Elise model history
ELISE MODEL HISTORY
Model Introduction: June ‘96
VIN: T 0017 onwards
1997 Model Year: November ‘96
VIN: V 240 onwards
No specification change.
Uprated Starter Motor: February ‘97
VIN: V 685
Starter motor uprated from 1.0 kW to 1.4 kW and engine management fuse relocated from rear to front services compartment.
Commonisation of a.c. type chassis: September ‘97
VIN: V 1685 (approx.) Plus; 1672, 1673, 1677, 1682. Less; 1694, 1708.
Shape of chassis, rear side of fuel tank crossmember, changed to accommodate a.c. compressor. Low level engine coolant outlet pipe. Re-circ. ventililation holes in chassis toe-board.
1998 Model Year: October ‘97
VIN: W 1814 onwards.
No specification change.
Revised Harness & Main Fusebox: October ‘97
VIN: W 1941 onwards. Plus; 1920, 1926, 1937, 1938. Less; 1965, 2002.
New harness introduced to accommodate optional U.K. market Cobra 6422 alarm. New main fusebox with 22 ‘Littel’ fuses in front luggage compartment.
Optional U.K. Market Cobra 6422 Alarm: October ‘97
VIN: W 1947 onwards. Plus 1937, 1938.
Option upgraded from Cobra 6019HF to 6422. Facility to reprogramme transmitter keys. Override switch deleted.
Front Brake Disc Shields: December ‘97
VIN: W 2260 (approx.)
Alloy shield fitted on inboard side of front discs.
Revised Soft Top Cant Rails: May ‘98
VIN: W 3332
Latches on rear end of roof cant rails use new dovetail design to improve location. Door seals changed to incorporate moulded front ends to mate with new cantrail front seals. New soft top canopy with press studs repositioned to suit new cant rails. Parts set required to fit hardtop roof.
Cast Iron Brakes: June ‘98
VIN: W 3714 (approx.)
Cast iron brake discs and corresponding pads replace aluminium metal matrix brakes.
Integral Boot Box: September ‘98
VIN: W 4429 (approx.) Plus; 4140, 4315, 4365, 4383. Less 4653.
Rear clamshell incorporates integral luggage compartment box to replace luggage bag.
1999 Model Year: November ‘98
VIN: X 4976 onwards.
No specification change.
135 Sport: November ‘98
VIN: X 5401 - 5450, 6001 - 6035.
135 bhp cylinder head; Close ratio gearbox; Sports exhaust; Competition style seats; Sports steering wheel; Drilled iron brake discs; Quicksilver paint with blue soft top; Headlamp covers; Body graphics; Silver roll over bar. 2nd batch variations: 111S wheels, tyres & spats; black painted fuel filler cap; matt finish alloy gear knob; Sport 135 99 side decals.
50th Anniversary Elise: January ‘99
VIN: X 5463 - 5816 (total 51)
Anniversary green with gold wheels, green/rafia leather seats, ‘Elise’ floor mats, gold decals, Anniversary decal on rear transom.
Angled Rear Window: January ‘99
VIN: X 5558
Rear window mounted in angled surround.
Elise 111S: January ‘99
VIN: X 5722
VVC engine & close ratio transmission. Revised muffler & tailpipes. Cross-drilled iron discs. Lotus styled 6-spoke road wheels, 7.5” rear rims with 225/45 ZR16 rear P Zeros. Optional rear spoiler extension. Acrylic headlamp covers & smoke front indicator lenses. Composite engine lid, rear wheelarch spats, ‘111S’ decal on rear body & fascia, moulded air intake grille. Forged alloy window winders, weave patterned dash inserts, revised seat foams & stitching.
Elise ‘JPS’: July ‘99
Available based on either standard or 111S versions. Black body colour. All cars have gold painted grilles as follows; radiator air intake, radiator outlet, engine lid outlet, rear clamshell recess, engine bay intake. All cars have gold painted 111S type road wheels, black and gold Alcantara steering wheel, gold painted dash insert panels, 111S type black leather seats with gold Alcantara centres, gold decals on rear body and dash, black & gold nose badge, Union Flag decal on rear. Standard versions also have headlamp covers and rear wheelarch spats.
