Today British car manufacturer Lotus Cars announced the model year 2008 changes to its legendary lightweight sports car, the Elise Series 2. Simultaneously Lotus has announced the introduction of a spanking-new supercharged 220 hp Elise SC, the most powerful series production Elise version to date! As if there weren't enough Elise derivatives on the market already (Elise S, R, Exige, Exige S, Europa S, 111R, 135R etc... zzZzzZZz), but this is the one to remember! 220 hp and, well, only 903 kg to carry. For a 1.8-litre fourpot, performance is staggering! Performing a 0-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds, the acceleration matches that of 400+ bhp V8 sedans.
For the 2008 model year, Lotus offers a performance package for the top-of-the-range coupe version, the Exige S, taking it up to 240 hp, making it a true "race car for the road." The performance package will set you back £3,000 in the UK or €3,810 in Germany. Lotus is, however, keen to point out that the 2008 model year isn't just about performance improvements. The major changes are:
- Driver and passenger airbags are now standard on all models
- New instrument pack, providing extra information about vehicle systems
- New alarm/immobiliser system and a new Lotus designed key with integrated fob
- Complete range of option packages – from four down to two
Introducing the Supercharged Elise SC
The biggest news from the 2008 Model Year Lotus line-up is the introduction of the Supercharged Elise SC, a 220 PS version of the multi award-winning roadster, easily identified by its new rear spoiler and unique new design of alloy road wheels.
Despite the on-paper similarity with the Exige S, this is no mere engine swap – this is an all-new, non-intercooled installation applied to the current Elise’s 1.8-litre 2-ZZ VVTL-i engine. The Lotus-designed, Magnuson-produced supercharger uses a smaller Eaton rotor pack (an M45 unit) than that of the current Exige S, and is married to the intake manifold plenum as part of a single-piece casting. Combined with the absence of an intercooler and its associated pipework, this integrated supercharger/intake assembly contributes to an 8kg reduction in engine weight compared with the Exige S.
A further benefit of dispensing with the intercooler for the Elise SC application is the supercharger packaging viability for Elise and improved rear visibility when adopted into the Exige S, where vision from the rear view mirror is masked by the current intercooler installation. The Elise SC has been designed to have different driving characteristics to the Exige S. In keeping with its role as a supremely fast road car rather than extreme track machine, throttle response is very progressive but also very direct, resulting in a measured, refined driving experience.
But, as you might expect of a car with 220 PS and weighing only 903 kg (1987 lbs), the performance of the Elise SC is electrifying – 0-60 mph in 4.4 secs / 0-100 km/h in 4.6 secs (estimated); 0-100 mph / 160 km/h in 10.7 secs (estimated); top speed 150 mph / 240 km/h (estimated). Although for the record, the Exige S remains the faster car on track, thanks to its superior aerodynamics package that generates 42 kg (92 lbs) of downforce at 100 mph (160 km/h). The fuel economy of the Elise SC is impressive with an estimated combined figure of 9.1 litres / 100 km (31.0 mpg).
A new bespoke wheel design is introduced to the Elise SC, the rears having increased half an inch in width to 8.0 inches, to give even better grip performance from the standard Lotus specific Yokohama AD07 LTS 225/45 R17 tyres.
Thamz
October 24, 2007 10:47 AM
