Performance Review: Lotus Elise 111R - [2004]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Elise Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Elise 111R is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2004. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2005 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 and the 2005 SSC Aero SC 8T 6.3L.This particular Lotus Elise has a 1796cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Elise shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Elise's Rear Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 860 kgs (1895 lbs) this makes the Lotus Elise 111R in the same weight category as the 2011 Lotus Elise Club Racer or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Elise shares the same bhp with the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp)

In terms of power the 1796cc 16V St4 engine produces 189 bhp (140 kW) @ 7800 rpm similar to the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 133 lb-ft (180.3 Nm) @ 6800 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2015 Mazda MX5 2.0i Roadster Coupe (148 lb-ft) or the 2013 Caterham 7 485 2.0L (152 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Lotus Elise you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2013 Porsche Cayenne 4.8 V8 Turbo S (244.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Elise.

The Lotus Elise has a Power to weight ratio of 219.7 bhp per ton and 154.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2004 Elise competing with the 2013 Porsche Cayenne 4.8 V8 Turbo S (244.6 bhp per ton) or the 2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S 4.8 V8 (244.6 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Lotus Elise generating around 154.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (179.5 lb-ft per ton) or the 2009 Dodge Ram Sport RT (179.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.10 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.3 secs, this made the Lotus Elise 111R as fast as the 2018 Alfa-Romeo Giulia Ti 2.0 Turbo (5.10 secs) the 2018 Alfa-Romeo Giulia Q4 2.0L Turbo (5.10 secs) the 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona 5.7 V8 370 (5.10 secs) the or the 2017 Audi A6 3.0T Competition (5.10 secs). This Lotus Elise 111R is also faster than the 2021 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 16V Limited Edition (5.20 secs) the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (5.20 secs) the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range (5.20 secs) the and the 2018 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.20 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Elise and the 1969 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 7.5 V8

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Elise on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.7 secs @ 99.9 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1969 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 7.5 V8 (13.65 secs), the 2009 Infiniti G37 3.7 V6 S (13.66 secs), and the 1985 BMW 5 Series M5 E28 (13.66 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2004 version of the Lotus Elise 111R has a maximum speed of 143mph.

Top Speed of the 2004 Elise equals the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2004 Lotus Elise 111R then how about the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph), the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph), or the 2019 Peugeot 508 PureTech 225 GT S and S (154 mph).

Related Links:

2004 Elise Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison