The Elise distilled Lotus's founding arithmetic — low mass, mid-engine balance, unassisted steering — into a bonded-aluminum tub weighing barely 2,000 pounds. US cars ran Toyota's 1.8-liter four, tuned by Hethel. Its American run ended in 2011, which makes late federal cars the last of a line many consider the purest modern Lotus.
Specifications
| Year | 2011 |
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| Make | Lotus |
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| Model | Elise |
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| Engine | 1.8L 4-cylinder |
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| Horsepower | 189 hp |
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| Torque | 133 lb-ft |
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| 0-60 mph | 4.7 sec |
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| Transmission | Manual 6-spd |
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| Drivetrain | RWD |
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| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
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| EPA MPG (City/Hwy) | 21 / 27 |
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The 2011 model year
2011 was the Elise's last model year in the United States; the federal exemption that permitted its sale without advanced airbags expired, ending a run that began in 2005.