Thursday 19th March 2015

Lotus Elise 20th Anniversary launched

'Classic Elise colour schemes', 914kg and £39,900 for new Elise special edition

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Yes, it has been two decades already. It was the Frankfurt show back in 1995 when the Elise was first exhibited to the world and Lotus hasn't matched its impact since. That clever bonded aluminium chassis, the sweet good looks plus an affordable entry price created the Lotus sports car many had been hankering after for so long.

Feeling old now?

To mark the momentous occasion, Lotus has created the Elise 20th Anniversary Edition. Rather than a limited numbers special with a huge power and a wild appearance, this is a rather more subdued birthday celebration. Indeed, the fact it replaces the Elise S Club Racerin the Lotus range is telling; aside from the new colours it appears very similar to that car.

Still, that can hardly be seen as a bad thing. Weight is down 10kg over a regular Elise S to 914kg (although that will jump up again if the air-con and stereo are optioned back in) with the powertrain unchanged too. That means 220hp, 4.6 seconds to 62mph and 145mph. Handily as well it still returns nearly 40mpg and 173g/km on the official cycle.

20th Anniversary replaces S Club Racer

Marking out a 20th Anniversary from a regular Elise are a few external decals, black accents, lightweight black wheels, body-coloured inserts on the (also lightweight) seats and dash plus the auxiliary driving lights. Colours are limited to Blue, Green, Yellow and Silver.

Jumping the anniversary gun a little, the Elise 20th is on sale now. It costs £39,900, £2,700 more than standard Elise S but with, according to Lotus, another £5,150 of additional equipment. See the new wheels, seats and lighter centre console. To add back in air-con and a radio will cost £1,250 and £1,200 respectively. And if all this has rekindled an affection for the Elise, S1s are for sale this way...

[soad]

How much for a radio?