2005 Lotus Elise Preview: "LOS ANGELES, CA - With the death of the long-lived Lotus Esprit V8, of which just 100 will be sold in the U.S. for 2004, Lotus plans to expand North American operations and sales for 2005 and beyond with a slew of new products.
First out of the chute is the 2005 Lotus Elise, an ultra-lightweight sports car that goes on sale in May. It adheres to company founder Colin Chapman's four basic automotive design philosophies: It is lightweight for better performance; it is fun to drive; it provides a comfortable ride and exceptional handling; it is innovative."