The Lotus Elise is the latest car to receive the Cup treatment, resulting in the ‘purest four-cylinder’ Lotus experience ever. Here are the all-important figures, including the top speed, horsepower and kerb weight.
For those who love the two-seater Lotus Elise, you should know there is a new version in town that is faster than anything before it. The British manufacturer calls it the ‘purest four-cylinder yet’ and on paper it sure looks that way. These are the facts.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The horsepower
Lotus has managed to eke out 243hp from the 1.8-litre supercharged petrol, which is of the all-alloy variety. Full power comes in at 7,200rpm, while 184lb/ft (250Nm) of torque is available between 3,500 and 5,500rpm.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The 0-60mph time
Push the accelerator to the floor from standing and 0-60mph is said to come and go in 3.9 seconds, while 0-62mph takes 4.3 seconds. Faster (but less pretty) than the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, then, which uses a similarly pint-sized 1.75-litre turbocharged engine.
Related reading: Meet the Lotus Exige Sport 380
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The top speed
Find somewhere legal to test out the top speed and you should hit 154mph (248kmh), which is just shy of the top speed most German cars are limited to.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The weight saving
To give the Lotus Elise Cup 250 a kerb weight of 917kg, 14kg lighter than its predecessor, a lithium-ion battery has been used instead of the usual. It also has carbon fibre race seats, lightweight forged alloy wheels and a polycarbonate rear window to help with the diet.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: Making it even lighter
To save an extra 7kg, a £4,000 titanium exhaust system can be specified. There is also the option of two-piece brake discs that save a further 4kg (£1,500), a carbon hard-top (£3,000, saves 3kg) and a carbon fibre engine cover (£1,600, saves 3.3kg). If you have can afford them.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The power-to-weight ratio
All of the effort from Lotus results in a power-to-weight ratio of 283hp per tonne, virtually the same as a Porsche 911 GT3 RS from 2003. Or more than a 2007 Nissan GTR.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The suspension
To help the Elise Cup 250 conquer on the track and not just the road, Lotus has firmed up the damper rates. Meanwhile the fully independent double wishbone suspension is comprised Bilstein dampers and Eibach coil springs at the front and rear.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The brakes
As for controlling the speed, Lotus has AP racing twin-piston stoppers at the front and Brembo single-piston calipers at the rear – both equipped with ventilated 288mm brake discs to grip onto.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The tyres
Lotus has selected Yokohama Advan A048 LTS tyres for the Elise Cup 250, which are said to provide oodles of grip and work ‘under a broad range of temperatures and conditions’.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The interior
Carbon fibre race seats take centre stage, with Alcantara and eithyer red or yellow contrast stitching providing that sporty touch. More carbon fibre can be found throughout the cabin, as well as exposed aluminium and new in-car infotainment stuff such as iPod connectivity and Bluetooth connectivity.
Lotus Elise Cup 250: The price / cost
The Lotus Elise Cup 250 is available to order now at your local purveyor of Lotuses (or is that Loti?), with prices starting from £47,400 in the UK including VAT.
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