Lotus New Elise Cup 250
The British automaker
has introduced a new performance Cup variant, the fastest road-going Elise
ever made.
The new moniker brings a
comprehensive array of modifications, shaving 21 kg in the
process and gaining 26 hp. Now, the Elise tips the scale at a measly 931
kg being capable of getting from 0-100 km/h in
3.9 seconds.
Adding lightness and speed
to an already swift and frisky automobile is a tricky task, but staying true to
Colin Chapman’s “Simplify, then add lightness” recipe, Lotus delivered a real
treat from its “Lightweight Laboratory”. Featuring a Lithium-ion battery,
carbon fiber seats, and ultra-lightweight, forged alloy wheels, the car slashes
17.5 kg.
The company also offers a Carbon Aero Pack, which reduces the
vehicle’s mass to just 912 Kg. Moreover, the little Elise Cup 250 is
available for the first time as a roadster as standard with a hard top
available as an option.
All these performance
enhancements make the car lap Lotus’ test track in 1 minute 34 seconds, four
seconds off the previous Elise Cup 220’s time, making it the fastest recorded
production Elise.
Power comes from a new
higher-output version of the supercharged 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine, boasting
243 hp at 7200 rpm and 250 Nm of torque between 3500 and 5500 rpm. The
aerodynamically optimized body kit comes into play as well, providing 66
Kilograms of downforce at 160 km/h and 155 Kg at 248 km/h, which is the vehicle’s top speed.
The Elise Cup 250 doesn’t lack in creature comforts, sporting a
full Alcantara interior in red or black, with an optional Leather Pack
available. A total of ten paint choices are available for the car, providing
customers a wide variety of options to tailor their Elise.
