New Models
New Models

2020 Lotus Elise pricing and specs

The bare-bones English performer receives yet another update.


British sports-car-maker Lotus has refreshed its iconic, entry-level Elise model for 2020. The lightweight sports model is now available in two trims, the Sport 220 and hardcore Cup 250.

Pricing for the 2020 models remains the same, at $87,990 for the Sport 220 and $107,990 for the Cup 250 (before on-road costs).

The 2020 Elise makes use of an extruded aluminium chassis, tipping the scales at less than one tonne. Unladen, the Sport 220 comes in at 924kg while the Cup 250 is only marginally heavier at 931kg.

Both variants make use of the same mid-mounted, 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine with dual variable valve timing. Output is rated at 162kW at 6800rpm and 250Nm at 4600rpm for the Sport 220.

Thanks to additional tuning of the engine, the Cup 250’s outputs increase to 181kW at 7200rpm and 250Nm from 3500-5500rpm, giving it a wider torque band.

The Sport 220 and Cup 250 send power through a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission to the rear wheels.

The 0-100km/h sprint for the Sport 220 is completed in 4.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 233km/h. The Cup 250 gets there in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 248km/h.

Thanks to the engines’ efficiency and the chassis’s light weight, Lotus claims the Sport 220 will have a combined fuel consumption of only 7.7L/100km with the Cup 250 not far behind at 7.8L/100km.

Above: 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220

This difference is likely due to increased drag from the Cup 250’s aerodynamic package, which Lotus claims can produce 148kg of downforce at the vehicle’s top speed.

Both variants ride on 16-inch wheels up front, bumped up to 17 inches in the rear. However, the Sport 220 gets a cast-alloy unit with Yokohama Advan Sport tyres while the Cup 250 receives forged alloy, wrapped in Yokohama Advan A052 high-performance tyres.

Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers control the ride in both versions, but the Cup 250 gets additional tuning to its dampers with sports driving in mind, providing additional stiffness and response.

Above: 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250

Lotus employs a combination of hardware to stop the Elise. Twin-piston AP Racing calipers are fitted up front and single-piston Brembo calipers feature in the rear. The variants gets 288mm single-piece vented and cross-drilled discs all around, however an optional Sports pack receives two-piece rotors.

Inside, Lotus keeps the Elise purpose-built without sacrificing creature comforts. The Sport 220’s sports seats are trimmed in lightweight cloth and leather while the Cup 250’s carbon-fibre race seats wear alcantara. Both models receive air conditioning, central locking and electric windows as standard.

The steering wheel and sills come trimmed in black leather, with the door cards being available in a red or yellow option.

A Touring pack can be optioned to increase comfort for both models, featuring leather or alcantara trim, a four-speaker sound system with DAB radio, added sound insulation and cruise control.

Cup 250 models come standard with a lightweight lithium-ion battery and a polycarbonate rear window. Both models can be optioned with additional carbon-fibre body panels and a titanium exhaust to bring weight down even further.

2020 Lotus Elise pricing

  • Elise Sport 220 - $87,990
  • Elise Cup 250 - $107,990

All price exclude on-road costs.

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