Lotus Launches Supercharged Elise SC

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

Press Release

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.

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.