Skip to main content

The Lotus Elise will Make a Comeback in 2020 with Precision and Agility

You remember Lotus, don’t you? Of course, you do — how could you forget the name synonymous with lightweight, agile performance cars? Still, we haven’t heard a peep out of the U.K. automaker for some time as financial concerns and product road-mapping issues have left the brand in ambiguity.

Autocar has dug up some information about the future of Lotus and its most famous car, the Elise. In a conversation with Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales, the executive confirmed that the next-generation roadster is in development with a production date of 2020. Additionally, the automaker is on track to make a profit for the first time in 20 years (I don’t envy the fellow who’s had to explain the last 20 years to investors).

Recommended Videos

In addition to the Elise’s slated launch date, Gales described how the car will perform and look. Most importantly, the next-generation Elise will remain a light, fun-to-drive roadster with an aluminum chassis like the one used for the Elise S1 that went on sale in 1996 and has served as the platform for every Lotus made since.

If you feared that the future of Lotus would look like the larger, more powerful, heavier Elise concept from 2010, fret not — Gales said we won’t see anything like that.

“The Elise chassis has often been copied but never equaled,” said Gales, in reference to the current car. “Combine that with the steering feel, and you have something truly special. The DNA of that car is its light weight, its steering feel, and the balance of power and drivability. At every price point it is sold in, it is the fastest car for the money — and always the most special to drive.”

Weight reduction is the name of the game at Lotus, and that commitment will only continue with the new Lotus Elise. Gales focused on the Elise Cup 250 that debuted this year with its 2,026-pound body – something “others try to get close to but never equal,” noted Gales. As for the next Elise, Gales said the automaker is targeting just under 2,000 pounds. Even the dainty Mazda MX-5 Miata can’t hit that benchmark, and the Lotus will need to include the same safety equipment as mandated by U.S. regulations.

Compared to the current Elise, the successor will be longer and wider, but the cabin will still be tight and simple. Power will likely still come from a Toyota motor, with output ranging from below 150 horsepower to just about 250hp in S/supercharged trim.

Gales also made it clear that the U.S. market is the brand’s most important.

Miles Branman
Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…
Hoonigan Rally Speedrun Championship episode 2: ripping it up with a 1980 Toyota Corolla
A 130 hp Toyota Corolla shouldn't pose much competition for a Porsche GT3 Club car.
Faruk Kugay driving a 1980 Toyota Corolla rally car in Honnigan Rally SpeedRun Championshiop episode 2.

Can a 1980 Toyota Corolla take on a modern Porsche GT3 Cup car in a fastest lap timed racing series?  The first episode in Hoonigan's Rally Speedrun Championship series featured Jeff Zwart in a 450 hp Porsche GT3 Cup car.

In Episode 2, however, drift racer Faruk Kugay showed up to challenge  Zwart's fastest lap time and the course with a 1980 Toyota Corolla TE72.
A 1980 Toyota Corolla rally car

Read more
BMW Motorrad launches the sportiest boxer: the 2026 BMW R 1300 RS
The BMW R 1300 RS is the fastest BMW model with a boxer engine
Rider carrying a helmet walking toward a 2026 BMW R 1300 RS parked roadside with water in the background.

When BMW Motorrad launched the 2026 BMW R 1300 R in mid-April, we knew the RS variant couldn't be far behind. In truth, the R 1300 RS is seldom outpaced by other bikes because it is the fastest BMW model with a boxer engine in the company's 2026 lineup.
It's not just the engine that makes the BMW R 1300 RS special

Certainly, the R 1300 RS's 1,300 cc liquid-cooled motor with 145 hp and 110 lb-ft of torque gets most of the credit for the bike's performance, but there's much more to it. Most of the major working bits are new, plus its low, ready-to-ride 540-pound weight makes the most of the substantial power.

Read more
Tested: Can you truly camp in comfort with a compact SUV like Mazda’s CX-50?
It's smaller than most other options, but is it all you need?
Mazda CX-50 Meridian in the woods

Overlanding is becoming increasingly popular, with some enthusiasts spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on their setups. However, it doesn’t need to be that way. You can have an enjoyable and comfortable time in the great outdoors with a pretty accessible small SUV.

To test this theory, I borrowed a Mazda CX-50 Meridian Edition, tossed some supplies in the back, and headed to a primitive camping spot in Upstate New York. So, just how comfortable can things get with an affordable vehicle, some basic camping supplies, and a free spot by some water?

Read more