Just a sexy little thing!

You didnt get in it did you ?
Your love affair might have ended right then and there when you attempted to get back out ! lol. I have driven them and yes they are like go karts.
Back in late 99...early 2000s a import company that was distributing Lotus Elise's here in the U.S. The tiny Euro 4 cyl would not pass EPA or the U.S buyers standards for power. So they installed Acura Integra Type R motors ..IIRC.. those motors were shipped to our lead tech up in Boise and he would modify them and build wiring harnesses for them. I remember seeing the crates come in.
The cars only weighed around 1600 lbs and the motors were 190 hp with 8500+ redlines. Not bad !

I had customer back then that had an Elise with a 3 rotor Wankle in one as well.