Lotus Reveals The Elise Cup 250

Lotus Elise Cup 250 (Credit: Lotus)

Lotus has survived financial peril, at least for now, and thankfully that means adding more lightness. The latest result is the Elise Cup 250, replacing the Elise Cup 220 and becoming the fastest production version of the car to date. It can dash from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, plus hit a top speed of 154 mph.

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On the lightness side, Lotus was able to shed about 46 pounds from the curb weight of the Elise. Among the innovative measures the company’s Lightweight Laboratory applied to the car is a lithium-ion battery, which alone dropped about 22 pounds. The carbon fiber seats and ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels made up the rest of the difference.

If that’s just not light enough for your taste, Lotus is offering a Carbon Aero Pack. The option drops about another 22 pounds from the car, making its curb weight a mere 2,030 pounds.

Lotus Elise Cup 250 (Credit: Lotus)

The supercharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine has been tuned, boosting peak output to 243 horsepower at 7,200 rpm and 184 lb.-ft. of torque from 3,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm. Drivers can select the sport mode for better control before the electronic nannies step in, quickening throttle response, ditching understeer recognition and dropping traction slip thresholds.

According to Lotus, the Elise Cup 250 is a track monster you can daily drive, thanks to great road manners. It was able to best the Elise Cup 220′s time around the automaker’s test track by a whole four seconds. Lotus said it worked to improve the car’s straight-line acceleration, while the body kit produces 145 pounds of downforce at 100 mph and 341 pounds of downforce at 154 mph, making it ideal for tackling long straightaways. Helping the Lotus power through turns is a double wishbone suspension, an adjustable anti-roll bar, AP Racing double piston front brake calipers and Brembo single piston rear calipers.

Buyers will be able to get the Lotus Elise Cup 250 in two forms: roadster and hardtop. Anyone who doesn’t want the roadster will need to pay extra. The car should hit the US market in April of 2016.