Elise S2

Name: Elise S2
Brand: Lotus

Lotus | 2001–2011

Photo: Image credit: Lotus Cars

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Production Run

11,500

Factory Price

From £22,995 at S2 UK announcement (Oct 2000 press)

Car Type

Naturally Aspirated

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Variants:

S2 launch Elise (Rover); Sport 135/135R; Sport 190; 111S; 111R / Elise R (Toyota 2ZZ + 6-speed); Elise S (1ZZ); Elise SC (supercharged 2ZZ). Federal/US Elise from 2004. Related: VX220/Speedster platform sharing.

Overview

The Series 2 Elise (project Monza) was announced 9 October 2000 and shown at the Birmingham Motor Show, entering production for MY2001 with new Steve Crijns bodywork, revised chassis/suspension, Bilstein dampers and Bridgestone Potenza tyres at launch. Early cars retained Rover K-Series power; from spring 2004 Lotus fitted Toyota ZZ engines (2ZZ VVTL-i in 111R/R with 6-speed; later 1ZZ Elise S; 2008 SC supercharged). Heavier and more regulated than S1, but the generation that took Elise to the US.

Key Specifications

Engine

Early: Rover K-Series 1.8; from 2004: Toyota 1ZZ-FE / 2ZZ-GE; 2008 Elise SC: supercharged 2ZZ

Power Output

~120 bhp (early Rover) to 189 bhp (2ZZ 111R/R) to ~217–218 bhp (SC)

Top Speed

~127–150 mph class (variant-dependent)

0-60 mph

~4.7–5.8 s 0–60 mph (variant-dependent; 111R ~4.9 s)

Predecessor

Lotus Elise S1

Successor

Lotus Elise S3

Legacy & Impact

Brought Elise into US emissions/safety compliance and introduced the Toyota ZZ era that defined mid/late 2000s Lotus sports cars including Exige.

Key Personnel

Steve Crijns

Designer (Series 2 body)

Technical Details

Announcement price: from £22,995 (UK, Oct 2000 press). Launch dampers: Bilstein high-pressure monotube (OEM S2 announcement). Launch tyres: Bridgestone Potenza RE040 (OEM S2 announcement). 2004+: Toyota 2ZZ-GE ~189 bhp, C64 6-speed, ABS/servo brakes on 111R/Federal. 2006+: Elise S with Toyota 1ZZ ~134 bhp. 2008+: Elise SC supercharged ~217–218 bhp. Lotus Cars heritage stats for 2004–2009 block: ~11,500 units, 189–217 bhp, 6-speed, 860–931 kg. Sources: Lotus Cars Elise story; Oct 2000 S2 press release mirrors.

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