Lotus Elise and Exige Final Editions revealed

The send-off for Lotus’ top-selling models is officially underway, with the niche British sports car manufacturer releasing five special Final Edition variants as part of their farewell.

Retirement of the 25-year-old Lotus Elise and 21-year-old Exige – as well as the Evora – was recently announced, with production ending this year to make way for an all-new sports car family known as the Type 131.

Lotus says that in honour of the Elise and Exige, three Final Edition variants will come with more power and all will carry a higher specification that makes them the “ultimate versions” of each model line.

Other special features include unique paint colours and new exterior decals, wheel finishes, trim details and Final Edition badging.

They’ll also be limited to a total of just 80 units Down Under – with the model split still yet to be confirmed – and are expected to be highly sought-after, according to Lotus Australia’s chief executive, Lee Knappett.

“Local demand for these cars is expected to be high,” he said. “Since the end of production announcement in January, we’ve started receiving enquiries to secure build slots.”

Five new variants will be available – the Lotus Elise Sport 240, Elise Cup 250, Exige Sport 390, Exige Sport 420 and Exige Cup 430.

Every 2021 Lotus Elise Final Edition will be fitted with a new digital dash with a choice between one of two screens – a conventional set of dials or a race car-style display – that sits behind a newly designed flat-bottom leather/Alcantara steering wheel.

Each will be stamped with a numbered Final Edition build plaque, while new seat trim and stitch patterns can be optioned.

There’s also new colour options for the Elise Sport 240 and Elise Cup 250 variants, including Azure Blue – the colour used in the first production car images for media back in 1996 – as well as black or Racing Green hues.

Up on power, the Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition replaces the Sport 220, gaining an extra 23bhp (17kW) from a “revised recalibration”. The reworked supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine is now said to launch the two-seater from 0-60mph (97km/h) in 4.1 seconds.

Underneath, the specced-up Elise will ride on 10-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels, staggered with 16s up front and 17s at the rear, also 0.5kg lighter than the Sport 220’s rims.

More weight can be shaved off the Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition with options such as carbon-fibre panels, a lithium-ion battery and a polycarbonate rear window. Tick all those boxes and you’ll take the weight down from 922kg to 898kg.

The special Lotus Elise Sport 240 is priced from $97,990 plus on-road costs, while the Elise Cup 250 is set at $109,990 plus ORCs.

The extra money brings 10-spoke ultra-lightweight M Sport forged wheels (also staggered 16/17-inch front/rear) wrapped in Yokohama A052 rubber, Bilstein sport dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars, a lithium-ion battery and a polycarbonate rear window.

For the Cup 250, carbon-fibre body parts are the only option.

Lotus says that key to the special Elise Sport Cup 250’s performance is its aerodynamics and downforce linked to its power and light weight (931kg), and that the last car produces 66kg of downforce at 100mph (161km/h) and 155kg at its 154mph (248km/h) maximum speed.

Lotus is offering similar options for the last of its V6-powered Exige, including decals and wheels as well as the aforementioned digital dash, build plaque, steering wheel and upholstery options.

Exclusive colours include Metallic White, as used to promote the V6 Exige’s unveiling in 2011, and Metallic Orange, used on the first press car fleet in 2000.

Replacing the Exige Sport 350, the Lotus Exige Sport 390 Final Edition is priced from $149,950 plus ORCs and brings an extra 47bhp (35kW), pushing output up to 296kW/420Nm.

Tipping the scales at 1138kg, the 3.5-litre V6-powered sports car can accelerate from 0-60mph in a claimed 3.7sec.

On the aero front, it can generate 70kg of downforce at the rear and 45kg up front for a total of 115kg at top speed.

Exige Sport 390 Final Edition variants ride on silver 10-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin PS4 tyres. Again, wheel sizes are staggered with 17-inch rims up front and 18s at the rear.

Also up on power, the Lotus Exige Sport 420 Final Edition replaces the outgoing Sport 410, bringing an extra 10bhp (7kW).

Priced from $169,990 plus ORCs, its standard equipment includes Eibach anti-roll bars, three-way adjustable Nitron dampers, 10-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels (17/18-inch front/rear), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, four-piston AP Racing brakes with forged four-piston callipers and two-piece J-hook rotors.

Finally, the flagship Lotus Exige Cup 430 Final Edition is priced from $209,990 plus ORCs and, weighing in at just 1110kg (for a power-to-weight ratio of 387bhp/289kW per tonne), can sprint to 60mph in 3.2sec.

Producing 320kW/440Nm from a supercharged V6, the top-spec Exige also comes with a “radical” aero package that’s “not for show” but focused entirely upon performance.

Motorsport-grade carbon-fibre is used for the front splitter, front access panel, roof, diffuser surround, enlarged air-intake pods, tailgate and rear wing.

The car can produce 76kg of downforce at the front and a further 95kg at the rear, giving a total of 171kg. Indeed, Lotus says it can generate as much downforce at 100mph (161km/h) as the Exige Sport 390 does at 170mph (274km/h).

Other features on the range-topping Exige include forged AP Racing brakes, a high-flow titanium exhaust, variable traction control linked to the ECU, adjustable Eibach front and rear anti-roll bars, Nitron three-way dampers and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. Lotus says revised steering arm geometry also increases bump steer.

A mix of 17- and 18-inch ultra-lightweight 10-spoke diamond-cut forged alloy wheels are used.

Once production of the Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora ends later this year, Lotus says the final combined total will be around 55,000 units.

How much does the 2021 Lotus Elise and Exige Final Edition cost?
Elise Sport 240 – $97,990
Elise Cup 250 – $109,990
Exige Sport 390 – $149,950
Exige Sport 420 – $169,990
Exige Cup 430 – $209,990
*Prices exclude on-road costs