---
title: "Enjoy This Close-Up Video Of Lotus’s Exposed Gearshift Linkage in Action"
description: "Lotus is bringing the open-shift setup to the entire Elise range."
date: "2017-04-30"
modified: "2017-04-30"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/9805/enjoy-this-close-up-video-of-lotuss-exposed-gearshift-linkage-in-action"
categories:
  - "Lotus News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "Elise"
  - "gearbox"
  - "Lotus"
  - "Manual Transmission"
---

# Enjoy This Close-Up Video Of Lotus’s Exposed Gearshift Linkage in Action

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/04/shifter.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Even as manual transmissions continue their slow march towards extinction, there are still manufacturers [fighting the good fight](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/7749/aston-martin-will-always-offer-manual-gearboxes-ceo-says>) by continuing to embrace a three-pedal setup where it matters most. Case in point: Lotus only makes incredibly lightweight sports cars, so why would they stop giving their customers a chance to row their own gears? Their Elise range is already one of the better deals for a track-ready car in the European market (sadly not currently road-legal here), and now Lotus is turning them all into evangelists for the Church of Manuals by blessing even the cheapest Sport model with that beautiful exposed-linkage gearshift.

And honestly, it's hard to say no to this video. While it may feel like Lotus only overhauls its designs about once a decade—that's basically true—it's always adding some polish and tweaks between the years to shave a few pounds and keep things fresh. In addition to [resurrecting the Sprint nameplate](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/8441/new-lotus-elise-sprint-weighs-just-1798-pounds>) as a welterweight Elise for 2017, it's also refreshed the exterior design and a changed out a few parts to cut 20 pounds across the entire range...two pounds of which came from introducing the exposed-linkage shifter first [found in the Exige.](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/9515/the-lotus-exige-cup-380-is-a-slightly-lighter-and-quicker-exige-2>)

In addition to showing off the beautiful engineering that would normally be hidden, Lotus claims it's also faster and more responsive without a traditional leather boot in the way.

In the [base Elise Sport model](<https://www.lotuscars.com/elise-sport>), that piece of art is connected to a four-cylinder Toyota engine putting out 134 horsepower. In a rear-wheel-drive, mid-engined car weighing less than 1,900 pounds, that's more than enough for some fun—but again, the new Elise Sprint and Elise Sprint 220 are making waves this year by trimming another hundred-plus pounds for a better power-to-weight ratio.

And with all that for starting under $50,000 at current exchange rates, it's a shame we'll have to wait at least another three years for the next generation to make it to our shores. We can only hope the open gearshift sticks around.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)