Elise ‘Type 49’: October ‘99
Available based on either standard or 111S versions. Two tone red/white body colour. All cars have gold painted 111S type road wheels, black and red Alcantara steering wheel, 111S type black leather seats with red Alcantara centres, gold decals. Standard versions also have headlamp covers and rear wheelarch spats.
Elise ‘Millenium’: October ‘99
Available based on either standard or 111S versions. Atlantis Blue body colour. All cars have blue Alcantara steering wheel pad and sill trim panels, 111S type black leather seats with blue Alcantara centres. Standard versions also have 111S type road wheels, rear wheelarch spats and headlamp covers. Cars were usually supplied with a range of dealer fitted Lotus accessories.
Forged Steel Rear Hub Carriers: November ‘99
VIN: X 8177 (approx.)
New design forged steel rear hub carrier replaces extruded alloy carrier, and incorporates calliper mounting plate, and lower ball joint carrier.
Elise 340R: January ‘00
VIN: Y 0004 to 0009, 9640 onwards.
Limited edition of 340. Extreme lightweight version of the Elise, based on modified standard chassis fitted with minimalist bodywork and a detuned, road going version of the VHPD powertrain. See 340R supplement for full specification.
Sport 160: February ‘00
SVA: VIN: Y 0601 to 0650.
WVTA: VIN: Y 0651 onwards.
First 50 cars with Single Vehicle Approval. Subsequent cars Whole Vehicle Type Approved. High performance derivative, based on 111S specification with 160 PS fixed valve timing engine. WVTA versions require airbox modification and sport exhaust fitment for full power release. Other features include new engine controller, sport suspension, ‘race’
wheels, plinth mounted rear aerofoil, Alcantara trimmed seats and steering wheel pad, body decals.
Exige: July ‘00
VIN: Y 0001 (Character 13 = 8) - model specific serial number sequence.
Road going version of the Elise race series car, with 178 bhp 340R engine, close ratio transmission, sport suspension and larger 12-spoke black finish wheels (16x7 & 17x8.5) with Yokohama A039 tyres. Front and rear clamshells styled as race car with pillar mounted rear aerofoil. Clear polycarbonate rear tailgate with air ducting, linked to roof mounted air intake duct. Optional Alcantara sports seats and 340R harnesses. Meta security system. Roof duct mounted radio aerial.
Elise ‘Mk.2’ Introduction: November 2000
VIN character 10 = 1; VIN character 13 = 7; Serial number from 0018.
Changes from previous model include: Restyled body and interior; revised soft top with integral cantrails; revised door window guides; chassis siderails lowered at cockpit sides; revised suspension with new hubs and steel hub carriers; revised engine spec. with Lotus K4 controller to meet ECD3; close ratio transmission; larger diameter road wheels with Bridgestone Potenza tyres; new brake discs and pads; new fuel tank and pump; Meta vehicle security system; battery moved to rear luggage compartment; new heater system with rotary controls; new exhaust muffler with outboard tailpipes.
Air Conditioning Option: February 2002
Co-incident with 2002 model year changepoint. VIN character 10 = 2; Serial number from 1936.
VIN character 12: C = RHD heater, D = LHD heater, N = RHD a.c., P = LHD a.c.
Cars with heater only continue unchanged, but a.c. cars use new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, incorporating face level vents, dual intake blower fan, air blender flap without water valve, electrical rotary controls with stepper motor operated flaps. Larger engine cooling radiator with twin fans. Coolant re-circulation pump. Cobra 8185/8186 security system.
Cobra 8185/8186 Vehicle Security System: February 2002
Fitted on all cars with a.c. (see above) and then as running change to heater cars during March.
Cobra 8185 immobiliser becomes standard specification. 8186 optional upgrade to meet U.K. Thatcham 1 requirements, including self powered siren, selectable intrusion sensor, illuminated entry.
Hard Top Roof and ‘Short’ Soft Top: March 2002
Hardtop roof panel introduced as factory option. Incorporates revised rear window shroud with external weatherstrip and new, shorter, soft top without tails.
Elise 111 & 111S: May 2002
VIN character 4 = J; Serial number from 2677.
Std. car continues unchanged. 111 & 111S versions available as option, including: 160ps VVC engine; ‘G6’ transmission ratios; new exhaust muffler with round tailpipes and flap valve; intake resonator box; oil/water heat exchanger; larger type (a.c.) radiator, twin rad. fans and re-circ. pump; 8-spoke heat treated road wheels; enhanced rear diffuser; Shurlock instrument pack; heater cars use HVAC system (see above) less a.c. equipment.
