AutoenGadget.com - The Lotus Elise S Cup is essentially a racecar with number plates. A watered-down version of the full-blown Elise S Cup R racer, it’s infused with Lotus’ motorsport magic and could be one of the most exhilarating models that the brand has ever created.
Halfway
between the standard Elise S and the stripped out Elise S Cup R, the latest
addition to the stable carries over all of the racecar’s jewellery and wild
aerodynamic bodykit.
The
front splitter, winglets, rear diffuser and rear wing alone are enough to
generate 61kg more downforce than the standard Elise at 100mph. At its 140mph
top speed, the S Cup creates 125kg of downforce – 117kg more than the base
model. It carries over the 1.8-litre supercharged engine and produces the same
217bhp, too – so no prizes for guessing the 0-62mph time remains unchanged at a
blistering 4.6 seconds.
The
low roof and wide sills remove any possibility of a dignified entrance, but
once you sink into the drivers seat you’ll never want to leave – and not
because its difficult to get out of. From the moment the four-cylinder whirrs
into life and the wheels turn, the Lotus never fails to deliver one of the most
visceral and engaging experiences possible.
Point
its nose down a winding B-road, and the Elise S Cup attacks bends with even
greater agility and precision. The springs and dampers are slightly firmer and
the steering feels alive in your hands, allowing you to seamlessly stitch
swooping bends together.
The
1.8-litre engine even sounds good; there’s not the same supercharger of old
Elises, but just enough to let you know there’s some forced induction at work.
It’s an eager engine, thriving off the revs with the bulk of power nestling
right at the top end of the range.
Working
your way through the short and snappy ratios of the six-speed manual gearbox
encourages you to push on, while every sense is overloaded with feedback and
information as to what the car is doing on the road. At higher speeds, you can
feel the body being pressed into the tarmac in corners, with a good chunk of
the added downforce coming into play upwards of 60mph.
Unsurprisingly,
the Elise doesn’t have the compliancy of a Porsche
Boxster over rougher ground, but on the flip side, its rival can’t
match the tactility or voracious attitude of the Lotus.
For
the £43,500 price tag, you get electric windows, suede-style sports seats and a
heater, but you can also have carbon-fibre race seats, a four-point harness and
electrical kill switches.
Racecar
extras are available, too, including a performance induction kit, even stiffer
suspension and a roll cage – as the Elise S Cup can be converted into the fully
blown racer, making it eligible for the Lotus Cup Series. Doing so adds around
£8,000 but most buyers are more likely to fit air-con (£1,250) and a comfort
pack (£1,200), which adds more sound insulation, an MP3- compatible stereo and
central locking.
Source by autoexpress.co.uk
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