By Alistair Weaver
11 January 2008
Remember the original Lotus Elise? It had no carpet and just 118bhp but it remains one of the most engaging, thrilling sports cars of all time. Lotus only intended to build about 750 each year to diehard enthusiasts but such was its iconic appeal that they ended up with a two year waiting list, and 3000 customers a year.
Over time and with the arrival of the second generation Elise in 2000, Lotus has sought to broaden its appeal yet further, particularly to beefy Americans. As the weight has gone up, so has the power output, culminating in the arrival of this car, the supercharged Elise SC. It’s the fastest production Elise ever made, and at £32,550, the most expensive.
On the outside
The changes to the exterior of the Elise could best be described as subtle. The most obvious revision is the introduction of a rear spoiler, which wraps around the bodywork. This is designed to improve stability at very high speed, but it does look a little ‘aftermarket’ and compromises the clean, simple lines of the standard car. It also has a negative effect on rear visibility.
‘Elise Supercharged’ monikers are now attached to the front wings, while Lotus aficionados will spot the bespoke alloys and the single, large exhaust. The overall effect, though, is still pleasingly familiar. This Lotus remains one of the most striking and distinctive cars on the road.
On the inside
The original Elise was a hair-chested chariot with no sop to creature comforts but as time has gone on, it’s become more and more civilised. Opt for the £2000 Touring Pack fitted to our test car (as most owners will) and you get carpet, a leather trimmed centre console, an iPod connector and even, God forbid, a cupholder.
The seats are exceptionally comfortable and the driving position excellent. The Elise is now tolerable on long journeys but it’s still no Mazda MX5. Compared with mainstream roadsters, the Lotus remains noisy and spartan, with a hood that’s a fiddle to erect and a modest boot.
On the road
The introduction of a supercharger has fundamentally altered the character of the Elise. In the original concept, the engine provided enough power, but it always played a supporting role to the chassis. Now, the straight line performance is such that it becomes the focus of attention.
The Elise uses a modified version of Toyota’s 1.8-litre VVTL-i engine. Lotus already makes a supercharged version of this engine for the Exige S, but it uses an intercooler with a large, roof mounted air scoop that obliterates the rear view. This was never a practical solution in the roadster, so Lotus’ engineers ditched the intercooler and introduced a different supercharger.
The results are impressive. Peak power output rises from 134bhp on the standard Elise to 217bhp and the torque rises by 30lb ft to 157. In a car that weighs just 870kg – roughly 500kg less than a Ford Focus – this makes a dramatic difference. The performance is now supercar fast with 0-60mph in 4.4sec and a 150mph top speed.
The engine’s character is different to that of the Exige S. The latter is more linear in its delivery, whereas the Elise has a notable step change in thrust at 4000rpm. Keep the engine spinning above this marker by carefully using each of the six forward ratios and the Elise accelerates like never before. It’s thrilling and addictive.
An increase in power has also done nothing to compromise the ride or handling. Fabulous attention to detail explains why the Elise’s low speed ride quality is better than it has any right to be in something this light and focussed. The steering continues to relay every minutiae of grip and road surface and the chassis agility is second-to-none.
It needs respect, of course – this is a finely tuned sports car that will catch out the careless. You need to drive the Elise well if it’s to give up its best, but that’s all part of the charm of a car like this.
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