2005 Pininfarina Enjoy Preview

With Lotus' expertise in aluminum workmanship, Pininfarina utilized the British automaker and engineering firm's know-how to create an extruded chassis of aluminum,

Like Lotus's second generation Exige, the Enjoy will be powered by Toyota new 1.8-liter VVT-i engine. (Photo: Pininfarina)

first for the concept in 2003 and then again to fine tune the production car. The body, although expected to be hand-hammered out of the same fine metal is actually made of carbon fiber composites. Double wishbones in front and rear are attached to the chassis, for precision and comfort on both road and track. The overall dimensions of this open-roofed roadster are 3,802 mm (149.69 in) in length, 1,805 mm (71.06 in) in width, 1,140 mm (44.88 in) in height, while riding on a wheelbase of 2,375 mm (93.50 in). To give a comparison, the Enjoy is just a hair longer than Lotus' own Elise sports convertible and then slightly shorter than Mazda's MX-5 Miata. Yeah, it's no heavyweight.

Power from the Enjoy comes from Lotus's second generation Exige. This isn't a Lotus motor, like the Rover-derived K-Series inline-four used in the first generation, rather the new Toyota 1.8-liter with VVT-i, a slightly modified version of the same high-revving powerplant used in the Celica. This type of motor is perfect for the Enjoy, in that it has enough power and torque to haul it around a track with great speed, while consuming little fuel and releasing few emissions. In combination with the Enjoy's light curb weight of an estimated 850 kilograms (1,875 pounds) and equally enticing power to weight ratio of 1-hp for every 4.3 kilos, the Enjoy should scoot to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds and achieve a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Although this isn't as quick as the Elise or Exige fitted with this

The Enjoy's driver and passenger are treated to luxurious, comfortable surroundings. (Photo: Pininfarina)

motor, it's plenty quick to keep up with most anything else on an open track day. Besides, the Pininfarina is much more livable inside than the Lotus.

It takes a big step in order to climb over the wide door sills, but once inside the bathtub style cockpit the Enjoy's driver and passenger are treated to luxurious, comfortable surroundings. Curving down from the right-hand drive steering column is a thin center console with vertically-stacked controls similar to those found on the Maserati MC-12. Atop the dashboard is a stylish, circular analog clock.

Like a cinnamon candy, the interior is furnished in rich red leather offset by white trim and chrome accents on the gear shifter, instrumentation and handbrake. It's a thing of beauty. Because trunk space is nearly non-existent, the Enjoy is really not much more useful than to be driven as a Sunday backroad blaster. If anything more than a purse or laptop bag must be brought on board, it will have to ride on the hood above the engine compartment like the grand tourers of yesteryear. To this end Pininfarina includes a metal-composite suitcase specially designed to attach via a thick red belt to the rack-mount unit.