Built to remember the founder’s legacy and achievements nearly 70 years ago, and also to celebrate the iconic version of the Elise

There seems to be a new motorsport car out in the market every other week and it’s really hard to anticipate or even predict which racing car model will be out next, be it a limited edition or a specially-design motorsports car built for street-legal race.

2018 is a going to be a big year for Lotus as the Elise Cup 260 model is the latest car revealed in its line-up that represents a new generation sports car, combining exceptional performance with extreme exclusivity, according to Lotus is the “best iteration yet of its lightweight, mid-engine open-top race car”.

Building up the anticipation of the brand’s new release in 2018, Lotus also plans on celebrating its 70^th anniversary to pay homage to Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Director of Classic Team Lotus, when he first built his car in 1948. The new Elise Cup 260 will be just 30 examples to be constructed to express the ultimate expression of Lotus thinking.

The new Elise Cup 260 has “more power, motorsport components and the introduction of aerodynamics unheard of in its class make driving this Elise an unrivalled experience.” – Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus

Elise Cup 260 features a lightweight carbon fibre and composite components as standard

Directly developed from the Elise race cars, the new Elise Cup 260 is built to the specifications as what the founder himself would have demanded if he’d still been at helm. Today, British manufacturer of Lotus motorsport is run by Clive Chapman, son of the company’s founder, Colin Chapman.

Modelled after the previous high-level performance Lotus track cars: the Exige Cup 380 and the Evora GT430, Elise Cup 260 is the integration of the feat of its motorsports car with passion that intertwine two disciplines of tracks and race, to provide an unrivalled driving experience on some of the world’s greatest circuits where Lotus continues to compete.

The same disciplines echo for its limited edition Elise Cup 260, fusing lightweight materials and fine handling to meet Lotus’ new pinnacles and peaks of achievement. With the combined intelligent engineering and advanced aerodynamics, the Elise 260 flaunts a lightweight carbon fibre architecture and an all-alloy 1.8 litres supercharged engine, also featuring 0-60 mph in 3.8 secs and 250 hp, allowing the Elise Cup 260 to hit 100km/h in just 4.2 secs.

It is also made to perform with great speed where the straight-line speed and agility handling can generate up to 180 kg of downforce at 151 mph, which is a boost to the car engine’s performance. With the redesigned lightweight front clam panel, larger rear wings, wider aperture, carbon front splitter and the rear diffuser, these elements will contribute to the significant downforce by the wider, road-legal motorsport tyres for greater grip levels and faster cornering speeds.

Designed to be aesthetically pleasing, the interior features beautifully detailed components

What’s notable about the key design elements in its interior are the car’s hand-built nature, featuring the precise and direct gear changes for quicker shifting, the beautifully finished lightweight carbon race seats, trimmed in black Alcantara with contrast red or yellow stitching, and sill covers, leather or tartan trim packs for seats or door panels. Other key functions to provide in-car entertainment include the iPod connectivity and Bluetooth functionality can selected upon request.

In recent years, Lotus has been focusing on creating very limited editions of car models for different types of drivers and car collectors who are into sports cars with a classic touch. The characteristic traits of the Elise Cup 260 race chassis developed by Lotus Motorsport is an embodiment of a perfect example of a completely new model to sit alongside the existing range of future “classic” cars.

For future car buyers, the limited edition Lotus Elise Cup 260 is available for order with prices starting at £59,500 in the UK and €76,000 in Europe excluding the addition of optional extras or bespoke elements.