Lotus lobs Australia-only Elise Cup 250 special

LOTUS Cars Australia (LCA) has paid tribute to the “greatest” racetrack Down Under with the aptly named and market-exclusive Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition, which is limited to just six units and priced from $109,990 plus on-road costs.

Commanding a $2000 premium over the ‘regular’ Elise Cup 250, the Bathurst Edition features Monaco White exterior paintwork, which was last seen on the Lotus Esprit that played a starring role in the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me – a key instalment in the James Bond franchise.

The special hue adorns the roadster’s hardtop, front access panel and cover for its motorsport-grade T45 stainless-steel rollover hoop in addition to the usual body work.

All of this is contrasted with black forged alloy wheels measuring 16 and 17 inches at the front and rear respectively, while a matte-black transom, red rear wing uprights and bespoke ‘Bathurst Cup 250’ decals provide pops of colour.

Inside, the Bathurst Edition picks up carbon-fibre racing seats, floormats, Alcantara and leather upholstery with contrasting red stitching and trim, as well as an individualised build plate indicating which of the six examples is in the owner’s possession.

Bathurst Edition owners also get free entry to LCA’s next Bathurst track day, which is currently scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

The special otherwise shares its specification with the full-time Elise Cup 250, meaning it is motivated by a mid-mounted 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 183kW of power at 7200rpm and 250Nm of torque from 3000-7000rpm.

With drive sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission (with an open-gate shift mechanism), the Elise Cup 250 can sprint from standstill to 100km/h in a scant 4.3 seconds, while its top speed is 248km/h.

Despite the level of performance on offer thanks to its light 931kg kerb weight – partly enabled by a polycarbonate windshield and a lithium-ion battery – the Elise Cup 250’s claimed fuel consumption on the combined-cycle test is 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres.

AP Racing two-piston front and Brembo rear callipers combine to clamp ventilated disc brakes and therefore wash away speed, while grip is provided by Yokohama Advan A052 tyres (front: 195/50 R16, rear: 225/45 R17).

The Elise Cup 250 also has a bespoke aerodynamics package that generates up to 148kg of downforce, ensuring that the sportscar remains glued to the road.

Handling is further enhanced by fully independent double-wishbone suspension with track-biased Bilstein dampers on all four corners, while the front anti-roll bar is adjustable to take dynamics to the next level.

“Lotus Cars Australia has built a strong enthusiast and track-day community, and our Lotus-only Bathurst days are the centrepiece,” said LCA managing director Lee Knappett.

“In February 2019, over 100 cars and 150-plus customers participated in our day and we decided to celebrate this with a special-edition car.

“We are delighted to pay tribute to Australia’s iconic circuit with the Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition. With only six built, it’s truly exclusive while retaining the Cup 250’s incredible performance capabilities.”

LCA’s standard two-year/33,000km warranty is included with the Bathurst Edition alongside three years of roadside assistance and scheduled servicing.

Sales of the Elise have slowed this year, with just 10 examples sold to the end of September – a 41.2 per cent decrease over the 17 deliveries made during the same period in 2018. As such, it is now the second best-selling Lotus model, trailing the Exige (24, +71.4%).