Contrasts: Lotus Elise v. Nissan GT-R
Lotus Elise v. Nissan GT-R
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Kevin Kusina
WHAT defines a sports car? Really?
And has the definition changed? At a recent exotic car rally at Foxwoods, we were treated with a small lesson in contrasts. On paper and by word of mouth, Nissan’s infamous GT-R is every bit a performance machine: 485 bhp, 434 lb-ft of torque, 193 mph max velocity, Brembos, AWD, spoilers, electronic spoilers (VDC), and the rising sun rocket comes fitted with a Porsche-grade price tag – $80K to start.
On paper, the Lotus Elise seems to offer much less.
Top speed 150 mph thanks to a gimbly four pot, 185 bhp, 133 lb-ft of torque built by and originally for – gulp – Toyota. The price? $45K to start.
And then we leave the paper realm and find the two cars, shoulder to shoulder, rim to rim in a parking lot full of Ferraris. And this is where that all-important definition comes in to play.
Next to the Elise, the GT-R seems tall and slab-sided with the height, width, weight, and road clearance that seems more inline with a full-size, passenger friendly Altima sedan – they make ‘em big now! The Nissan simply towers over the little Lotus.
Then you consider, in its vast shadow, this low, lithe little British track car. There’s no excess paneling, in fact the cabin seems to be squeezed between wheel wells and air intakes. Sneeze and you just might skid its 1984 pound curb weight sideways into the next spot.
The Nissan, by contrast, weighs 3,814 lbs.
It’s seems improbable how the Elise is fit for human occupation. But, fit it is and does, if barely; requiring a gymnasts’ flexibility from driver and passenger during ingress and egress.
Which brings us to a question put to most performance machines: which car would you rather steer forcibly around a track at great speed? Which car would, by merit of its own stature be less likely to lean, pitch, and wallow without the help of electronics? Which car would consume less and fight on longer in long-distance competition rallies? Which driver would feel more in-tune with his car?
Which car is really the true sports car?
That answer depends on your definition.
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
Jim | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Gunnar, you’re complaining that the Lotus has a Toyota engine in an post that contrasts the Elise with a…Nissan??
To me the Elise is what all sports cars should try to be and the GT-R is a wonderfully executed example of what is wrong with the modern concept of what a sports car is. The Elise due to its light weight and usable power is delightful to drive sportingly at speeds which will only earn you a point or two should you run across a revenue agent. The GT-R by contrast will have you going directly to jail and a flat bed sent to bring the Nissan home.
CarZ | Nov 12, 2009 | Reply
I couldn’t agree more with @Jim. The Elise is the standard, the epitome (if you will) of sport standard. ALL sport vehicles should try to live up to it’s agility and power. Enough said.