The Elise Race 250 Is £53k Of Hardcore Lotus
The next-generation Lotus Elise may be well on the way, but that doesn’t mean the ladies and gents and Hethel are done fiddling with the current one. That’s right, we’ve another version of the S3 Elise, to add to a massive list that includes the S, S Cup, CR, Sport 220…you get the idea. The newest one is called the Race 250, and it’s the most hardcore of the lot.
Mounted in the middle is a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, with a supercharger giving a potent 243bhp. Lotus hasn’t given any acceleration figures, but expect it to do the 0-62mph sprint in around four seconds. It’s also capable of a 1min 33.5sec lap of Lotus’ Hethel test track - 0.5sec quicker than the Elise Cup 220 R.
Chassis-wise, we’re looking at Nitron adjustable dampers with Eibach springs, an adjustable front anti-roll bar, AP racing front brakes, and a set of forged alloy wheels (16-inch at the front, 17-inch at the rear) shod in sticky Yokohama AO48 boots.
This being the most because racecar Elise around, there is of course a fairly substantial aero kit too. Comprising of a front splitter, side floor extensions, a rear diffuser and rear wing (all available in carbonfibre, if you fancy), it’s good for 66kg of downforce at 100mph and 155kg at the car’s 154mph top whack.
For the really racecar-y bits, you need to take a peek inside. Here you’ll find an FIA-friendly carbonfibre race seat with a six-point harness and a removable steering wheel, plus a roll cage, fire extinguisher and battery isolator switch should things go south.
Like the idea of racing a 250 in one of the many race series its eligible for? That’ll be £53,500, please…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
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I rode shotgun in a Lotus Elise series 1 on track and it was really fast and tricky to drive… but the Elise Race 250? Damn that should be incredibly!
Me whenever there’s an awesome looking car:
53K? No thanks, yes it’s a really good car to drive and also very fast considering how much it costs, but still it is quite impractical.
Since its track-only, I doubt practicality is a big factor to the owner.
Does this have a Toyota engine too?
yes, but heavily modified, I’ve seen the production, they literally throw half of the components away (they are not allowed to sell them)
Basically but heavily modified. The plus side is that it is possible to swap one of these engines into a mr2 or corolla :D
Hmmm, should I buy a brand new lotus or maybe a used supercar… Hard decisions, man
1:33.5 sec?!
I was driving a Cup 220 R on that track and my time was like 2 minutes
I’m 15 and will never fit in this little car!
Sad that this isn’t road legal. This would be an epic mountain road attack car