The Lotus Elise launched in 2008 was a 2-seater with a targa top.
The Elise was more a sportscar designed for the road, and that was not due to an extremely powerful engine, but due to its incredibly reduced weight.

The Elise ran on a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that cranked out 189 hp. The sprint to 100 kph took around 4.9 seconds.

Inside the Elise we would find a basic, kept to the minimum spartan interior, as the whole point was to keep the weight as reduced as possible. A Touring Pack was available, package that added leather upholstery and additional sound insulation, as well as a cupholder.

The standard equipment included 16-inch alloys in the front and 17-inch rear wheels. Part of the package were also Brembo brakes, HID xenon headlights, air-conditioning, power windows and locks, a leather-wrapped steering wheels and a trip computer.

An even sportier version, the Elise SC was available and the engine boasted a power of 218 hp. It also featured a new instrument display and refreshed options packages.

Safety wise, the Elise included a standard antilock brake system, but that was about it. Optionally, the customer could choose the traction control system, however, no stability control or airbags were available.