Tested: Lotus Elise S Cup

It’s been 20 years. Yes, time flies, and year 1996, when the first Lotus Elise was released, seems so far, despite judging by the look of this latest version, always very faithful to the original and especially to the inseparable philosophy of “less is more ” of its own founding and father, the legendary Colin Chapman, one might almost think that we still are at the starting point. But Lotus has undergone a long road from there, in spite of the classic economic problems that a small company has to face. Today, we also have a powerful V6 Exige, but that’s another story and this time, we don’t care.
The Lotus Elise S Cup will gorge the finest and the most sports palates. First, it is completely identical to the Cup Racer (version exclusively for track), thanks to the immense aero kit (left black to stand out in contrast with the body): it includes front splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler and an enormous diffuser that houses the single tailpipe, right in the middle. The good news is that this S Cup is completely street legal and so you can drive it every day. Your main concern, then, is no longer to keep in shape your body, in order to facilitate the difficult maneuvers to get in and out from the car itself, but to prevent damaging the kit that makes this special version, far more fierce and bad.

Choose your color and no more talking; you buy a Lotus for one reason only: driving pleasure. This Elise is equipped with a Toyota 1.8cc 4 cylinders, that with the typical reliability of every Japanese product, will entertain your person thanks to its 217-hp and about 250Nm of torque. The Eaton supercharger does a stunning job, you will almost certainly want to kiss it, once you turn it off. The featherweight, kept on 932kg (make sure to be on a diet or you will ruin the power/weight ratio) is then the ace that, combined with a better downforce than before, allows you to drive as an experienced racing driver. Or something like that. Warning that the S Cup does not make yourself a pilot, in fact, despite having several horses more than a classic S1 or S2 Elise, to make the most of its potential, you’ll have to take it to the limit, playing with the gearbox, which thankfully is manual and with the dear old clutch pedal. Being sit so low in a hot and noisy shell which tells to your seat even the slightest speck of dust on the asphalt, will help during the settings of the corners, talking to you like you’re connected by an umbilical cord powered by gasoline and the deepest need for speed. It may seem exaggerated, but you will link a supernatural relationship with it, and you will never want to get out of it. When the time comes, be careful not to make a bad impression, trying to handle your moves grabbing the windows, mirrors or the removable roof (which makes it more Exige than a simple canvas roof).

The Elise has grown and starts having to shave its beard. I like it and I consider it one of the best proposals with which to gain experience on track. It takes just 4.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph and touches 225 per hour flat out. It will not be the most convenient two-seater to drive around town, not either the most suitable ride for long journeys, but it’s able to make you feel at home between the curbs, far more than any other Elise so far. Personally, looking in the mirror and seeing the huge wing, was never a problem to me. Having anxiety about the rear diffuser in parking maneuvers, it is a torment that I would be willing to endure every day.
It is not for children, it’s for those who have a heavy right foot. If you want to drive around, there is a list full of boring roadster suitable for Saturday evenings. This is far way better.

Andrea Balti

LOTUS ELISE S CUP (2015-)

Layout – mid-engined, rear wheel drive

Engine – 4 cylinder 1.8cc – supercharged

Transmission – 6-speed manual gearbox

Power – 217 hp @ 6800 rpm

250 Nm @ 4600 rpm

Weight – 932 kg

Acceleration – 4,2 sec.

Top Speed – 225 kph

Price – from 47.500 €