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It’s still only February 2010, yet Lotus has already announced the 2011 model year Elise, due to go on sale in a couple of months’ time.



Visually, the main differences are at the front.  A new clamshell has the lights contained in single clusters, and the air intake is wider with less fussy detailing.  These alterations have given the revised Elise a more purposeful stance than its predecessor, and there’s now a stronger family resemblance to the Evora.



Before the facelift...

And after...



The biggest change though is under the redesigned engine cover.  The previous entry-level Elise S is no more, replaced by the Elise-with-no-letter-suffix.  This new base model still has a Toyota engine controlled by a bespoke Lotus engine management system, but it’s now a 1.6 litre rather than a 1.8 litre, and it’s attached to a new six speed gearbox.



Despite the loss in capacity, Lotus is making strong claims for it - power is similar to the old S at 134 bhp, and it’ll accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds.  However, fuel economy is improved by a massive 23% to 46 mpg (6.1 l/100km).



Carbon dioxide emissions are correspondingly reduced too, with Lotus reckoning they’ll be less than 155 g/km (compared to 179 g/km for the S).  Consequently, Lotus is saying the Elise ‘probably has the lowest CO2 for its performance for any gasoline high performance sportscar in the world’.



The biggest surprise? Cruise control is now an option…



The 1.8 litre 189 bhp Elise R and 217 bhp Elise SC both continue in the range alongside the improved base version.