[dkabab]

Just how many different variations of the elise/exige have there been

[AshSimmonds]

I don't know if there's a definitive page/listing - we should write one really, I've only been following the specific differences for about a year (wasn't that long ago I couldn't tell an S1 from S2 ) and it's still a big jumble.

There's three main variants of the Elise (years are approximate) - S1 ('96-'01), S2 Rover ('02-'04) and S2 Toyota ('05+).  The S2 Rover has probably nearly a dozen basic factory variations, I'm not too sure on the Toyota.

The Exige started out in about '99 as a Motorsport Elise - hardtop Elise designed specifically for racing, after a few years of campaigning driving enthusiasts finally convinced Lotus that they needed to make a road-legal production version of their racing car, and the Exige came to be around '04.  There are dozens of versions of this also.  

I think it'd be a worthwhile thing to sit down and get ALL the facts in one easy to see page.

[dkabab]

found this much but started getting confused so i stopped... 

Series 1


Sport 135 (1998/9) with approx 145 bhp (108 kW)
Sport 160 (2000) with 150–160 bhp (112–119 kW)
Sport 190 (190 bhp / 142 kW)
50th Anniversary Edition (green/gold)
49 ("Gold Leaf" red and white two-tone)
Type 72 ("JPS" black/gold)
111s (1999) 143 bhp (107 kW/145 PS)

Exige (2000) 177 bhp (132 kW/179 PS)
Exige (2000) 190 bhp (142 kW/193 PS)


Series 2

111s
135R – 135hp
Sport 190 – 192hp

2008 Special Editions
•   Sport 190
•   Sport 135R
•   Type 23
•   Type 25
•   Type 49
•   Type 72
•   Type 99T
•   Sports Racer

[RMV]

Cliff notes on federalised Elises and Exiges (i.e. Toyota engined to comply with US federal regs).  K series cars could not be sold in the US.

The first Toyota engined cars were sold in Aus in 2004 in two versions, Elise 111R and Exige.  Said Toyota engines were Celica spec (with Yamaha heads) and gave 141kw.

In 2007, updated versions were introduced to Aus with US interiors (which is a shame, as I prefer the UK/Aus pre '07 interiors):
Exige S supercharged (with intercooler) Celica engine went on sale in Oz in 2007.
Elise S with less exotic 100kw Toyota engine (from the Corolla) went on sale in 2007.
Elise 111R was renamed R with same tech specs as before.
Elise SC with supercharged Celica engine (sans intercooler) was introduced in 2008 (I think).

This is all off the top of my head.  I apologise for any inaccuracies and I am happy to be corrected if in error.

I look forward to getting my hands on one of these cars one day in the not too distant future.

[Rat Boy]

I do like that add.

But back on topic of Lotus models...

I've been told by numerous people to steer well clear from K series engine... Anyone here have any problems with it?

Also, a friend of mine races a few elises and is going to do this:

I am putting a VWR32 V6 engine in my Elise Motorsport, for added madness a Supercharger will be included.

Expecting around 500bhp, 430 ftlbs......


Also VW2.0ltr Supercharged

Expecting around 400bhp, 300 ftlbs.......

Will be fun if the wheels don't just spin...