This Lotus Elise has been re-listed due to the buyer not following through on their purchase and is not because of any issues related to the car. This 2008 Lotus Elise California Edition is from the final year of production and is one of just 50 special editions produced towards the end of US production. Of those 50 cars, 25 were produced in the color seen on this car- Saffron Yellow, where the other 25 were painted in Ardent Red. Showing 14,522 miles at the time of cataloging, the car was sold new in Southern California and has been under the care of the current owner since April 2022. The California Edition features some unique exterior styling updates, that were aimed at giving the car a more “upscale” look. These include painting the front grille silver as opposed to the standard matte black, body-colored side gills in the vent area, and body-colored rear engine panel louvers. When paired to a unique set of 16-spoke wheels, these updates make for a car that looks more “put together” and what you would expect from a car of its price point. The interior of the California Edition was also special- wrapped in biscuit and black two-tone leather, and paired with the later Exige bucket seats which fit a wider array of drivers and hold you in better on windy roads. The Elise inside is rather spartan but does feature a Sony head unit with Focal speakers, as well as an HVAC system that is a welcome addition on cold mornings. Although the Elise is known as a real driver’s car, one area that most enthusiasts will tell you it falls down is in shifter feel. Although the gearbox isn’t bad, it doesn’t provide the same positive engagement as some of its competitors, like the Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata. To help solve this, a Shifter111 Shift Assembly has been installed, which retains the standard H-Pattern, but strengthens the gear lever and moves it higher up so it is less of a reach moving from the steering wheel to the shift knob. Powering the Elise is the previously mentioned 1.8-liter Toyota DOHC inline-4. This engine benefits from a Yamaha-designed head with variable valve timing. It produces 189 horsepower and will happily rev to well over 8,000 rpm. Although this doesn’t sound like a ton, with a sub-2,000 lb curb weight, the car will run from 0-60 in less than 5 seconds and can achieve over 150 mph on the top end. This is connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox and features nothing in the way of driver aids- meaning that when things get tricky, it is just you in control of the car. As the automotive world moves more towards alternative fuels and increased safety features, it is likely that we will never see a car like the Elise again. From its lightweight construction to its simple, unfiltered driving experience, the Elise will forever be a car that is cherished by people who love to drive and given that, has the makings of a true future collectible. The California Edition in this rare color is one of the most unique special editions that came to the United States from Lotus and will also continue to be sought after long into the future.