Lotus Elise 2010 Facelift

Lotus has revealed a facelift for the Lotus Elise with changes to the front and back and a new 1.6 litre engine in the Elise S.

They don’t like to rush things too much at Hethel. Maybe it’s the pace of life in rural Norfolk or maybe they think that if “it ain’t broke why fix it?”. But the Lotus Elise has been round a very long time. Fifteen years, in fact. And almost a decade since it last had anything other than minor changes. So a facelifted Elise – if not a new model – is due.

No new model yet, but we do get a facelift with a bit more than a minor nip and tuck for 2010. They say you end up looking like those you live with, and it looks as if the 2010 Elise has been hanging out with its big brother – the Lotus Evora. There’s more than a hint of the Evora about the facelift. The Elise has a new bumper, front splitter and camshell at the front together with some new lights with LEDs. Round the back there’s a new bumper and engine cover.

It’s not exactly one of those ‘Just what have they changed?’ makeovers. The Elise does look different than before, but to our eyes it’s lost a bit of character. It seems more ‘Corporate’. But that’s probably not a bad thing in a corporate world. We wonder whether Lotus’ new design boss has decreed a bit of ‘Corporate’ to be needed?

The major change is under the bonnet, where Lotus has to play the latest game of eco-obsession along with the rest. The entry-level Elise now gets a four pot 1.6 litre delivering 134bhp and a 0-60mph of about 6 seconds. But the reason for going this route is economy and emissions – a 13% improvement to 155g/km and 46mpg.

The rest of the range – The Lotus Elise R and Lotus Elise SC – stick with the 1.8 litre engine but thanks to the more streamlined shape of the new front end they too manage to reduce emissions and improve economy.

The facelifted Lotus Elise will be at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Perhaps the new styling will be a little more convincing in the flesh.

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