Lotus launching slimmed-down Elise variants

Ateco Automotive, the local distributor for Lotus cars, is set to launch two new Elise variants around the middle of next year.

Named Elise Sport and Elise Sport 220, the new models will follow hot on the heels of the Evora 400 – due here in the first quarter – and will replace the current Elise (1.6) and Elise S6 variants in the range. A small but significant weight reduction (10kg) is the principal technical change, but the new cars also introduce different colour and trim options – including tartan upholstery.

With the supercharged 1.8-litre Elise Sport 220 weighing 914kg and producing 162kW and 250Nm, the 0-100km/h time is 4.6 seconds. Developing 100kW and 160Nm from its 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated engine, the base model weighs in lighter still, at 866kg, and knocks over the 0-100km/h time in 6.5 seconds. Combined-cycle fuel consumption figures are 6.3L/100km and 7.5L/100km for the Elise Sport and 220, respectively. Both vehicles drive through a six-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels.

Lotus is offering the Elise with lightweight sports seats that can be trimmed at extra cost in Alcantara or tartan cloth trim. The revised colour range comprises Solid Red, Solid Yellow, Metallic Green, Metallic Blue, Metallic Silver, Metallic White, Metallic Grey, Metallic Orange, Metallic Black and Signature Grey. Standard wheels – in either silver or black and measuring 16-inch at the front and 17-inch at the rear – can be upgraded to a forged wheel design that saves 5kg of weight. Tyres are Yokohama Advan Neova AD07 175/55 ZR16 at the front, and 225/45 ZR17 at the rear.

"We have further refined, distilled and sharpened the driving experience offered the Lotus Elise, by our best-selling sports car of the last 20 years," said Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales.

"These two new models, the Elise Sport and Sport 220 revive the iconic 'Sport' naming designation and are both worthy of wearing this badge. Over the years, with each improvement to the Elise, we have ensured that the purity of the driving experience has been retained and improved upon and with these two new models, we have taken it on to the next level."

Ateco will announce pricing and full specification details when the new Elise range arrives in Australia.

Pictured: Elise Sport (yellow), Elise Sport 220 (red)