The Lotus Elise Supercharged (SC for short) is the range-topping variant, and is naturally the fastest Elise there is.
By strapping on a crank-driven blower to the high-strung 1.8-litre engine found in the Elise R, the Lotus Elise SC boasts an additional 29bhp and 31Nm of torque.
It’s a familiar development, first seen on the Exige when it spawned the Exige S.
Unlike the more specialised Exige S though, the Lotus Elise SC does without an air-to-air intercooler.
This has afforded the Elise SC a slight weight saving (40kg) over the Exige S.
This is immediately obvious from not having the chunky black block sitting on top of the engine and blocking the entire rear windscreen (as is the case with the Exige S).
Not surprisingly, the Lotus Elise SC proves to be every bit as quick as its 4.6-seconds 0-100km/h sprint timing suggests.
But by no fault of the Lotus engineers, it’s a pace that’s hard to maintain, no thanks to the Stage 2 exhaust that was fitted onto this particular unit (used for the local launch event).
So free-flowing is this optional item that easing off the throttle gets you some exciting pops and cackles, not unlike a race car that’s running a little rich.
But because the Lotus Elise SC is not supposed to be a race car that lives on the track (that’s the Exige S’ role), the exciting exhaust is more a hindrance than an ally.
Elise SC’s eager engine will rev beyond 8000rpm before the shift light comes on.
Even when coasting at 2500rpm it makes enough decibels to be deemed anti-social.
While the exact specifications are still being worked out at this time, the importer will most likely offer a Stage 3 exhaust as an option to the standard system. Both are said to be quieter than the Stage 2.
Couple the slightly richer torque curve (less need for revs to get ahead) and that blaring race pipe at the back and it is very, very rare that you find occasions to let the Toyota supplied engine switch over to high-lift cam lobe and liberate all 218 horses.
But when you do (usually on very deserted roads), the shove is relentless.
Like with the Exige S, the addition of a supercharger does little to curb the engine’s willingness to be taken to its highest reaches and given a good thrashing.
The Lotus Elise SC peaks out at 8,000rpm, 200 turns higher than the naturally aspirated R.
If you cover your ears (with ear plugs, not your hands, obviously) and focus on driving, the charms of the Lotus Elise SC become only too apparent.
Like the Elises before this, the Elise SC’s controls speak to the driver in a gentle but firm voice. The controls are direct and tactile.
The brake pedal, criticised for being spongy when hydraulic assistance was introduced, has been smartened up nicely.
Immobiliser is now integrated into the key fob.
Despite the short suspension stroke, the ride is pliant, making the Lotus Elise SC perfectly suited for enthusiastic use on public roads with its ability to keep the wheels firmly on the road.
Although the tyre dimensions are exactly the same as the Elise R’s, the Elise SC’s rear wheels are slightly wider to stretch more rubber onto the road.
The wealth of torque from the supercharger makes it easier for the rear tyres to break traction when too much power is fed too quickly, but this is not likely to pose any real problem, not with the switchable traction control system that comes standard across the Lotus range.
Also found on Lotuses from here on is the twin-airbag dashboard first seen on the Europa.
While the quality of the materials in the Lotus Elise SC won’t leave a Porsche owner green with envy, the fit and finish are a far cry from the first Elise from more than a decade ago.
As a cost option, the Elise SC can even be equipped with leather upholstery which extends all the way to the centre console and features stylish thread stitching.
Another startling development is a retractable cupholder that extends from below the dashboard!
In fact, more than being just a variant added to the line-up, the Lotus Elise SC shows just how far Lotus has come since its first Elise.
While the car is still a very niche player on the sportscar spectrum, the quality of its execution can well match the standards set by the volume carmakers.
Lotus knows it needs to be ready for the big game too and is setting itself up for its next big project, the 2+2 mid-engine sports car it calls “Eagle”.
Special wheels and a rear spoiler distinguish the Elise SC from the regular variants.
Lotus Elise SC 1.8 (A)
ENGINE 1796cc, 16-valves, inline-4, supercharged
MAX POWER 218hp at 8000rpm
MAX TORQUE 212Nm at 5000rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed manual
0-100KM/H 4.6 seconds
TOP SPEED 240km/h
PRICE INCL. COE $233,800
British brand Lotus returns to Singapore under Wearnes Automotive
