2003 Lotus Elise IIIS

Lot details
Registration No: YN03NKA
Chassis No: SCCJA11134HC70377
Mot Expiry: Sept 2007

Introduced in August 1996, the Lotus Elise was little short of revolutionary. A production car first, its exceptionally light (circa 70kg) spaceframe chassis was fabricated from anodised aluminium extrusions bonded together with aircraft-grade epoxy resin and reinforced via a steel rollover hoop. Clothed in two-piece 'clamshell' fibreglass bodywork, the featherweight two-door also featured all-round double-wishbone independent coil-over suspension, rack and pinion steering and four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. Transversely mid-mounted in a galvanised steel subframe, its 1.8 litre Rover K-series engine was allied to five-speed manual transmission. An out and out driver's machine, the original Elise was upgraded to S2 specification during late 2000 (complete with more aggressive styling and a host of detail refinements). Unveiled in June 2002, the S2 111S was praised by Autocar magazine as "a sensational sports car: one that changes direction, steers, grips and most important, entertains like little else". Priced at £27,995, its reworked K-series powerplant boasted VVC (Variable Valve Control) and a Lotus K4 ECU. Developing some 156bhp @ 7,000rpm and 129lbft @ 4,650rpm, it reputedly enabled the newcomer to sprint from 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds, 0-100mph in 14.1 seconds and onto 132mph. More environmentally friendly than its rivals, the model combined excellent fuel economy (40.9mpg combined cycle, 51.8mpg extra urban) with very low CO2 emissions (163g/km). Sporting the same distinctive nickel-polished eight-spoke alloys and F1-style three-element rear diffuser as its 111 sibling, the 111S was distinguished by the fitment of leather seats, uprated stereo and carpets.
Finished in silver with blue leather upholstery, this particular example is described by the vendor as being in "very good" condition with regard to its engine, gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, chassis, bodywork and paintwork (while, he rates the wheels / tyres as "good"). Said to have had "one previous owner" and to have covered just 11,150 miles from new, we are also informed that 'YN03 NKA' benefits from a sports exhaust, quickshift gear linkage and electric windows. Reportedly "used as a second car" and "serviced by a Lotus dealer", this desirable Lotus is offered for sale with disabled 'Tracker', MOT certificate valid until September 3rd 2007 and six months road tax.