A FLASH UK motor has been crowned the best performance car of the last two decades – and it’s not an Aston Martin.
The sports car has impressed experts for its “unmatched price” and “outstanding performance”.
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The ‘Best Performance Car’ winner was announced at PistonHeads 25th Anniversary party celebrating the greatest cars since 1998.
The Lotus Elise S1 was voted 34,000 times by the largest motoring community at Piston Heads – chosen from the 12 best-selling cars.
It beat the iconic Porsche 911 Carrera in second place – known as one of the lightest vehicles with a seven-speed manual gearbox.
And it also came before and a Honda S2000 which was positioned in third place scoring 15 per cent of the votes.
But the Elise has proven to be superior.
Matt Bird, Deputy Editor at PistonHeads, said: “We are delighted to name the Lotus Elise S1 as the Best Car of the last 25 years.
“In an era of increasingly powerful cars that can only be fully appreciated on a track, the Elise is a car that can be enjoyed in all environments.”
It was previously branded by experts as the “car that saved Lotus” for its exceptional driving experience.
The British sports car has been praised for being ultra-light weight with a “genius gearshift”.
Norfolk-based manufacturers have been able to create an innovative glass fibre body which puts its weight at just 725kg.
It is powered by a 120hp and an impressive 1.8litre Rover K-Series engine.
Mr Bird added: “Its ability to deliver thrills on any road at any speed, and at a relatively attainable price point, is reason alone for it to be a worthy winner.”
The vehicle retailed for a starting price of £18,995 when it launched in 1996.
The victory comes as a classic Ford dubbed the “most significant vehicle ever” hit auction for an eye-watering price.
The 1965 Cortina De Luxe – with 93,448 miles on the clock – has days left for eager buyers to place their bids.
With bids already hitting a whopping £6,000, the end-price will no doubt be dumbfounding.
The motor, which has been “extensively recommissioned”, is ready for a new owner.
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