You would never have thought a cupholder would have much significance, especially in a lotus eliseLotus story, but the new Elise SC has been given one and, in a single, neat, lightweight aluminium package, it sums up all of Lotus’ problems… and its brilliance. It’s been put there for the Americans, even though there’s no way it would take even a big bottle of Volvic, let alone a super-sized soft drink. Mad perhaps, but Lotus needs details like this to tempt Americans and others into its cars, safe in the knowledge that they don’t have to forego every luxury.
Of course, it doesn’t sit easily with Chapman’s lightweight-at-all-costs philosophy. For God’s sake, he was even working out how many wheel studs he could do away with in a Lotus 23 Le Mans car to shed those last few grams. So, while this cupholder is brilliantly done - simple yet lightweight and sturdy - you can’t help wondering whether it’s a step too far.
Much like the Elise SC. Don’t get me wrong, this latest Elise is brilliant, but do you get more Lotusification out of a basic car? There’s no doubt the Elise is pretty grown-up these days, although the sheer pace hasn’t been dulled at all. This car uses the same basic 1.8-litre Toyota lump that appears in the Elise R and S, but Lotus has added a supercharger. Hence SC - um, genius touch.
But the execution of it is brainy, because it doesn’t use an intercooler, yet still manages to produce nearly the same power levels (in this case 217bhp and 155lb ft) as the Exige SC, which does get an intercooler.
This begs the question: why does the Exige need the intercooler, and how can the Elise do without? Basically, it comes down to aesthetics. Exige owners love the roof scoop that feeds the intercooler; an Elise with an intercooler would need a major redesign of the engine bay, which would make it lumpier than the Elephant Man.
What’s important though is that the SC is seriously quick. The raw figures are 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds, 0-100mph in an equally blistering 10.7 seconds, but, as is usual with these sort of cars, it doesn’t do justice to the feeling you get from planting your foot above 4,000rpm. Instant, addictive acceleration.
Lotus claims this is a revvy yet also torquey unit, but I’m not sure I entirely agree. Sure, there’s no lag like you get in a turbocharger - wherever you are in the rev range there’s power, but below 4,000rpm (the point where the cam shift occurs) acceleration isn’t quite as instantaneous and all-consuming as I thought it would be. Still amazingly quick, just not quite as fantastically punchy as I expected. Especially given 155lb ft, a supercharger and a 903kg car.
Where I do agree is that it’s revvy, and in acknowledgement of the fact, the 2008MY dashboard has been amended to feature three red circles which light up sequentially to warn you that you’re approaching the rev limiter.
