Lotus Launches Supercharged Elise SC

Press Release

Model year 2008 changes:

Airbags for all
In this safety-conscious age and with more and more owners using their Elise or Exige as daily transport, demand has been growing for standard-fit airbags. Lotus have responded to provide driver and passenger airbags as standard on all Elise and Exige models; previously they were
available as part of the Super Touring option package. The new dashboard has a new, soft-touch surface finish.

More than just new dials
The new instrument pack in the Elise and Exige contains so much more than just a fresh pair of
– stylishly back-lit – dials. It also features a high-definition LCD message panel that can display
a scrolling text message with vehicle systems information. The new instrument pack always displays the fuel gauge, engine temperature and odometer, however you can select to display the time (from November 07), trip distance or a digital read-out of your speed in the opposite calibration to that of your speedometer dial – if your dial is in mph, the readout is in km/h. Warning symbols are ‘secret until lit’, keeping the instrumentation free from visual clutter and distraction until absolutely necessary. New gearchange ‘shift’ lights similarly remain hidden until required. There are three shift up lights, cumulatively lighting when the driver is getting closer to the rev limiter and when all three are illuminated, they flash to indicate that you’re almost on the rev limiter so time to change up a gear!

A “key” issue
In response to forthcoming legislation, the Elise and Exige both have a new “Thatcham approved” alarm/immobiliser system. This, in turn, has enabled a new Lotus design of key that incorporates the controls for the alarm/immobiliser and central locking functions. This upmarket key fob features three buttons, the one which locks the doors and sets the alarm/immobiliser is stylishly crowned with the famous Lotus roundel. The second button unlocks the doors and de-actives the alarm/immobiliser, and the final button is a panic button.