2008 Lotus Supercharged Elise SC

(from Lotus Press Release)  Lotus is a global high tech company and expanding fast. We are committed to driving forward with technology for both Lotus Cars and our Engineering Clients, spearheading research into ever-increasing fields, such as, hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels. Lotus Cars now retails its products in 32 countries and is growing quickly in new territories such as Malaysia, Korea and China in South East Asia and the Gulf States in the Middle East. Lotus Engineering continues to provide and develop high technology engineering consultancy for the worlds motor industry.

The exciting Model Year 08 line up heralds increased levels of performance for both Elise and Exige, to provide a peerless driving experience. Listening to Lotus owners views we are determined to continue with improvements to the experience of Lotus ownership and as an example we have developed the option packs to simplify the purchasing process. We are expanding our future model line-up to include exciting new products such as a mid range 2+2 sportscar and a stunning high specification supercar, both of which will be true to the Lotus brand philosophy.

Key Points

220 PS Supercharged Elise SC
240 PS Performance Package Exige
Airbags standard across the whole Lotus range
Instrument pack with new graphic design and increased functionality
New alarm/immobiliser + single integrated function key
Simplified option packs
2008 Model Year changes available from October 2007

2008 Model Year in more detail

Lotus powers into the 2008 Model year with the most powerful series production version of the
Elise to date the Supercharged Elise SC and a 240 PS Performance Pack option for the
Supercharged Exige S that further reinforces its credentials as a race car for the road.
But extra performance is only a part of the 2008 Model Year story. There are several other
enhancements that make the Elise and Exige ranges more sophisticated and better value than
ever before. Driver and passenger airbags are now standard on all models.

An advanced new instrument pack (again common to all models) provides extra information
about vehicle systems, including servicing reminders, but thanks to secret until lit technology,
drivers wont be alerted to such details until it is necessary. A completely new alarm/immobiliser
system has allowed the introduction of a new Lotus designed key with integrated fob, the
famous Lotus roundel operating as one of its three functional buttons.

Following feedback from customers and dealers the number of option packs for the Elise and
Exige has been reduced from four to two, but with increased specification for each. And should
customers wish to personalise their Lotus still further, there are a myriad of accessories
available through the Lotus Aftersales Operation.

Introducing the Supercharged Elise SC

The biggest news from the 2008 Model Year Lotus line-up is the introduction of the
Supercharged Elise SC, a 220 PS version of the multi award-winning roadster, easily identified
by its new rear spoiler and unique new design of alloy road wheels.

Despite the on-paper similarity with the Exige S, this is no mere engine swap this is an allnew,
non-intercooled installation applied to the current Elises 1.8-litre 2-ZZ VVTL-i engine.
The Lotus-designed, Magnuson-produced supercharger uses a smaller Eaton rotor pack (an
M45 unit) than that of the current Exige S, and is married to the intake manifold plenum as part
of a single-piece casting. Combined with the absence of an intercooler and its associated
pipework, this integrated supercharger/intake assembly contributes to an 8kg reduction in
engine weight compared with the Exige S.

A further benefit of dispensing with the intercooler for the Elise SC application is the
supercharger packaging viability for Elise and improved rear visibility when adopted into the
Exige S, where vision from the rear view mirror is masked by the current intercooler installation.
The Elise SC has been designed to have different driving characteristics to the Exige S. In
keeping with its role as a supremely fast road car rather than extreme track machine, throttle
response is very progressive but also very direct, resulting in a measured, refined driving
experience.

But, as you might expect of a car with 220 PS and weighing only 903 kg (1987 lbs), the
performance of the Elise SC is electrifying 0-60 mph in 4.4 secs / 0-100 km/h in 4.6 secs
(estimated); 0-100 mph / 160 km/h in 10.7 secs (estimated); top speed 150 mph / 240 km/h
(estimated). Although for the record, the Exige S remains the faster car on track, thanks to its
superior aerodynamics package that generates 42 kg (92 lbs) of downforce at 100 mph (160
km/h). The fuel economy of the Elise SC is impressive with an estimated combined figure of 9.1
litres / 100 km (31.0 mpg).

