Lotus Elise 111S

Affairs of automobile compartment Lotus in the beginning of 90th years when it was developed Elise, went completely not excellent. By then in Norfolk two models - by road of super penalties Lotus Esprit and appeared in 1989 Lotus Elan with four-cylinder turbo motor Isuzu, the first in a history of the company 1 the automobile were issued. But Elan, despite of warm reception of press, "has not gone", and it have removed from manufacture.
...in 1995 also has appeared Lotus Elise.


Just at that time Lotus constantly passed from hands in hands. Its masters were both General Motors, and Bugatti while, at last, 80 % of actions of the company has not got in 1996 Malaysian Proton. Having received the control above the British enterprise, Malayans even were going to organize in Kuala Lumpur assembly roadsters Elise with the subsequent possible equipment two-liter 200 power ... more

Affairs of automobile compartment Lotus in the beginning of 90th years when it was developed Elise, went completely not excellent. By then in Norfolk two models - by road of super penalties Lotus Esprit and appeared in 1989 Lotus Elan with four-cylinder turbo motor Isuzu, the first in a history of the company 1 the automobile were issued. But Elan, despite of warm reception of press, "has not gone", and it have removed from manufacture.

The companies were necessary the new automobile - original and rather inexpensive, designed in the best British racing traditions. With small-displacement motor, but very easy. With excellent road ability and stylish appearance... So in 1995 also has appeared Lotus Elise.

Just at that time Lotus constantly passed from hands in hands. Its masters were both General Motors, and Bugatti while, at last, 80 % of actions of the company has not got in 1996 Malaysian Proton. Having received the control above the British enterprise, Malayans even were going to organize in Kuala Lumpur assembly roadsters Elise with the subsequent possible equipment two-liter 200 power (!) the engine which pilot model was created under aegis of national petroleum company Petronas by group of Malayan designers. But the assembly project was prevented by crisis. And roadsters at a factory have remained, and now on them pass universities of road ability Malayan drivers - verifiers.
" Want to test Lotus on the move? " - have asked me. My God, yes certainly, I want!

Lotus Elise - very unusual automobile. On the one hand, it is very simple. An easy spatial frame, hinged glass plastics panels. Behind seats, in base, the power unit from roadster MGF - 1,8-liter four-cylinder engine Rover of a series To power only 120 l. cross-section is established. With, aggregated with a five-step mechanical gear box.

Suspender elementary - double cross levers, springs and one-trumpet absorbers of a high pressure of Dutch firm Koni. Here even there is no rear anti roll bar!
But look, with what technological shine all this is executed! The spatial frame is made not of steel tubes, as usually at similar roadster, and from a light-metal alloy. Yes, the similar decision is applied on appeared hardly earlier spider Renault Sport Spider. Moreover, frames for both automobiles are made at same Danish enterprise Hydro Aluminium Automotive Structures. But at spider Renault a frame welded, and at roadster Elise - gluey! Strips from the aljuminievo-magnesian alloy, received by a method extrusion, forever incorporate with each other by means of special glue, within forty minutes hardening at 200 degrees temperature. In result the frame turns out twice more easy steel, and stiffness of collected "body" is no lower, than at the best sedans with all-metal bodies.

From roadster the malayan has got out swarthy widely faced, we were threw by pair words, and he sat at the left, giving up the place for a rudder, - you see movement in Malaysia, as well as in England, left-hand. To tell the truth, here, as against all "left-hand" world, it is accepted also a return arrangement under rudder levers - "turners" on the right, and window wipers at the left.

Having opened easy a door, I literally have failed in ladle imaging a sports armchair. And, sitting practically at a level of an aluminium floor, the beginnings to look round. Under legs - pedals and a bearing part for the left leg, too made from drilled (for simplification) winged metal. On the panel - the round speedometer and a tachometer of "instrument" firm Stack Instruments known in sports circles. And, as if from other world, - the button of inclusion of the air conditioner, borrowed at Peugeot 306, and deflectors systems of fanning from Alfa Romeo 33.

