LOTUS EUROPA Review

Summary:

What we like: Purity of concept; Performance; Handling.

What we don't like: Build quality; Impractical.

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LOTUS EUROPA review in detail:

The little Lotus Elise is virtually a purebred racing car fitted with a basic glass-fibre roadster body that gives it the look of all-weather, on-road comfort.

Exige is the fixed-head coupe variant of the Elise.

These are weekend racing machines that are a real buzz for the keen driver looking for a purebred machine, not really pretty cruisers.

The tiny Lotuses have a lot more grunt with the recent choice of a four cylinder 1.8-litre Toyota engine.

The engine doesn't put out a huge amount of power, but in a lightweight machine like this there's performance like that of many purebred sports car selling for a lot more money.

Good as it is in a straight line, it's when cornering that you get the biggest thrill in these little Lotuses.

Speeds are huge and everything is so easy to control.

The steering is very direct and precise; it kicks around a bit, but not to an objectionable extent.

However, big bumps can cause disturbing crashing sounds from the suspension, the car gives a real shudder and can be knocked off line, sometimes badly so.

If you plan to use one of these Lotuses as a daily commuter, make sure you test its ride on the roads you'll routinely be travelling on to make sure it's to your liking.