The chassis is extruded aluminium tubes and panels joined with the kind of glue they use to stick aircraft wings to the fuselage.

Lotus decided to choose an engine from a large, reliable company - the Rover Company, home of the MG. The engine they chose was the MGF engine. In the few years since that decision, circumstances have changed somewhat. The Lotus company looks a more reliable proposition than Rover in the year 2000. Nevertheless, the 1800cc 118bhp MGF engine, which propels the 1000+kg MGF at a respectable speed, is a revelation in the 675kg Elise. It must have been tempting to monkey with the engine, but, for the standard Elise, Lotus have made no changes - not even to the length of the gearstick, thus benefitting from Rover's extensive shake-down of the K-series engine. Well... OK... The rocker cover has "Elise" stamped on it. There is a 135bhp alternative, also a standard Rover development. The engine is transverse-mounted, behind the seats. It's a five-speed manual gearbox.

I am told that, even for minor jobs, it is easier to remove the rear body to access the engine and transmission. There are aaccess hatches, though, and a surprising number of cubby holes in the front and in the rear, behind the engine, to stow small objects.

The interior is spartan. The driver's seat is a little more central than is the passenger's. You climb over a high, structural sill, and slide down until you are sitting low.. on the floor, virtually.

The clever design accomodates a tiny vinyl soft top which I'm told works and looks really well, though it makes intra-vehicular incursions (getting out and in) even more tricky.

Reading other reviews, I have yet to find an adverse comment on the Elise's handling. The accelerator and clutch feel quite natural. Sports cars often have cranky accelerator pedals and ON/OFF clutches, but not this one. The brake feels a little heavy at first. You actually have to exert some pressure, unlike a modern saloon, but the unassisted steering feels perfectly natural. It's a little bit of a pig to manouevre in a car park, as the steering lock isn't fantastic, and the lack of power assistance is a bit of a surprise at slow speeds after years of feather-bedding.

More plus points: It uses boring old 95 octane lead free petrol, and gives 30mpg even if you thrash it quite a bit, which, in truth, one cannot resist doing. On a long journey at 70mph, it delivers 39mpg, and an astounding 49mpg at a steady 55mph.