Lotus Cars has unveiled its new street-legal track car in the form of the Lotus Elise S Cup. Inspired by its more intense twin, the track-only Elise S Cup R, the road-going iteration has been designed as an uncompromising alternative for “enthusiasts seeking a viable track-day/road car.”
“This engaging new model accentuates the pure driving competence elicited by Lotus. Light, agile and significantly faster on-track than the standard Elise S, it will appeal to competition-minded enthusiasts,” said Lotus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales.
And much faster it is, as the new Elise S Cup is said to be up to three seconds faster than normal Elise S model around the Hethel test track. It looks the part, too, with the addition of a new front splitter, lateral bargeboards, a fixed roof, a large spoiler and a rear diffuser.
Inside, it’s pretty much the same story with the normal Elise models, that is to say – barren. A ‘T45-spec’ roll-hoop allows owners to retrofit a full roll-cage and competition harnesses should the need arise. A reworking of the car’s electrical systems allow for an easier installation of a fire extinguisher and ‘kill-switch’.
The addition of said aerodynamic add-ons contribute to an increase of downforce by 66 kg at 160 km/h and a maximum of 125 kg at its top speed of 225 km/h. Power comes courtesy of a mid-mounted supercharged, 1.8 litre VVT-i four-cylinder mill producing 217 hp at 6,800 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm.
All that power gets shoved to the rear wheels via a traditional six-speed manual transmission. With a power-to-weight ratio of 233 hp/ton, the 932 kg Elise S Cup rockets from rest to a 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The Lotus Elise S Cup is available to order with a starting price of £43,500 (RM234,216).
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Seriously Proton should sell off Lotus for token RM1 to reduce the drainage of taxpayers’ money.
No point beating a dead horse.
You are right. Even the Lotus is using Toyota engines, don’t know the Proton (includes the fanboys) so proud of its own engine for WHAT?!!
Proton owns Lotus but still Malaysians have to pay RM234k for the tiny car. Calling it a LEECH, I can’t think of others words to describe this.
Yuckkk the interior looks like a stitched up from old jeans.
The new interior is too plain and dull. As I said before, its better to offer to someone to adopt this ailing company rather than selling token for RM1.
Just watched Top Gear Season 22.
LOTUS = Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious.
Bwahahahahahha
Who is JC? Engineer? No. F1 racer? No. Clown? Yes!!!
The problem with Lotus cars is that they are not pretty. True, handling is everything to some people, but can’t they be good looking too?
Lotus is too set in their ways, basking in past glories, whilst the Japs and Koreans are sailing by..
Enough with the spartan dashboard. next please!
If Lotus continues to come out with this countless iteration of the same old car, they’ll be nothing more than a kit car company a la Caterham, Westfield..
haven’t they release like a thousand editions of this car
This shape, this cockpit… I have seen it for like how long… 10 years?? Feels like a never ending iteration of MyVi or Saga before a brand new replacement will come out.
here the Lotus Elise S price is rm280k.. also with that interior.. hmm.. sapa mau beli?
The interior looks like a Proton!
Lotus Elise is a fantastic handling sportscar. The facelifted version still looks contemporary . The interior however is still stuck in the early late 90s/2000-era design. With the majority of sportscar buyers nowadays emphasized both performance & luxury, it’s very disappointing to see the current state of Lotus Elise. Lotus (DRB-Hicom) must invest to upgrade the interior side of the car to stay relevant in today’s sportscar market.
I mean,it still looks contemporary from the outside..
the interior look cheap. very cheap indeed
Wahseh.. the CD player can play MP3 one neh..
This is not a car, is an XL size Go-Cart….
You buy this for daily non track use? You will be talking to SAM very soon….
THis is a car even crony themselves won’t buy
Yea very large spoiler,so much downforce, very understeer,wow
I think you all will never understand the purpose of this variant. It was unveil this is a variant ready-for-race. When the car is prepared for race most of the interior will be stripped-off thus such fancy interior will be gone.
Just my two cents to Proton, force Lotus to use ur engine in the way they will also been forced to improve it.