2005 Lotus Elise Audio System Upgrade

The view most people get of the Lotus Elise…the rear view.

By Rob Elliott, Executive Director, (ICE) In Car Experts

The Lotus Elise is a very cool car. Although it’s a little pricey, those who have driven it tell me that it is as close to a real racecar as it gets. One of the big keys is how its light weight contributes to its handling ability. In this case the customer wanted his stereo system to handle the music the way his Lotus handles the road.  So Robert Davidoski and Rene Medeguari of Mobile One Autosound in Houston, Texas shows us how this was accomplished.

1-Modified Ford keys were used to remove the radio. Note: The radio trim ring stays on when removing it, providing the channels for key insertion.

3-The factory mesh grilles pop off, exposing the Philips screws that hold the speaker in place.

4-One Torx screw on each side of the center console holds it in place.

5-There are four plastic screw retainers that hold the forward aluminum strut console in place. There are two on either side under the center console, and two more on either side at the firewall.

6-The only access from the inner dash to the floor is through panels located on either side of the dash. Two Philips screws hold the panels in place. The screws are accessible through the access panel shown.

7-All of the vehicle’s wiring runs through a front to rear channel. Once the aluminum strut console is removed, the channel can be accessed.

8-All of the stereo wiring is run to the engine compartment through a grommet behind the passenger seat belt housing in the rear firewall.

9-The wiring is then run through a grommet in the trunk wall that is located on the passenger side behind the carpeting.

10-The factory battery is located on the driver’s side of the trunk, behind a plastic cover.

11-Both power and ground wires were ran directly to the battery since the trunk area is constructed of fiberglass.

12-A high-efficiency multi-channel amp was chosen to help keep the added weight to a minimum.

13-The factory radio was replaced with a unit that accepts USB input.

14-The USB input cable was ran into a pocket area below the headlight switch.

15-A black carpeted speaker enclosure was placed in the passenger’s foot well area.