The Europa is the more refined and slightly less raucous cousin to the renowned Elise and Exige. Built on the same extruded aluminium base of the Elise, the Europa offers a little more comfort and ease of use over the Elise. Fitted with GM’s fabulous 2ltr turbocharged motor still provides sparkling performance but at a slightly less high revving manner. Lower sills and a higher roofline allow easier access to this 2-seat sports tourer that still packs a punch and is full of Lotus’ trademark agility.

The Europa wasn’t made it great numbers with this one being number 24 out of 500 made in 2006. This one is finished in contour enhancing graphite grey with grey wheels and a contrasting tan interior. Plenty of invoices and information comes with the car, as does a printout of the re-map that pushes the bhp to 222hp. More than enough for a car weighing just about one metric ton.

The Europa is a special vehicle that deserves specialist treatment, and this one certainly has been well looked after. There’s an extensive file of invoices and MOT certificates along with the original book pack. The car has just received an MOT certificate and has been recently serviced while in the keep of the present owner.

September 2020 saw the car get a brake overhaul and the fitment of a new cambelt, something that any prospective buyer will be pleased to see. The Europa has enjoyed a regular service and maintenance regime and there has been no expense spared on ensuring the car’s performance and reliability remain paramount.

The Elise and Europa share a very similar interior design and layout, except that the Europa is that bit more spacious. The sills are that bit lower and the roof a little higher making the cockpit that much easier to get in to. The body-hugging seats are clad in tan leather with black highlights on the centre console and dashboard. The sill tops show a little wear as expected, as it is difficult to enter the car without encountering them on your way in. 

The centre console has some scrapes which can be either retouched or eliminated completely by a professional. There are controls for the air-conditioning just below the factory fitted Pioneer stereo system, both of which adds a little bit of comfort to an otherwise sparce interior. You’ve got an almost useable boot too, compared with an Elise at least it is much larger, with room enough for an overnight bag.

The body is clearly Lotus designed and takes almost all the cues from its stable mate the Elise, it’s just all a little bigger. The contours of the car do look great though, particularly in the lovely Graphite Grey. There’s a nice set of complimenting grey alloy wheels, each in very good condition and shod in tyres with plenty of tread. 

The paint is glossy and has just a few marks to show for its age, the worst being some scratches around the passenger door lock and there are a few little chips to be found on the front if you look hard enough. Certainly, commensurate of the car’s age and mileage. The light clusters and headlamps are all bright and clear without any sign of UV damage. All in all, a very tidy car indeed and easy on the eye.

The engine has to be the heart and soul of any sports car, and this car’s engine is a peach. It is the 2 litre 16 valve turbocharged lump from GM, a highly reliable performer with a more languid power delivery than the peaky and levy Toyota engines fitted to the Elise. It fires up immediately from the key and settles into a smooth idle. The turbo takes a lot of the noise out of the engine and the aftermarket Milltek stainless exhaust deals with the rest resulting is a pleasing if slightly muted note. 

The engine is mated to a Getrag 6 speed gearbox which has the legs for comfortable long-distance touring as well as some lower ratios for those spirited times on a twisty B road. It has all been dutifully looked after and the car has benefitted from the odd little tweak such as a re-map, better performing braking materials, uprated shocks and of course, and all-important cam belt change. A glance through the history file will show that this little GT has been well catered for.

Lotus is a historic brand, and a brand renowned for its no compromise approach to vehicle design and the Lotus’ of this era are no different. However, the Europa has a foot in both camps, one firmly in the Lotus tradition of lightweight, nimble sports cars camp and the other in the more comfortable 2-seater Grand Tourer division. The traits of the bloodline are very obvious, and you could say that the Europa is merely an inflated Elise but you’d be wrong. 

The Europa S is a completely different car to the Elise and Exige and has had an attention to detail to ensure it is a true tourer. Taller, longer, softer and with a bigger cabin all go to make the Europa S a car on its own. It still has the ability to provide some fun on a twisty bit of tarmac, but it also possesses the ability to cover the miles with more comfort. This one has been well looked after and has had a few little modifications too, making it a rare, fun and easy-going machine that will not disappoint.

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*