The Elise Cup 260 Is Yet Another New And Exciting Lotus That Isn't Really New At All

Taking the mere months-old Elise Cup 250 as its base, the Cup 260 uses more race-bred technology, more downforce and more performance to create something even more ballistic - and just 30 will be made
The Elise Cup 260 Is Yet Another New And Exciting Lotus That Isn't Really New At All

Guess what? It’s a new Lotus! Of course, we’re lying; it’s yet another new model that’s actually just a light tweak of an older one, even if the end result is, as usual, rather nice.

The Elise Cup 260 is a race-derived and extremely limited-edition version of Lotus’ most iconic production car. It’s also a hell of a looker. Based on the Elise Cup 250, it integrates more of the tech used on the Elise Race 250, like carbonfibre and composite components that shave weight down to just 902kg at the kerb; 15kg less than the 250.

Clive Chapman, the son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman
Clive Chapman, the son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman

It has a load of functional aero, too, taking lessons learned from the Evora GT430 and 3-Eleven. Louvred front wheel arch vents reduce lift and that massive rear wing presses the rear rubber into the ground nicely. It makes for 180kg of downforce at top speed; a 44 per cent boost versus the Cup 250, and a lap of Lotus’ Hethel test track that’s an impressive 2.5 seconds faster. Track-biased Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R tyres help, too.

Power from the supercharged 1.8-litre engine is 246bhp at 7200rpm, with a lovely six-speed manual at your fingertips complete with gorgeous exposed linkage to copy the Exige Sport 350 and 380. Power to weight is a very handy 286bhp per tonne.

The old English 0-60mph dash is clobbered over the head in just 3.8 seconds, while you’ll peak at 151mph if you have enough space. Nought to 62mph takes 4.2 seconds; just a tenth slower than the slightly more expensive Porsche Boxster GTS.

The Elise Cup 260 Is Yet Another New And Exciting Lotus That Isn't Really New At All

Lotus also says it’s the best -sounding four-cylinder car on the market, but, ahem, we won’t be able to confirm that until we get a drive. How about it, Lotus? There might be a bit of a problem with that, though. Just 30 are being built for the whole world. That means we probably can’t bank on any making it to the press fleet, and even if one does, we might be too afraid of damaging it to drive it as hard as it deserves…

Brakes are AP Racing trinkets at the front but Brembo at the back, each set gripping two-piece discs. Alcantara upholstery is nicely grippy. From the two chairs you can appreciate the bodywork-coloured trim insert options and exposed carbonfibre parts. A stereo, God forbid, is an optional extra. So is air conditioning.

The price starts at £59,500, but the options don’t come cheap. Air-con is £1250, tartan seats are £1000, a 7kg lighter titanium exhaust is £4000 and if you want the tiny sports car painted in a metallic shade, it’s £825. A carbonfibre hard top is available, too… for a mere £3000.

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Comments

Rise Comics

Ctrl c, Ctrl v, add slightly different aero bits, change the color. This is how Lotus makes a new Elise.

10/20/2017 - 17:14 |
42 | 2

That sounds like basically every assignment submitted to a Teacher…..

10/21/2017 - 07:16 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

I didn’t know that Lotus got acquired by AMD… just too much rebranding of the same thing.

10/20/2017 - 17:17 |
8 | 4
FLixy Madfox

Another week
Another lotus
Man, there sure are a lot of lotus special editions

10/20/2017 - 17:22 |
72 | 0
KPS Lucky - Inactive

Original.

10/20/2017 - 17:24 |
4 | 2
ah00t13

Next week they’ll give it 10 more horsepower and call it the 270

10/20/2017 - 17:27 |
150 | 2
KodoMazda人馬一体

In reply to by ah00t13

Frickin Geely probably doin this tho. Makin a new car basically every week.

10/20/2017 - 19:54 |
16 | 0

And that new series will be limited to just 20. As weeks go by 10hp will be added to each “new series” and production numbers will decrease to the point where there will only by a single front end or a single rear end ever made!

10/24/2017 - 10:28 |
0 | 0
TheMindGarage

So now every Lotus model has a whole load of rather-similar variants? Is Lotus going full Pagani now?

10/20/2017 - 17:45 |
22 | 2

Lotus has well exceeded the Pagani levels with this generation

10/21/2017 - 01:25 |
8 | 0

Lotus just out Pagani’d Pagani with this.

10/22/2017 - 01:51 |
2 | 0
[Flux]

Lotus, just make a new Esprit. Enough with the “New” Elises, already.

10/20/2017 - 17:53 |
12 | 2
K Chaitanya Rao

Come on Geely, bring out the new Esprit already

10/20/2017 - 18:03 |
10 | 2
Monty4248

Lotus engineer 1: I found a box of parts
Lotus engineer 2: Hey, you know what would be a funny joke? Over the next 10 years, lets add one a month to one of the three cars, and see if anyone notices.

10/20/2017 - 21:55 |
8 | 2
Anonymous

Every drove a Lotus? Every car after that will feel like a boat

10/21/2017 - 00:15 |
8 | 0