Lotus has admitted on its website to a problem with corroding footwells in early Elises. Only a small batch of Mk1 cars is affected and Lotus claims the problem is purely cosmetic.
The corrosion is identified as staining or a powdery coating in the aluminium footwell and is believed to be caused by the PVC matting holding water against the floor skin or a reaction to the mat’s adhesive.
Lotus advises all Elise owners to wash their cars’ floors regularly with a nylon brush, using suitable eye and hand protection. The floor should then be dried thoroughly before refitting the PVC mat, securing it with a wide strip of 25mm double-sided tape along the rear edge.
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