2008 Lotus 2-Eleven

2008 Lotus 2-Eleven 2008 Lotus 2-Eleven
Short Take Road Test

We are amazed and mostly delighted by the way Lotus has played so many tunes on the theme of the Elise. Lightweight cars are the thing today, so it is a surprise to learn that this thoroughly modern British sports car dates back 10 years-although it only came to the U.S. officially for 2005.

Milestones in Elise development were the introductions of the Exige coupe, the 2-Eleven-style 340R, and a redesigned roadster, and the replacement of the original Rover engine with the 1.8-liter Toyota VVTL-i (for the U.S. launch) and supercharging that engine for the Exige S. Along the way, the same chassis, made with bonded aluminum extrusions, has been adapted to create the Opel Speedster for GM, the Lotus Europa S, and the electric Tesla roadster, and it will be further modified for Lotus's Project Eagle, a two-plus-two scheduled to appear by the end of 2008.

Over the years, the Elise has put on weight. Now the 2-Eleven, shown here, goes back to basics. It is the most powerful and lightest Elise: 252 horsepower from an uprated Exige S engine and a curb weight of roughly 1650 pounds (about 400 pounds lighter than an Exige S).

The result is, from a driving point of view, the best Elise to date. Modifications when the supercharger was added altered the variable valve timing and lift so there is no longer a "step" in power delivery high in the rev range. This one is smooth all through and torquey enough to reduce the number of gearchanges needed on the average circuit.

And although the ride height has been lowered (to just 3.9 inches) and it wears aggressive Yokohama tires, the fastest Elise still feels supple and delivers a reasonably comfortable ride even over damaged pavement.

This is an ultra-quick car (0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, claims Lotus) that is also agile, with so much grip and responses so perfect it makes an average driver look heroic. But only on a track, because in the U.S., the 2-Eleven is not certified for public roads.