However, same deflector cost and on Ferrari F50...
Ahead, for small rudder Nardi - the bent windshield, and behind it - a hook-nosed jacket with black mesh air intakes located in front of the radiator. Directly behind a back the engine loudly hums, distributing on an aluminium frame appreciable vibrations. Above a head - easy glass plastics a roof and a powerful aluminium arc of safety. Exactly like - racing bolides, only double.

First - on an oval track. Trampling in a floor a pedal of gas and touching the pulled together drives, I have instantly reached the high-speed barrier resolved on a track in 140 km / h. Though, I admit fairly, from motor I expected the greater. Certainly, for roadster in weight only 700 kg of it of 120 forces suffice, especially at a "short" power train. But it is hurt noise the engine on high revolutions. If on a head the racing helmet was...

Braking drives, has unintentionally crackled a box - the gear of switching could work and is more precise. Has tried brakes. A pedal not heavy, despite lacking the vacuum servo, and rather informative. And the rudder here very sharp, and on it is felt all up to the smallest details - each turning movement is accompanied by significant jet effort. Probably, I have preferred rudder "more easy"...

Usually, when business reaches extreme driving, car with average motor configurations can appear especially artful - hold a trajectory up to the last, and then are sharply broken in almost unguided slide. But Elise it is adjusted more safely. Distribution of weight here - as at back motor Porsche 911: on a front axle it is necessary 39 % of weight, and on rear - 61 %. And tires are picked up appropriate: forward 15-inch tire covers more narrow, and rear 16-inch - more widely. And consequently at roadster the solid under steer - Elise all over again slides forward wheels outside of turning movement. But at provocative actions nevertheless it is broken in drift, and it is sharp enough. Fast turning movement of a rudder aside drift - and clutch with asphalt is restored. Too it is sharp, but nevertheless slide can be steered.

However then Elise show the insidiousness. I rushed around on platform specially intended for it, groping a limit of lateral forces. And at a critical lateral overcharge about 1,2g when Lotus already "departure" outside, has dumped gas. And roadster on the spot has failed in deep drift!

I ready to such turning movement of events, have instantly unscrewed resting rudder aside drift, but... It Is useless. As if formula bolides after a similar mistake of the racer, Elise rode sideways some tens meters and, having developed, at last have stopped. I have taken breath and have repeated experience. The same result. At dump of gas in limiting turning movement drift and a sharp turn inevitably - I was powerless something to make!

By the way, in one of clauses of the Auto revue engineer Porsche advised in that case... To slow down.

And only on sticking out of asphalt " container" manholes of me decently shook - however, too it is much less, than it was possible to expect from such machine. On my memory one sports car with a similar combination of readability and smoothness of a course - Chrysler Viper, too with the elementary two-lever suspender and too with “ one pipe " Koni was only.

Half an hour on a track have flown by as one minute. I have got out because of a rudder, have said goodbye to the malayan and carried out a sight silvery Lotus Elise. I would like to go by such machine?, certainly, it has delivered pleasures much. But in ears still there was a noise of the motor, the body still itched from fine vibrations, and muscles of hands slightly whined, as if the ambassador carting races. No, me something more comfortable...

But literally in some minutes I have tested the present shock, having left on the same roads on " hot hatchback " Proton Satria GTi. The good car with informative steering steering and a quite good suspender (operational development of version GTi was engaged besides Lotus) after "aluminium" roadster has seemed to me by huge auto truck! I as if was floating above road, sitting on an inflatable sofa, and twisted huge rudder without any effort. The automobile went on a track at all, than Lotus more slowly, but steering of him reminded computer game "Drivers"!
Now I understand colleagues from the western automobile editions, which better Lotus Elise up to heavens. Simply driving on it roadster is a unique opportunity to test the present " feeling of the automobile " without intermediaries as all servo amplifiers. And thus Elise it is possible to use in quality car for each day - certainly, being reconciled with loss of comfort.

However even in West Lotus Elise buy, basically, for entertainment - that once a month drive on a paid ring line. And for club races there is also a sports version - Lotus Elise Sport with forced up to 190 l. With. The motor and the road gleam lowered on 50 mm. Everything else it is left without changes. Because both the body, and a suspender of this simple on a machine design were initially created by racing engineers in full conformity with precepts Collin Chapman...
 

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