Lotus Elise Race 250

We often write about very cool track ready cars from Lotus just to say, this this car won’t be sold in the United States. However, that isn’t the case with the Lotus Elise Race 250. The track ready toy is also pretty quick.

Just how fast is the Race 250? At the company’s Hethel test track the new car was able to manage a lap time of 1 minute 33.5 seconds. That’s 0.5 seconds faster than Elise Cup 220 R.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus said: “Lotus was established to build race cars and with 68 years’ experience, no one knows more about extracting the best performance possible. The Elise Race 250 is the fastest, most focused Elise we’ve ever produced and, judging by what it’s capable of on track, it looks set to become a favorite with our racers around the world.”

To help achieve the quicker lap times the Elise Race 250 gets a supercharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed transmission. The result of the supercharged power plant is a 243 horsepower unit that only needs to propel a car weighing less than 1,980 lbs.

The 250 in the models name comes from its peak torque number of 250 Nm (184 lb.-ft.). All that torque is available from 3,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm.

Adding to the very good power to weight ratio is the full aero package, Nitron adjustable dampers and uprated brake pads which makes for a potent formula. On the track downforce is a major concern and the Lotus produces 344 lbs. of it at 154 mph.

This is a track ready car with its six-point safety harness, an A-Frame harness bar and an FIA compliant front roll-cage section. It also gets a fire extinguisher, battery isolator and front and rear towing eyes. As this is for a circuit the front headlights are replaced with lightweight composite blanking panels.

What will all this track fun cost you? In the good old USA it starts at $76,200. While not cheap, it isn’t too expensive compared to other European track dedicated cars.