Lotus is marking the 50th anniversary of its base in Hethel, Norfolk, with a new special edition Elise.
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So special editions are good for Hethel’s bottom line, and a model celebrating 50 years of Lotus at Hethel should be an easy shift, especially when it’s true to the Lotus ethos of less weight is always better.
Tipping the scales at just 899kg (1981lbs), the latest variant is 32kg (70.5lbs) lighter than the Cup thanks to a series of exclusive carbon-fiber components, including a front splitter, rear wing, tailgate and front access panel, among others.
Powered by a high-output, supercharged, 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine, the Elise 250 Special Edition boasts 243 hp (246 PS) at 7200 rpm and 250 Nm of torque between 3500 rpm and 5500 rpm. Lotus also offers a carbon-fiber roof panel as an option.
Inside, carbon-fibre sports seats are finished in either dark blue or dark grey leather, and stitched with a choice of contrasting colors. The same hand-stitched finish is found on the doors. Its upgraded braking and suspension components took it from the Elise Cup 250. The mid-mounted four spins the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and an electronic differential lock. Lotus has also fitted the auto with driver-selectable ESP modes that include “Sport” and “Race” settings.
This “antidote to sterilised and staid modern cars” is limited to 50 units worldwide, priced from £47,900 (RM254,363) in the UK.
Lotus are starting to discover that a “special edition” vehicle can attract a premium price and, with a limited run, encourage buyers to plunge in to a purchase now rather than sometime later.
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Lotus chief executive Jean-Marc Gales said, “As the Elise was perceived, designed, engineered and is built at Hethel, we wanted a 50th tribute that is even lighter than the fastest road-going Elise we have ever produced”. However, buyers who want an extra dose of comfort can order A/C, cruise control, full carpet, extra sound-deadening material, and even an in-car entertainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and an iPod jack.
