1989 Lotus Elan SE Review and Performance Comparison

Lotus Elan Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 1989 Lotus Elan SE is a powered by a Petrol Straight 4. This variant of the Lotus Elan SE is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 1989. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1989 Ferrari F40 LM Competizione 2.9 V8 Twin Turbo and the 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 C4.

This particular Lotus Elan has a 1588cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Lotus Front Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol Straight 4's include the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce

The Elan shares its Petrol Straight 4 engine configuration with the likes of the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce and the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Elan's Front Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the earlier 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1022 kgs (2253 lbs) places the Lotus Elan SE in a similar weight category as the 2021 McMurtry Speirling Goodwood and the excellent 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo, give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Elan shares the same bhp with the 2020 Alfa-Romeo Giulia 2.2 16v Turbo Diesel (187 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 1588cc 16 valve, Straight 4 engine produces around 165 bhp (123 kW) @ 6600 rpm which is comparable to the 2020 Alfa-Romeo Giulia 2.2 16v Turbo Diesel (187 bhp) and also the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated Straight 4 throws out 148 lb-ft (200.6 Nm) @ 4200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2018 Abarth 695 XSR Yamaha Automated (170 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 1989 Lotus Elan in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 1998 Toyota Mark II 2.5 Tourer V (186.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Elan.

The Lotus Elan has a power to weight ratio of 161.4 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 1989 Elan SE means you're competing with the 1998 Toyota Mark II 2.5 Tourer V (186.4 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2006 Dodge Charger 5.7 V8 R/T (186.3 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Lotus Elan SE generates around 144.8 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 1986 Mercedes SL Class 560SL V8 R107 (169.8 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 1980 Porsche 911 SC (169.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Lotus Elan SE can accelerate 0–60mph in 6.70 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 6.9 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Lotus Elan SE include the 2020 Ford Puma ST 1.5 Turbo (6.70 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2017 Maserati Levante 3.0 V6 Diesel (6.70 secs).

The Straight 4 engine of the Lotus Elan SE ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2017 Dodge Charger SXT AWD 3.7 V6 (6.80 secs) and the 2015 Renault Megane Energy TCe 205 GT 1.6 Turbo (6.80 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Lotus Elan SE and the Renault Clio 2.0 16V 172 Cup

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 1989 Lotus Elan can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.77 secs with a trap speed around 92.2 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Renault Clio 2.0 16V 172 Cup (14.78 seconds @ 92.1 mph) and a close race between the Audi Coupe S2 2.2T Quattro (14.78 seconds @ 92.1 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 1989 version of the Lotus Elan SE has a maximum speed of 137mph.

Top Speed of the 1989 Elan equals the Chevrolet Camaro SS 396 Coupe 4 Speed Close 1st Gen (136 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 1989 Lotus Elan SE then there's the slightly slower the Chevrolet Camaro SS 396 Coupe 4 Speed Close 1st Gen (136 mph) or how about the impressive Alfa-Romeo Mito 170 Quadrifoglio Verde (136 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 1989 Elan Rivals List.
• 1989 Elan: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Lotus
• Compare the 1989 Lotus Elan