What is it?
SC stands for Supercharged, so this new Elise is the first official factory offering to feature a supercharger. It's not the same blower found in the Exige range either, being chosen specifically to suit the characteristics of the Elise, though the base engine is still the familiar Toyota 1.8-litre unit. The reason for a new supercharger package was to allow it to fit into the Elise's existing engine bay, Lotus cleverly integrating the charger with the inlet manifold, saving weight in the process.
With its own calibration and no intercooler, the Elise SC is not quite as bonkers fast as some of the company's more extreme products, but 217bhp and 155lb.ft of torque make light work of the 900kg Elise. Only supercars and superbikes can keep up with the SC's 0-60mph time of 4.4 seconds, that figure being possible thanks to the immense traction afforded by the sticky rear tyres and the weight distribution resulting from the mid-mounted engine.
Visually, the Elise SC is differentiated by a sexy new set of alloys, an oval-shaped rear exhaust and a new rear spoiler, though the latter only comes into play to stabilise the car at really high speeds. On the inside, the SC receives the same 2008 model year upgrades as the rest of the range, which means an improved dashboard featuring new instruments and two airbags as standard, along with the option of a cupholder - apparently to appease the American market, though we all use them. Also new is an upgraded Thatcham-approved alarm, a proper Lotus-branded key and a prominent start button.
Is it any good?
We would have been surprised if it wasn't. The Elise range already consists of the entry-level S, which is a sweetly balanced car that you could live with every day, and the more sporting Elise R, with its screaming engine. The SC sits between these two cars in character, though in reality it has a bit of both in its make-up. The supercharger endows the Elise with decent shove in pretty much any gear, allowing the driver to concentrate on the road while using the abundant torque, though it really comes alive if you use all of the rev counter. Towards the redline, the supercharger whine gives the car a seriously sporting edge and in case you get too distracted by that (or the blurring scenery) there are three gear shift lights to let you know it's time to change up.
Naturally, the SC handles like any other Elise, which means it flows from corner to corner with incredible accuracy and pace. There is little drama, but plenty of feedback and without too much effort cornering speeds are generally much higher than most cars can manage. Despite all that, the Elise is relatively comfortable, moving with bumps and undulations rather than crashing into them. The excellent ProBax seats help in this regard too.
Should I call the bank manager?
Before you do, take a look through the short, but tempting options list. Unless you intend to regularly beat lap times at your local circuit and want to keep the car's weight to an absolute minimum, we'd recommend the Touring Pack, which at £2,000 is a little steep, but does make the car more comfortable inside. Keen drivers will be tempted by the Sport Pack, which features uprated suspension components, traction control, lighter alloys and twin oil coolers for a very reasonable £1,500. Traction control is actually available as a standalone option, other temptations being air conditioning and a hardtop for the winter.
Summary
We assumed that adding a supercharger to the Elise's engine would create a fantastic driver's car aimed at more enthusiastic buyers, which it has, but it has an alter ego that allows the SC's driver to enjoy the car even when not pushing it to its limits. It's the best Elise to date and one of the best cars made by Lotus right now.
More news and reviews from Lotus
Buying Guide : All models Lotus
New & Used Car : all offers Lotus
Picture Gallery Lotus
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