Performance Review: Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged - [2020]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Elise Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2020. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2021 McMurtry Speirling Goodwood and the 2021 Rimac Nevera 1888bhp Electric AWD.This particular Lotus Elise has a 1798cc Supercharged Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Elise shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Elise's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 931 kgs (2052 lbs) this makes the Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged in the same weight category as the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Elise shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 1798cc 16V St4 engine produces 243 bhp (181 kW) @ 7200 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (266 bhp).

The Supercharged St4 throws out 184 lb-ft (249.4 Nm) @ 3500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Lotus Elise you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2009 Cadillac CTS -V 6.2 V8 Auto (285.7 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Elise.

The Lotus Elise has a Power to weight ratio of 261.0 bhp per ton and 197.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2020 Elise competing with the 2009 Cadillac CTS -V 6.2 V8 Auto (285.7 bhp per ton) or the 2009 Audi R8 6.0 Quattro V12 TDI (285.7 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Lotus Elise generating around 197.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2016 Audi A3 RS3 Saloon 2.5 Turbo (222.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 2009 Bentley Continental GTC Speed (222.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 3.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.0 secs, this made the Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged as fast as the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (3.90 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 Steptronic (3.90 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 3.7 Turbo 992 (3.90 secs) the or the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (3.90 secs). This Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged is also faster than the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (4.00 secs) the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (4.00 secs) the 2021 Audi e-tron GT Quattro (4.00 secs) the and the 2020 Lotus Evora GT410 Sport 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Elise and the 2008 Audi Q7 6.0 V12 TDi Quattro

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Elise on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.91 secs @ 106.0 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2008 Audi Q7 6.0 V12 TDi Quattro (12.85 secs), the 1996 Maserati Quattroporte 3.2 V8 Biturbo (12.85 secs), and the 2013 Maserati Ghibli S 3.0 V6 Turbo (12.86 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2020 version of the Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged has a maximum speed of 151mph.

Top Speed of the 2020 Elise equals the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato (162 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged then how about the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato (162 mph), the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo (162 mph), or the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo (162 mph).

Related Links:

2020 Elise Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison