NPartialy true, the biggest reason was the engine - the rover k series could never be sold in the US.

That and they were selling as many as they could in the UK/Europe anyhow so had non spare for the us.

 

thanks for all the proof, supporting evidence and education for those who dont know.

 

Front engined RX-8 = about 3000 lbs (I know this is ball park)

Mid engined Lotus Elise = 1950 lbs

All the proof I need.

 

I thought the Renises only weighed something like 70-80 lbs. That's good enough in my books.

 

Build Your U.S. Lotus Elise: Standard Features > Colors > Optional Features

2005 US Lotus Elise: MSRP: $39,985.00

Standard Features: Click '' for details.
- 190hp 4 Cylinder Engine
- 6 Speed Transmission
- Cross-drilled Brakes w/ABS
- 8 Spoke Cast Alum Wheels
- Yokohama AD07 Tires
- Stainless Steel Silencer
- Rear Diffuser with Alum Grills
- Central Twin Exhaust
- Front Mud Flaps
- High Level Third Brake Light
- Locking Wheel Bolts
- Tire Inflator
- Black Soft Top
- Air Conditioning
- Aluminum Gear ****
- Aluminum E-Brake Handle
- Aluminum Window Winders
- Black Carpet Floormats
- Momo Steering Wheel
- Sun Visors
- Half Leather Seats/Cloth Inserts
- Airbag Driver and Passenger
- Blaupunkt FM/CD Player
- Central Locking
- Starter Button
- Alarm and Immobilizer
Standard Interior
- Black Cloth
Leather Interior - (Available with Touring Pack only)
- Black Leather
- Biscuit Leather
- Blue Leather
- Red Leather

* click for more info.
Base Price: $39,985.00
Destination Charge: $795.00
Paint Option: $0.00
Package Option: $0.00
Hard Top Option: $0.00

New Price: $40,780.00
* Price does not include tax, fees and any other charges. You may order option packages in any combination.


Choose Your Color: Click on the color swatch to see a sample color photo.
Standard Paint: Metallic Paint: $590.00 Lifestyle Paint: $1,200.00
Ardent Red Arctic Silver Chrome Orange
Saffron Yellow Aubergine Purple Graphite Gray
Aztec Bronze Krypton Green
Bordeaux Red Pearl
Magnetic Blue
Nightfall Blue
Racing Green
Starlight Black
Storm Titanium

Elise Optional Equipment
Hard Top: $1,475.00 Touring Pack: $1,350.00 Sports Pack: $2,480.00
- Color Matched - Full leather trim including perforated leather seats - Alloy Wheels - 7 twin-spoke forged aluminum
- Cloth Roof Lining - Electric Windows - Yokohama Tires - Front 195/50 R16 AO48R Rear 225/45 R17 AO48R
- Full Carpet Set - Bilstein Dampers with Adjustable Perches, Eibach Springs
- Blaupunkt FM/CD/MP3 Player
- Thermal and noise insulated soft-top
- Interior Storage Net
- Additional Interior Sound Insulation

 

Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine

Elise Toyota Engine Comments
By Jeff Chan
www.jeffchan.com


2ZZ-GE Engine 64 pounds

Air Conditioning 22 pounds
Twin Oil coolers 29 pounds
Other modifications 26 pounds

 

i think its much heavier than that lots of cast iron down there, i know it weighs 90 or so pounds less than the 350Z's engine, and im guessing that's at least 400-450lbs being a 3.5L V6

 

Those are the weight increases over the standard Elise equipped with the Rover engine! The numbers came from Sports Car International and are the result of interviewing some Lotus engineers. http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elis...ne/toyota.html

For some comparisons:

Mazda's RX-8 Renesis = 302 lbs dressed
Mazda Miata 1.6L = 280 lbs dressed
Honda S2000 F20C= 326 lbs dressed
Honda Civic B20B (1997) = 318 lbs
Nissan SR20DE = 308 lbs dressed
Chevy LS2 (C6 Corvette) = 482 lbs dressed (manual tranny)

 

The weight of the LS2 that you've posted is the weight of the engine and the transmission. A dressed LS2 longblock actually weighs 442lbs from what I've been able to find. Are the others weighed with their trannies, or just with their accessories? Thanks for the info, I'm trying to compile a list of engine weights so I appreciate any help you can give me.

MazdaspeedFeras: VQ35DE with accessories (dressed) - 420lbs

 

I want to see one of these in person just to see if I can fit inside it anyway at all. I'm uhh...6'6" 235 lbs. The sheer spectacle of it would be worth it. I've been told that the sight of me getting in and out of my 8 is rather amusing.

 

that was the number I think I saw in some mags 'the renesis weighs about 130kg'

the elise is one of the best sports car out there. I've seen many driving around... unbelievable! never drove one but sat in and loved the driving position, even a friend of mine who is 2meters tall tried to squeeze in and he managed very easily! he loved it too!!

 

No the weight I posted of the LS2 is not inclusive of the transmission. The LS2 for an auto tranny weighs 442 lbs but weighs 482 lbs for a manual tranny. I posted the manual tranny version since I was comparing it to other manual tranny engines. What is the difference you ask? One is equipped with a flex plate versus a flywheel. Check the Chevy website at http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette/specs.htm and note these specs are for the 5.7l LS1 engine for the C5 versus the 6.0l LS2 for the C6 which is 15 lbs lighter.

You want engine weights huh? Go here and here and here
.

Peace

 

Thanks a lot!

 

If I had the money for an Elise, I would lose the piston and install the Renesis. Hmmmmm lets see...similar weight, higher reving, more powerfull, smoother operation, more pimp factor:D. IMHO performance wise a Renesis would make that a damn near perfect 2 seater.

 

Theres already a few rotary engined elise's, most notably one in Germany with the 13b twin turbo.

 

Cheapest exotic you can buy.

 

Great car too bad I can't afford it and service will be a pain since the closest dealership is 200+ miles from where I live.

Even if a modded (turbo, super charger) it still wouldn’t be comparable since it is still heavier than the Elise which means the handling and breaking will no where near the Elise.

 

*newbie question of the day!*

Since the Elise has a Toyota engine, why not bring it to the toyota dealer?

 

That and the tranny is the only thing that is toyota. What about if you have other problems like electrical an so on.

 

It (Lotus) has modified it, but your right a Toyota dealer might be a good partnership. In Vegas we are getting a Lotus dealer in October, Towbin Rolls Royce, Bentley, that fits also as they have all the cool toys.

 

Don't be ridiculous! The Lotus Elise is English designed and built. The old Lucas Electrics ghost has moved to Germany and now haunts BMW, MBZ, and VW-Audi.

 

Its a lotus.

There will be minor problems with the car. Things like the wing mirrors falling off, leaks etc.

Usualy mechanicaly the Elise (apart from the k series head gasket) has been quite reliable.

For servicing any garage could do it I guess, with the parts - but you loose your FLSH and I guess you will end up taking it into a lotus dealer at some point.

UK cars have a check over/tune up at 1k mile - where they check the ECU to see if its been run in correctly btw...

Oh and the elise doesnt stop that great. Least first time. Many cars will outbrake it on a test run. BUT because of its light weight it'll stop very quickly time after time with very little brake fade, and a lot less wear than other cars. Brake feel is awsome, but the new car has ABS, dont know if its servo assisted either.

 

Where I live on a very isolated island, (slight sarcasm but you get the idea) the way we solve our problems if we drive something that is rare like an Elise is go to the dealers and see which one can fix it. Anything that is technical, the mechanic would call to the dealer that knows how to fix it and we go from there.