New Elise Likely Has Lowest CO2 Emissions of Any Gas-fed Sports Car, Lotus Says

New Elise Likely Has Lowest CO2 Emissions of Any Gas-fed Sports Car, Lotus Says

By Scott Doggett February 16, 2010

When it makes its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in a couple of weeks, the 2011 Elise two-seat mid-engine sports car (pictured) will likely become the cleanest vehicle of its kind on Earth with regard to tailpipe emission, Lotus said in a statement this week.

The Elise range will offer three gasoline engine choices:

• A new 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing 134 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, and less than 155 gram of CO2 per kilometer;
• A 1.8-liter four-cylinder producing 192 horsepower. 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, and 196 grams of CO2 per kilometer;
• And a 1.8-liter supercharged engine producing 220 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and 199 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

Improved aerodynamics, variable-valve timing and a six-speed close-ratio gearbox account for much of the model's lower greenhouse-gas emissions.

Pricing for the new Elise will be announced next month, at which time we expect the British automaker to provide fuel-economy estimates for the model.

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.