Lotus has added yet another variant to their popular Elise line by revealing the Elise Cup 250. This variant pushes Colin Chapman’s “adding lightness” to another level, and it also comes with a slight power hike.
The Cup 250 retains the same supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine sourced from Toyota tha produces 246 hp at 7,200 rpm and 250 Nm of torque that peaks between 3,500 rpm and 5,500 rpm.
The Elise 250 slots above the existing Elise 220 and makes over two dozen ponies more than the latter. As the numbers suggest, the Elise 250 gains an additional 26 hp but sheds 26kg off the Elise 220 at the same time! This results in a quicker century sprint, completed in just 3.9 seconds – about 0.3 seconds quicker than the 220. The new Cup 250 also laps the Hethel test track in 1 minute 34 seconds, a whopping four seconds faster over its predecessor.
Some other improvements include a new aerodynamically optimised bodykit, uprated suspension, better brakes and the new Lotus Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) system which adds a Sports mode that basically turns the Elise Cup 250 into a track monster. DPM improves throttle response, lowers traction slip and removes understeer whenever possible.
Speaking about the aero kit, the Cup 250 gets a front splitter, a rear wing and an oversized rear diffuser.
Weight saving remains Lotus’ ethos, thus the Cup 250 receives a lighter battery pack, carbon fibre seats and ultra-lightweight rims. Lotus is also offering an optional Carbon Aero pack which reduces the weight of the aero kits to a further 10kg. The carbon fibre seats on the other hand, gets clad in Alcantara, but leather too can be specified.
Only 200 units of these fine roadsters will ever be made in Hethel, and it will be available in April with a starting price of £45,600 (approx RM272,00.00+). We have a feeling a handful of them will be making their way here, but pricing will not be cheap for sure.
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