Lotus
Despite being own by Malaysian company Proton, Lotus still builds its cars in Britain at its famous factory in Norfolk. Famed for company founder Colin Chapman's “simplify add lightness” mantra, Lotus makes some of the best handling cars money can buy.
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Lotus Elise
The Lotus Elise is a two-seater sports car which is designed to be light weight, nimble and quick. The Elise is powered by a Toyota-sourced engine, which provides ample power and proven reliability, and has excellent, direct steering, lots of grip and superb handling. Strictly a two-seater, the Elise features a removable roof section, although this can be fiddly to remove. The interior is very pared back, with the emphasis on improving performance through light weight rather than offering every luxury. But the Elise isn’t cheap either, despite its sparse cabin, and many luxury features, like a CD player or air conditioning have to be ordered at extra cost.
Lotus Evora
The Evora is the Elise’s bigger brother. It’s built on a slightly larger version of Lotus’ aluminium chassis which gives enough room for a pair of rear seats. However, the rear chairs are best left as extra storage spaces. The cabin is nicely laid out, although some of the trim feels like it may not be made to last. The Evora’s huge selling point is that it’s brilliant to drive. There’s plenty of power from the Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine, while the car’s light weight mean that the handling is superb. The suspension is very impressive too as it gives a comfortable ride when cruising, yet gives the car a poised, performance car feel when you pick up the pace.
Lotus Exige
Originally, the Lotus Exige was a more aggressive hardtop coupe version of the Elise. The new Lotus Exige S is a longer, wider and more aggressive offering, bult using a combination of Evora, Exige and bespoke parts. It was designed for the keenest drivers on the road, so if you’re after a comfortable ride, or even to be able to get in and out without embarrassing yourself, this isn’t the car for you. However, once inside the Exige S, you’ll marvel at the impressive power from the V6 engine, direct steering, amazing grip and slick six-speed manual gearbox.
Lotus Europa
The Lotus Europa S is a a two-seat coupé, designed to offer greater luxury and comfort than the stripped out Lotus Elise and Exige. Taking its name from the famed Lotus Europa built in the 1960s, the Europa S gets a larger boot and extra soundproofing. Changes to the design of the Elise derived aluminium chassis make it easier to access the cabin too - though a cramped driving position makes it hard for tall drivers to get comfortable. Air-conditioning is offered as standard, as are leather seats and a stereo.
