2008 Elise California
2008 Lotus Elise SC 220
Sports car maker Lotus had loads to show at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. That’s fitting, given that 35 percent of the company’s vehicle sales are in the U.S., with Southern California being its biggest single U.S. market. In addition to the roofless, track-only, 2-Eleven, which we recently sampled, the tiny independent automaker from Britain had no fewer than four new variants of the fantastic Elise/Exige S on display, including the collectible Elise California and the new supercharged Elise SC 220, either of which we’d like in our garages.
Elise SC
According to Lotus, the new Elise SC 220 was developed in response to customer demands for an Elise with Exige S–like power (we’ve been thinking the same thing). Thus, Lotus bolted a supercharger to the Elise’s 1.8-liter four-pot, just like the Exige S’s. Easy fix, right? Actually, not as easy as you’d think. While the Exige feeds its Roots-type supercharger via a roof snorkel, the Elise has no roof on which to carve out such an air intake. So Lotus developed an Eaton-style blower and doesn’t use an intercooler on the Elise SC. The resultant power between the two cars is nearly the same, however: 220 horsepower and 153 lb-ft of torque for the Elise SC 220, compared with 220 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque for the Exige S. Lotus claims that the 2050-pound roadster can hit 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds and 100 miles per hour in just 10.7.
Like all other Elise and Exige models, the Elise SC 220 features a new instrument cluster and tire pressure monitors. The base price is $54,500, or a whopping $7500 less than the Exige S.
Like all other Elise and Exige models, the Elise SC 220 features a new instrument cluster and tire pressure monitors. The base price is $54,500, or a whopping $7500 less than the Exige S.
Elise California
According to Lotus, the new $51,770 Elise California is meant to appeal to “the lifestyle market” and to showcase Lotus’ aptitude for customization. In other words, it’s really little more than a package of paint and interior upgrades. Mods that were made in the name of the Golden State including vintage-Ferrari-like silver egg-crate grillework, body-colored side air inlets, upgraded wheels, light two-tone leather interior, removable hard top, Alpine sound system, and a gargantuan rear spoiler that covers the entire rear end. Only 25 Ardent Red and 25 Saffron Yellow will be built, and no, you don’t have to live in California to order one. But we would suggest moving quickly before they sell out.
2008 Lotus Elise SC 220
Sports car maker Lotus had loads to show at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. That’s fitting, given that 35 percent of the company’s vehicle sales are in the U.S., with Southern California being its biggest single U.S. market. In addition to the roofless, track-only, 2-Eleven, which we recently sampled, the tiny independent automaker from Britain had no fewer than four new variants of the fantastic Elise/Exige S on display, including the collectible Elise California and the new supercharged Elise SC 220, either of which we’d like in our garages.
Elise SC
According to Lotus, the new Elise SC 220 was developed in response to customer demands for an Elise with Exige S–like power (we’ve been thinking the same thing). Thus, Lotus bolted a supercharger to the Elise’s 1.8-liter four-pot, just like the Exige S’s. Easy fix, right? Actually, not as easy as you’d think. While the Exige feeds its Roots-type supercharger via a roof snorkel, the Elise has no roof on which to carve out such an air intake. So Lotus developed an Eaton-style blower and doesn’t use an intercooler on the Elise SC. The resultant power between the two cars is nearly the same, however: 220 horsepower and 153 lb-ft of torque for the Elise SC 220, compared with 220 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque for the Exige S. Lotus claims that the 2050-pound roadster can hit 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds and 100 miles per hour in just 10.7.
Like all other Elise and Exige models, the Elise SC 220 features a new instrument cluster and tire pressure monitors. The base price is $54,500, or a whopping $7500 less than the Exige S.
Like all other Elise and Exige models, the Elise SC 220 features a new instrument cluster and tire pressure monitors. The base price is $54,500, or a whopping $7500 less than the Exige S.
Elise California
According to Lotus, the new $51,770 Elise California is meant to appeal to “the lifestyle market” and to showcase Lotus’ aptitude for customization. In other words, it’s really little more than a package of paint and interior upgrades. Mods that were made in the name of the Golden State including vintage-Ferrari-like silver egg-crate grillework, body-colored side air inlets, upgraded wheels, light two-tone leather interior, removable hard top, Alpine sound system, and a gargantuan rear spoiler that covers the entire rear end. Only 25 Ardent Red and 25 Saffron Yellow will be built, and no, you don’t have to live in California to order one. But we would suggest moving quickly before they sell out.
