2012 Lotus Elise S: torque boost for supercharged racer

The new Lotus Elise S steps in for the Elise SC, giving sports car fans an extra 40Nm of torque from its upgraded engine.

The supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine now produces 250Nm of torque (at 4600rpm), while peak power remains at 163kW (at 6800rpm).

The Elise S matches the SC’s 4.6-second 0-100km/h sprint time, although revisions to the six-speed manual gearbox allow drivers to now hit the mark in second gear, avoiding the awkward dogleg change to third.

Sixth gear has also been retuned to improve efficiency at cruising speeds. Overall fuel consumption is 10 per cent lower than before at 7.5 litres per 100km.

Lotus says the new Roots-type supercharger reduces noise, vibration and harshness. The uprated drivetrain also sports a new air-to-water intercooler for improved volumetric efficiency and an oil cooler that extends engine life.

Both the Elise S and the standard Elise now benefit from changes to the chassis electronics, with less intervention from the Dynamic Performance Management system in Sport mode, and smoother and more progressive intervention when it does step in.

The launch of the 2012 Lotus Elise S comes hot on the heels of the introduction of the Lotus Evora S IPS – the most expensive car in the local brand’s line-up, at $150,990.

2012 Lotus Elise manufacturer’s list prices (excluding government and dealer charges):