Lotus has claimed that its new Elise high-performance vehicle is the cleanest sports car in the world.

According to the manufacturer, no other car with similar performance statistics can match its low CO2 output of just 149g/km.

The release of the rear-wheel drive roadster may interest sports car hire fans who are conscious of the impact that driving has on the environment, as the Elise is still able to boast impressive performance figures.

Despite downsizing the previous 1.8-litre engine to a new 1.6-litre unit, Lotus claims that it is able to replicate the 134bhp of its predecessor.

Thanks to its lightweight chassis and aerodynamic design, the marque says that the vehicle will race to 60mph in just six seconds and will reach a top speed of 127mph when road conditions allow.

In addition, fuel consumption of 45mpg can be achieved on the combined cycle.

The Elise has been in construction since 1995 and aims to embody Lotus's philosophy of utilising lightweight materials over powerful engines to deliver performance.

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Posted by Jenny Denham