Lotus is a brand that everyone has heard of, but most people know nothing about. I just spent two weeks daily driving two awesome and very different Loti, and I’m going to tell you all about them.
My first week was with Lotus’ iconic Elise. This particular Elise is a 2011 Elise R, and it’s one of 77 on Earth. Lotus was founded by Colin Chapman, whose most famous quote is: “Simplify, then add lightness.” That’s the philosophy behind the entire brand, and it’s especially evident in the Elise. It’s a bare-bones, mid-engined sports car that is entirely focused on handling above all else. The one I drove has the most deluxe interior available, which comes with such luxuries as floor mats, the world’s worst radio, heat, AC, and electric windows/door locks. That’s it. You know it’s basic when you count floor mats as an option. The reason this car lacks so many features is because it’s built to be — wait for it — simple and lightweight.
The car is powered by a Toyota 1.8 liter 4-cylinder mounted behind the driver that makes a whopping 189 horsepower and some torque, probably. A manual transmission is the only option. Sounds like a boring drivetrain, eh? Nope! This revvy little engine zings up to 8,000 rpm and makes a glorious sound as it propels the 2,000-pound car to 60 in less than five seconds! I was expecting this car to be a miserable car to commute in, but it really wasn’t bad. Yeah, it makes a Miata feel like a Bentley by comparison, but it’s really not that rough. Aside from commuting, I also got the chance to take it on the twisty road I grew up on and it was a joy. No surprise there. The Elise has nearly zero storage other than the small trunk behind the engine, which is big enough for some groceries and maybe a duffel bag. If you want comfort, space, and storage, don’t buy a Lotus. Although, the Evora GT is a completely different experience.
I loved my time with the Elise R, but my week with the Evora GT was much better. This car has two more cylinders, one more supercharger, much more space, tons more power, better storage, modern radio, amazing suspension tuning, and a far superior shifter. The second I sat down in the Evora after getting out of the Elise, I was shocked at how high up and comfy the seats were. It’s low compared to a normal car, but everything is high compared to an Elise. I turned on my heated seats, plugged my phone in, and drove away in comfort. Daily driving an Elise is possible, but not pleasant. Daily driving the Evora GT is awesome. Supercar looks, killer exhaust note, cruise control, a back seat area, and decent-sized trunk to keep junk — it’s great! I have a few gripes for a $100K car, though. There is nowhere to put stuff between the driver and passenger, which means you have to put your phone in the passenger seat or behind you in the weird cup holder. The Evora also uses an Alpine head unit. Apple CarPlay works well, but the backup camera quality is comparable to a Game Boy Color. Still, much better than having no backup camera. Very small complaints overall. Absolutely amazing car!
Lotus has been purchased by Geely Auto, and with the influx of money comes a whole new line of Loti including the range-topping $2M all-electric Evija. This change in ownership also means all Loti we know now will go away. This 2011 Elise was the final year that the Elise was offered in the USA, and 2021 is the last year for the Evora ever. They are being replaced by the Type 131 and Emira respectively. All signs point toward the Emira being improved in every way compared to the Evora, and I imagine the Type 131 will be excellent as well. I’ll be spending some time with the Emira, and I hope to try out a Type 131, too. Lotus is a unique manufacturer making hyper-focused sports cars in a world of egg-shaped crossovers. As their lineup expands, they’ll lose some of that focus, but they will always offer their bread and butter: lightweight drivers’ cars.
Massive thanks to Scott Grady for allowing me to spend time with his awesome cars! It’s an honor to be trusted with other people’s toys.
Jon Luke Cave runs Cars on Main Memphis, Memphis Driven Exotics, and Memphis Offroad Excursions. Find him on Facebook and Instagram @jlc.on.cars.
Justin Fox Burks