Lotus is a British car manufacturer that has developed many sports cars over the years that have eventually become classics after their contemporary success faded into history.

The Lotus Elise is still going strong to this day, having been produced since 1996 at a small factory in Norfolk, which puts it in relatively inauspicious surroundings that make the whole story more interesting.

The idea behind the Elise first germinated in 1994 and the name was endowed upon it courtesy of Romano Artioli, who as chairman of the company at the time was able to get the new vehicle named after his young granddaughter.

The Series 1 Lotus Elise was incredibly light, tipping the scales at just 725 kilograms. Although it features a 1.8 litre engine from Rover, which could hardly be called the most powerful in the world since it produced 118bhp, the Elise was able to offer great performance because of its lack of bulky elements.

Hitting 60 miles an hour in just 5.8 seconds from a standing start was an impressive feat for this car, while the light weight also meant that it was more fuel efficient and fun to drive than many of its more powerful rivals.

Lotus had to develop the Series 2 Elise at the turn of the millennium as a result of EU safety regulations and was able to do so thanks to funding from General Motors.

The second generation Elise was therefore able to hit the market alongside the Vauxhall VX220, which was based on the same platform but featured a different body and interior.

The Series 2 remains in production to this day, although it has received various facelifts and alterations over the years.

For example, the Elise provided the groundwork for the Lotus Exige, which is a model intended to be even sportier and more track-oriented. With 177bhp in its original form, the Exige continues to become more powerful and capable as the years pass.

Its mid engine design and performance prowess have allowed the Elise to become a classic in its own time and it seems destined to continue building its reputation, with original models becoming increasingly sought-after.