A new bespoke wheel design is introduced to the Elise SC, the rears having increased half an
inch in width to 8.0 inches, to give even better grip performance from the standard Lotus specific
Yokohama AD07 LTS 225/45 R17 tyres.

Airbags for all

In this safety-conscious age and with more and more owners using their Elise or Exige as daily
transport, demand has been growing for standard-fit airbags. Lotus have responded to provide
driver and passenger airbags as standard on all Elise and Exige models; previously they were
available as part of the Super Touring option package. The new dashboard has a new, softtouch
surface finish.

More than just new dials

The new instrument pack in the Elise and Exige contains so much more than just a fresh pair of
stylishly back-lit dials. It also features a high-definition LCD message panel that can display
a scrolling text message with vehicle systems information.

The new instrument pack always displays the fuel gauge, engine temperature and odometer,
however you can select to display the time (from November 07), trip distance or a digital readout
of your speed in the opposite calibration to that of your speedometer dial if your dial is in
mph, the readout is in km/h.

Warning symbols are secret until lit, keeping the instrumentation free from visual clutter and
distraction until absolutely necessary. New gearchange shift lights similarly remain hidden until
required. There are three shift up lights, cumulatively lighting when the driver is getting closer to
the rev limiter and when all three are illuminated, they flash to indicate that youre almost on the
rev limiter so time to change up a gear!

A key issue

In response to forthcoming legislation, the Elise and Exige both have a new Thatcham
approved alarm/immobiliser system. This, in turn, has enabled a new Lotus design of key that
incorporates the controls for the alarm/immobiliser and central locking functions. This upmarket
key fob features three buttons, the one which locks the doors and sets the alarm/immobiliser is
stylishly crowned with the famous Lotus roundel. The second button unlocks the doors and deactives
the alarm/immobiliser, and the final button is a panic button.

Complete range of option packages from four down to two

Partly because of customer demand and partly due to the fact that airbags are now standard
across the Elise and Exige ranges, the number of trim option packages has been cut from four
down to two.

The previous Super Touring and Super Sport packages have been dropped, in part because
they included the aforementioned airbags.

The contents of the revised Touring pack, for both Elise and Exige, now includes:

Full leather or Microfibre suede-effect interior
Leather trimmed centre console
Leather handbrake gaiter
Sound system ipod connection
Full carpets, with embroidered logo
Auxiliary driving lights (where legally allowed)
Sound insulation kit
Cup holder

The Elise Sport pack includes:

Bilstein sports dampers
Traction control
Twin oil coolers
ProBax Sport seats
Hi-Power silver ultra lightweight Forged wheels with standard AD07 tyres

The Exige Sport pack includes:

Traction control
Twin oil coolers (standard on Exige S)
ProBax Sport seats
Adjustable front anti-roll bar
T45 roll bar, with integrated harness mounts

The beauty of the Touring and Sport packs is that they can be combined so a customer can
have the additional interior and exterior equipment from the Touring pack with the sport
focussed equipment from the Sport pack.

Air conditioning, Lotus traction control, limited slip differential and hardtop are available as
stand-alone options.

Customers wanting to add further finishing touches to their Lotus such as specifying an Exige
with the adjustable dampers and forged wheels that were part of the old Super Sport option
pack will still be able to order from an extensive range of accessories.

As part of the 2008 Model Year enhancements, the Elise, Exige and Europa paint ranges have
been revised, with some less popular shades being dropped and new colours, including some
vibrant pearlescent colours, being introduced.

The new Premium Colour Range has been designed to further enhance the choice for customers to individualise their cars. Most of the paints in this range require a more sophisticated manufacturing process and are from our paint suppliers premium range. The paint colours in this range have been individually priced, and it is Lotus intention to extend and change this range at periodic intervals.