By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Look what just rolled out in Paris! Looks great, huh? Pros: more power (turbo 2.0-liter Toyota four banger will produce 320 hp). Cons: costs more ($55k), weighs more (2,400 pounds). Via Autoblog

Continue reading "2015 Lotus Elise" »

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Holy crap, is this the coolest Elise ever? More pics after the jump! Via Jalopnik

Continue reading "XPRMTL" »

By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

When I saw the styling of the 2010 Lotus Evora, I wasn’t thrilled. In fact, I was nauseated. Since the Elise and the Exige are such magnificently sexy cars, I was expecting the new 2+2 to be hotter than Hell in August. And the Evora is not. Even though my head nearly sticks out the top of the track-ready Elise, I’d happily drive one every day. Maybe I’m just turned off by the idea of a “civilized” Lotus? In my opinion, they should be small and sparse and not have radios—what’s the point of adding leather and another two seats? But you know what they say about opinions… Watch this first drive and form yours.

By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

During a spec series, drivers really get a chance to demonstrate their skills. And in this clip from a Lotus Trophy Race, Aussie motor journalist Dean Evans proves he knows what the hell he’s doing. Big time. After starting way at the back of the grid, this maestro proceeds to rip through the pack like the other machines are parked, and it’s just magnificent to behold. Watch for the part where he passes three cars in one fell swoop.

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Think it was worth the money and effort? It does look cool… More at Jalopnik

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Ok, so maybe they don’t have any new models to unveil here. But the Lotus booth was dead. What gives? I could look at these all day. More pics after the jump.

Continue reading "Lotus at NAIAS" »

The Factory Five Cobra beat the Lotus Elise by a 2-to-1 margin in this week’s Showrooms Showdown. I guess that shouldn’t come as a big surprise, given the fact that CarDomain is definitely a built-not-bought kind of crowd. I had a lot of fun reading the comments, too.

Pictured below is my all-time favorite photo of the month on FFCobra.com. Built by Anthony DiOrio of Carmel, New York, it looks absolutely stunning (and dare I say somewhat understated?) in British Racing Green.

Ok, so you have $50k burning a hole in your pocket and you want a pure sports car. One option is to go to your local Lotus dealer and get a very mildly-optioned Elise with the 189 hp Toyota four banger. Or, you can order yourself a Factory Five Cobra kit and go whole hog–with just about any body, paint and drivetrain option you can think of. With $50k to play with you won’t have to mess with any used donor parts, and will even be able to choose between building it yourself or farming it all out. Still, it won’t provide the instant gratification of the Lotus. So it’s built vs. bought, English sophistication vs. American muscle. Which would you choose?

According to Lotus, the Europa SE is designed for folks who find it’s brethren—the Elise, and the Exige—a little too "uncompromising" for use as a daily driver. Of course, even though I’m five inches too tall and 30lbs too heavy for one of the little racers, I’d happily have one as my only car. I just love their bare-bones, straight-from-the-track feel, so I can’t say I completely understand the appeal of a more civilized version. But with 222 ponies to play with, it’s not like the car will feel like a Taurus, and hey, different strokes for different folks. Right? More pics after the jump.

via Jalopnik

Check out this VWVortex thread with pics of a ton of rides that have been murdered out (black paint, black wheels, etc.). I especially dig the Vette and the Elise (below).