The 2008 Lotus Elise

The 2008 Lotus Elise is a one of type sports car for purists who yearn for the closest thing to a telepathically controlled track special you can find on the road. While other exotics rely on massive engines, space-age materials and high-tech technologies to hustle them down America’s twistiest roads, the Elise utilizes an age-old principle — the lighter, the better.

Regardless of a mere 190 horsepower generated from its Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter four-cylinder, the base Elise still manages to go from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Credit a curb weight of 1,984 pounds, which is a minor miracle in this era of perpetually pudgy vehicles. By comparison, a Mazda Miata weighs 2,498 pounds and has only 170 hp aboard. For 2008, a detuned version of the supercharged four-cylinder found in the Lotus Exige S makes its way into the more street-going Elise SC, which boosts thrust up to 217 hp and 153 pound-feet of torque (versus 133).

The 2008 Lotus Elise is a two-seat roadster with a targa-style removable soft top. Standard equipment includes 16-inch front wheels and 17-inch rear wheels with high-performance tires, Lotus/AP Racing & Brembo brakes, HID xenon headlights, air-conditioning, power windows and locks, leather-trimmed Momo steering wheel, aluminum handbrake and shift knob, trip computer and a four-speaker Alpine stereo with CD player.