First Drive: 2012 Lotus Elise S

Familiarity does little to quell the appeal of the Lotus Elise. It has the same basic shape and dimensions as the original, but with sharp creases, edgier headlamps and numerous scoops and vents making for an assertive, attractively styled sports car. Its proportions have always looked right, with its squat, wide stance and pinched doors highlighting its mid-engined layout.

Those doors access an interior that delights in its simplicity, the joy of the bare metal part of the Elise’s unique appeal, though with a sticker price matching several Porsche models it’s difficult to stomach some of the other materials used. It is as cramped as it has always been too; which is fine if you’re driving, but not so great as a passenger. Likewise, even with practice it’s not the easiest car to get in and out of.