Lighter than its predecessor and featuring aerodynamic improvements, Lotus has unveiled its new Elise Cup 250. Specifically, it's 14 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, tipping the scales at 884 kilograms – a remarkable achievement in the world of sports cars, thanks to the materials used in its construction, such as carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum.
This new version also includes carbon fiber sports seats , alloy wheels, a polycarbonate rearview mirror, and a new lithium-ion battery.
All these components contribute to the Lotus Elise Cup 250's low weight, but an optional package with interior and body components made of carbon fiber will further reduce the weight to 860 kg . A titanium exhaust system, costing around €4.500, and even sportier brake discs will also be available to further reduce weight.
The design changes we'll find in the new Elise Cup 250 are reflected in a new front end, with larger air intakes , and a rear end featuring only two taillights—a simple and conservative design. It also boasts a new, more streamlined rear wing with a recessed central section and a new rear diffuser, which will allow this new Lotus to generate up to 125 kilograms of downforce at a speed of 225 km/h.
The Elise Cup 250 is equipped with a supercharged 1,8-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 246 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. All this power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, resulting in a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4,3 seconds and a top speed of 247 km/h.
The price of this new Lotus Elise Cup 250 is €54.000 . It's worth remembering that the lightweight sports car market is full of alternatives, such as the Alfa Romeo 4C – which is more expensive at around €80.000 – the Caterham models, or the model from the Danish brand Agile Automotive, whose SCX is priced at €67.000.