2003 Model Year: January 2003
VIN character 10 = 3; Serial number from 4397.
No specification change.
Lotus Sport 135R: May 2003
VIN character 4 = M; Serial number from 4612.
Sports option for U.K. only. Based on standard car with following changes: 100kW engine with modified porting, 111/111S type intake manifold, 52mm throttle body and complete exhaust system, re-programmed ECM. Sports suspension with stiffer springs and dampers, adjustable spring pans, 5-hole anti-roll bar, re-positioned steering rack. O.Z. 16-spoke roadwheels in black or silver with 6.5J front rims. Yokohama A048 tyres. Cross-drilled brake discs. 111/111S rear diffuser. Body colour Silver Mica, Blue Mica or Saffron Yellow. Body colour grilles on mica cars. ‘Lotus Sport 135R’ decals and interior embroidery. Blue Alcantara trim features. Plaque on passenger sill.
Lotus Sport 111: May 2003
Aluminium plate etched ‘Lotus Sport 111’ bonded to chassis below VIN at right hand front.
‘04 M.Y. VIN from serial number 0004.
Track biased option for Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore. Based on Elise 111 with following changes: Sports suspension with stiffer springs and dampers, adjustable spring pans, 5-hole anti-roll bar, re-positioned steering rack.
O.Z. 16-spoke roadwheels in black or silver with 6.5J front rims. Yokohama A048 tyres. Body colour Silver Mica, Blue Mica, Starlight Black, Ardent Red. Body colour grilles. ‘Lotus Sport 111’ decals and interior embroidery. Black Alcantara trim features. High grade roof hoop with optional forward brace for MSA approval. Plaque on passenger sill. 2004 Model Year: May 2003
VIN character 10 = 4; Serial number sequence re-started at 0001.
Range as previous with following new features: Optional central door locking on driver’s and passenger’s doors operated via Cobra 8185/8186 alarm transmitter. Electric window operation combined with CDL option. Gearchange mechanism noise suppression. Interior noise suppression package on ‘S’ variants. Uprated battery, bar graph fuel display, orange backlighting, restyled repeater lamps, optional CD multichanger in boot, aerial ground plane, washer bottle in engine compartment, optional Tracker security. Sun visors, new trim features. Lotus roundel on rear transom. Red spark plug cover.
Elise 111R Introduction: January 2004
VIN character 4 = P; Character 13 = 3; Serial number from 0970
Note that the serial number sequence is shared with other Elise variants.
Changes from previous model include: Toyota powertrain with 1.8 litre VVTL-i engine and 6-speed transmission. Twin exhaust tailpipes exiting through centre of diffuser. Larger fuel tank with new pump. Revised chassis rail rear ends, new rear subframe, revised seat belt mounting frame backstays. Revised rear suspension wishbones, springs and dampers. ABS brake control with vacuum servo. Revised front bonnet grilles and access covers.
2004 Exige Introduction: March 2004
VIN character 4 = P; Character 13 = 8; Serial number from 1092
Note that the serial number sequence is shared with other Elise variants. Differences compared with Elise 111R include: Restyled front and rear clamshells with fixed roof and strut mounted rear aerofoil. Front body splitter panel. Re-styled road wheels, wider on the front, and Yokohama A048 tyres.
2005 M.Y. Elise for North America: May 2004
VIN character 10 = 5; Character 12 = L; Serial number from 0001
Note that the serial number sequence is shared with other ‘05 M.Y. Elise variants.
Differences compared with Elise 111R include: Driver and passenger airbags, pyrotechnic seat belt pre-tensioners; Re-styled fascia and dashboard structure; Front speakers moved onto top surface of fascia, stowage pockets incorporated into dashboard end panels, fixed windscreen demist vents. Engine start button in driver’s side switch panel. Revised springs and dampers, Yokohama AD07 tyres. Side marker lamps on front and rear wheelarch lips. Revised fuel system with fuel filler flap.
2005 M.Y. Elise/Exige (non-USA): Sept. 2004
VIN character 10 = 5; Serial number from 0597 (sequence shared with USA model).
No specification change. Note; last ‘04 serial number 2476.
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