Punching well above its weight, the new Lotus Elise Cup 250 offers a scintillating blend of purity of purpose with performance at the apex of the recently revised Elise range.
Supercharged, lightweight and distilled from Lotus’ extensive motorsport know-how, the new model packs 243 hp into a chassis designed to deliver the benchmark in responsive handling and haptic feedback. The car’s enhanced aerodynamics come from a number of additions including a new lightweight rear wing, front splitter, bargeboards, and rear diffuser contributing to 125 kg of downforce at 140 mph.
As the latest car to receive the Cup treatment, the new Lotus Elise Cup 250 bridges the gap between road and track to offer racecar capabilities in a package that can be used every day. Focused on cutting weight and boosting performance, Lotus’ development team has built on the significant updates introduced for the latest Elise, which has already been hailed as a five-star car by the international motoring press. Dry weight has been reduced to just 884 kg (or 860 kg with all lightweight options) and the adoption of advanced lightweight materials including carbon fibre, titanium and aluminium has helped to cut kilos from crucial areas leading to a 0-60 mph in 3.9 secs and a power to weight of 283 hp per tonne.
The Elise Cup 250 carries the new visual identity, first introduced on the new Elise Sport and Sprint models. Changes to the body include a redesigned lightweight front clam panel with wider radiator apertures and mesh pattern grille, and a new design of rear transom panel featuring two light clusters, rather than four, visually enhancing the design.
The Elise Cup 250 also includes a number of high-performance additions unique to this model. These include revised dampers and ultra-lightweight forged wheels with Yokohama Advan A048 LTS tyres – 225/45 ZR17 at the rear and 195/50 ZR16 at the front.
Announcing the new car, Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said:
The Elise Cup 250 is the latest edition in an exciting period for the company which has seen us launch a number of very special new cars across our entire range. We know what existing Lotus enthusiasts demand from our cars and we are also bringing in many new customers who can see clearly that we offer an unrivalled combination of performance, styling, dynamics and value for money. A Lotus rewards like no other car, with sharp handling, tremendous speed and a pure, undiluted driving experience. The power and aerodynamic prowess of the new Elise Cup 250 has taken the fight beyond the reach of lesser rivals and, at just 860 kg, it shows that we are ahead of the curve in delivering lightweight, intelligently engineered sports cars.
Every new Lotus Elise Cup 250 customer can personalize their vehicle through the Lotus Exclusive program. Developed by the Lotus Design team, it combines traditional British craftsmanship with the best of modern design. Conceived to inspire customers, allowing them to tailor vehicles to their personal taste, it offers a comprehensive array of options and provides an alluring alternative to an off-the-peg sports car.
Elise Cup 250 – Technical Specification
PERFORMANCE |
ELISE CUP 250 |
Max power |
243 hp at 7200 rpm |
Max torque |
184 lbft at 3500-5500 rpm |
0-60 mph |
3.9 seconds |
0-100 km/h |
4.3 seconds |
Max speed |
154 mph (248 km/h) |
Fuel Consumption mpg (l/100 km) | |
Urban
Extra Urban Combined |
28.0 (10.1) 47.1 (6.0) 37.7 (7.5) |
CO2 emissions |
175 g/km |
Kerb weight |
917 kg |
Dry weight |
884 kg |
Lightest possible dry weight |
860 kg |
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION |
All alloy, 1.8 litre DOHC 4 cylinder, dual VVT-i, 16-valve with chargecooled supercharger |
Mid mounted, transverse, rear wheel drive |
6 speed manual gearbox with sports ratios |
Electronic Differential Lock |
CHASSIS AND BODY |
Lightweight, extruded aluminium bonded chassis structure |
T45 motorsport hoop |
Fully independent double wishbone sports suspension with adjustable front anti-roll bar |
Bilstein high performance dampers, front and rear |
Eibach springs, front and rear |
AP Racing twin-piston front calipers and single-piston rear calipers |
ABS system |
Driver selectable ESP modes |
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) |
Lightweight lithium-ion battery |
EXTERIOR SPECIFICATION |
Aerodynamically optimised rear wing, front splitter, rear diffuser and side floor-extensions |
Matt Black painted front access panel, mirror plinths, mirror caps, roll hoop cover and transom panel |
Ultra lightweight black forged alloy wheels (16” front and 17” rear) |
Front Yokohama Advan A048 LTS tyres 195/50 ZR16 |
Rear Yokohama Advan A048 LTS tyres 225/45 ZR17 |
Servo assisted, cross drilled and ventilated brake discs, 288 mm x 26 mm, front and rear |
Polycarbonate backlight glass |
Black soft-top |
Clear sill stone chip protection film |
INTERIOR SPECIFICATION |
Black Alcantara® trim, with contrast red or yellow stitch including seats, door panels and face-level vents |
Carbon fibre sports seats |
Black leather trimmed steering wheel |
Black leather trimmed sill covers |
Exposed gearshift design |
Polished aluminum gear knob and leather handbrake sleeve |
Engine start push button |
Driver and passenger airbags |
Tyre puncture repair kit |
Elise Cup 250 – Vehicle Base Pricing
MARKET |
RETAIL PRICE |
UK |
£47,400 (incl. VAT at 20%) |
Germany |
€62,600 (incl. VAT at 19%) |
France |
€63,130 (incl. VAT at 20%) |
Italy |
€66,540 (incl. VAT at 22%) |
Japan |
¥9,150,000 (incl. VAT at 8%) |
Note: Press release courtesy of Lotus Cars.