Lotus have announced a pair of new model derivatives this week, with the Elise 20th Anniversary special edition and the Exige S Club Racer.

The Elise 20th Anniversary special edition celebrates 20 years since the Elise was first unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1995, and combines the specifications of the Elise S Club Racer with special edition colour schemes, the optional matt black exterior trim and forged alloy wheels, and 20th Anniversary badging.

The Exige S Club Racer takes the standard Exige S model and combines it with the weight saving features of the Elise Club Racer, with a modest 15kg weight reduction, Matt Black exterior detailing, lighter doors, seats and battery and the standard fitment of the Race Pack.

Both full press releases can be found below:

Discussion: SELOC Chat – Exige V6 Club Racer

Elise 20th Anniversary special edition

he Lotus Elise 20^th Anniversary Special Edition celebrates the unveiling of the iconic sports car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1995.

20 years ago, the Lotus Elise revolutionised the sports car world, setting the benchmark for handling, purity of the driving experience, lightweight and efficiency. Its pioneering and advanced bonded aluminium chassis was a market-leading technological innovation at the time and over the years has improved and evolved and remains core to the Elise’s exceptional performance today.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, welcomes the Elise 20^th Anniversary model, “It is sometimes hard to believe that the Elise has been around for 20 years. It was ground breaking when it was launched and continues to be the benchmark for handling and performance in its class. Over the years we have improved and refined the Elise but we have also ensured that we have retained the purity of the driving experience and for the Elise to remain as the sports car to which other marques aspire.”

The Elise 20^th Anniversary, with its lightweight aero-optimised, composite body, is powered by a 1.8-litre supercharged engine. It reaches 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 145 mph (237 km/h). The benefit of this light weight is that the Elise 20^th Anniversary consumes just 5.9 litres / 100 km (47.6 mpg) extra urban and emits just 173 g of CO₂ per km.

Weighing just 914 kg, 10 kg less than the Elise S, the Elise 20^th Anniversary is the sports car that both enthusiasts and newcomers to the brand will desire. Lightweight, efficient and totally pure in its driving experience, its benchmark in handling remains the envy of the sports car scene. Additional equipment compared to the Elise S comes as standard and is designed to reduce weight, including lightweight matt black forged wheels, lightweight centre console in body colour and lightweight sports seats in leather or Alcantara with colour coded stitching. A sport mode is also included which increases throttle response and alters the traction slip thresholds allowing the driver enhanced control before intervention.

Four classic Elise colours are available in Blue, Green, Yellow and Silver and the rear diffuser, wing mirrors, roll hoop cover and rear transom are in matt black. Elise 20^thAnniversary decals inside on the dashboard and seats and outside above the side indicator identify the anniversary special edition.

All this additional equipment amounts to £5,150 worth of extra value, for only £2,700 more than the standard Elise S (£37,200) and the Elise 20^th Anniversary will become a driving investment for the future.

The Elise is the most successful Lotus model in terms of numbers built, with a total of almost 32,000 built and sold globally. In addition to the Elise, the Lotus small platform technology has been used to great success in the Lotus Exige, Lotus Europa and Lotus 2-Eleven models, all of which are, or have been manufactured by Lotus at its Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk.

The Lotus Elise 20^th Anniversary is on sale now with an MSRP of £39,900. It replaces the Elise S Club Racer. For other currency prices, please contact the Lotus press office. Orders can be placed now.

Specifications:

Each 20^th Anniversary Lotus Elise Edition will have the following as standard:

*    Body colour, lighter weight interior centre console
*    Leather, or Alcantara (no cost), lighter sports seat trim option
*    Colour-coded stitching on seats and door cards
*    Colour-coded seat hoops
*    Matt Black forged alloy wheels
*    Matt Black distinguishing exterior trim
*    A choice of four exterior colours – Classic Blue / Green / Yellow / Silver
*    Auxiliary driving lights
*    Elise 20^th Anniversary decals externally and on dashboard stereo blanking-plate

Options

Hardtop                                                                           £1,200
Air Conditioning                                                             £1,250
CD/Radio and USB Connection and NVH Pack       £1,200

Fuel consumption for Elise 20^th Anniversary:
Urban 27.3 mpg – 10.3 litres / 100 km. Extra urban 47.6 mpg – 5.9 litres / 100 km.
Combined – 37.5 mpg – 7.5 litres / 100 km. CO₂ emissions 173 g CO₂ / km.

Exige S Club Racer

Applying the Lotus refined Club Racer principles to the already stunning Exige S results in the most inspiring version of an already class-leading sports car.

The Exige S is a model that already excels, thanks to its lightweight aluminium chassis-tub and aerodynamically enhanced composite bodywork. Its 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine delivers exciting performance, benchmark handling and a pure driving experience combined with a 4.0 seconds 0-62mph (0-100km/h) acceleration time and a top speed of 274 km/h (170 mph).

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, expressed his enthusiasm for the new model: “Factoring the Club Racer ethos into the Exige enhances the track-focussed potential of this important model. It encompasses our legendary benchmark in handling, with lightweight and efficient construction and that we will always put a peerless and pure driving experience first.”

The new Exige S Club Racer occupies an important niche within the Exige range and arrives hot on the heels of the Elise 220 Cup and the forthcoming Evora 400, unveiled recently at the Geneva Motor Show.

Available only as a coupe model, the car possesses 42 kg of aerodynamic downforce at 100 mph (160 km/h), thanks to the front splitter, rear wing and flat underside, all contributing to its phenomenal performance and handling balance.

At 1161 kg, it is lighter by 15 kg compared to the Exige S, because of its new lightweight battery, lightweight centre console in body colour, lighter doors and lightweight sports seats in leather or Alcantara with colour coded stitching. Traction slip thresholds (‘Drive‘, ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings) allowing the driver enhanced vehicle control before intervention is required can be altered via a driver-selectable switch which is now fitted as standard. Both ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings increase throttle responsiveness.

The Exige S Club Racer is available in Metallic White, Exige Orange, Metallic Yellow and Matt Black (option). The front splitter, rear wing, front access panel, roof panel, wing mirrors and rear transom are in matt black. Club Racer decals inside on the dashboard and seats and outside above the side indicator identify this latest special addition to the Exige range.

All this additional equipment amounts to £4,500 worth of extra value, for only £2,400 more than the standard Exige S (£54,500).

The Lotus Exige S Club Racer is on sale now with an MSRP of £56,900. For other currency prices, please contact the Lotus press office. Orders can be placed now.

Specifications:

Each Lotus Exige S Club Racer will have the following as standard:
* Body coloured light weight centre console
* Leather, or Alcantara (no cost), lighter sports seat trim option
* Colour-coded stitching on seats and door cards
* Colour-coded seat hoops
* Sports steering wheel
* ‘Drive‘, ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings for Traction slip thresholds
* Lightweight battery
* Matt Black distinguishing exterior trim pack
* A choice of four exterior colours – Exige Orange, Metallic White, Metallic Yellow, Matt Black (option)
* ‘Exige S CR’ decals externally and on dashboard stereo blanking-plate

Options

Air Conditioning                                                           £1,250
CD/Radio and USB Connection and NVH Pack      £1,200
Matt Black Paint                                                           £2,000
Lightweight Two-Piece Brakes                                  £1,850

Fuel consumption for Exige S Club Racer:

Urban 19.5 mpg – 14.5 litres / 100 km. Extra urban 37.2 mpg – 7.6 litres / 100 km.

Combined – 28.0 mpg – 10.1 litres / 100 km. CO₂ emissions 235 g CO₂ / km.