Performance Review: Lotus Elise Sport 135 - [2002]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Elise Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Elise Sport 135 is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2002. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2002 Ferrari Enzo 6.0 V12 and the 2002 Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3.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 756 kgs (1666 lbs) this makes the Lotus Elise Sport 135 in the same weight category as the 1996 Lotus Elise S1 or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Elise shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1796cc 16V St4 engine produces 133 bhp (99 kW) @ 6200 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 129 lb-ft (174.9 Nm) @ 4850 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 1994 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V1 - Classic JDM (200.8 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Elise.

The Lotus Elise has a Power to weight ratio of 175.9 bhp per ton and 170.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2002 Elise competing with the 1994 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V1 - Classic JDM (200.8 bhp per ton) or the 2015 BMW 3 Series 340i F30 LCI (200.6 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 170.6 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 1989 Lotus Esprit S3 Turbo SE (195.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 1995 Maserati Quattroporte 2.8 V6 (195.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.30 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.5 secs, this made the Lotus Elise Sport 135 as fast as the 2019 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy-R (5.30 secs) the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (5.30 secs) the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 V6 Supercharged 360 (5.30 secs) the or the 2017 Mercedes G Class 63 AMG (5.30 secs). This Lotus Elise Sport 135 is also faster than the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.40 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.40 secs) the 2019 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi TCR 2.0 Turbo (5.40 secs) the and the 2019 Jaguar F Type 2.0 Turbo Cabriolet (5.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Elise and the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Elise on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.81 secs @ 92.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (14.74 secs), the 2006 Porsche Cayman 2.7 (14.74 secs), and the 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 (14.74 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2002 version of the Lotus Elise Sport 135 has a maximum speed of 129mph.

Top Speed of the 2002 Elise equals the 2021 BMW i4 M50 (140 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2002 Lotus Elise Sport 135 then how about the 2021 BMW i4 M50 (140 mph), the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (140 mph), or the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (140 mph).

Related Links:

2002 Elise Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison