I’m not sure you know this, but the Lotus Elise is already a lightweight track-worthy car. Nonetheless, the British automaker has introduced a new performance Cup variant, which is already praised for being the fastest road-going Elise ever.
Called the Lotus Elise Cup 250, the new toy supercar shows off an impressive array of modifications, such as a 21 kilograms (46 lbs) lighter body and 26 extra ponies. Weighing in at 931 kilograms (2,052 lbs), the new Lotus Elise Cup 250 will do 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.9 seconds.
Furthermore, the new and improved Elise stays true to Colin Chapman’s “Simplify, then add lightness” recipe. As such, Lotus has delivered a real treat from its “Lightweight Laboratory”, including a Lithium-ion battery, carbon fiber seats, and ultra-lightweight alloys.
But Louts wasn’t done yet. The company will also offer a Carbon Aero Pack that will reduce the vehicle’s mass to just 912 Kilos. If you’re still not satisfied, please note that the small Elise Cup 250 will also come as a roadster as standard, with a hard top available as an option.
All these modifications add up, allowing the Lotus to lap the brand’s test track in 1 minute 34 seconds, four seconds faster than the previous Elise Cup 220. That was possible thanks to a new higher-output version of the supercharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, which develops 243 hp and 250 Nm of torque.
The aerodynamically optimized body-kit does its job well, providing 66 Kilograms of down-force at 160 km/h (100 mph) and 155 Kilograms at 248 km/h (154 mph), which is the advertised top speed of the vehicle. Inside, the cabin shows off a full Alcantara interior in red or black, with an optional Leather Pack also on offer.
