Started by Colin Chapman in 1947, Lotus has long produced some of the finest driver's cars ever created. The Elise, launched in 1996, stands for everything that Lotus espouses; it's a lightweight sportscar that's fast, agile and puts driving pleasure ahead of everything else.
Although the targa-topped Elise is for hard-core driving enthusiasts only, there's an even more extreme version offered, in closed form only called the Exige, while for those wanting a bit more civility there's the Lotus Europa. The latest product from this Norfolk-based car maker is the Lotus Evora, a relatively costly 2+2 that's surprisingly usable.
