Lotus Elise Specs, Engines & Dimensions (1995–2000) — First Generation
The first-generation Lotus Elise built its reputation on lightness rather than sheer power, pairing a compact roadster body with a driver-focused chassis that makes modest outputs feel genuinely quick on a winding road.
Powertrain choices stay deliberately simple here. The Lotus Elise engine in the 1.8 MT Roadster is a 1.8-litre gasoline four sending drive through a manual transmission, and with so little weight to move, the drivetrain rewards revs and precise throttle work rather than brute torque.