2008 Lotus Elise SC Pictures, Specifications, Information

Lotus powers into the 2008 Model year with the Supercharged Elise SC, a 220 horsepower version of the multi award-winning roadster, easily identified by its new rear spoiler and unique new design of alloy road wheels.

Despite the on-paper similarity with the Exige S, this is no mere engine swap. This is an all-new, non-intercooled installation applied to the current Elises 1.8-litre 2-ZZ VVTL-i engine. The Lotus-designed, Magnuson-produced supercharger uses a smaller Eaton rotor pack (an M45 unit) than that of the current Exige S, and is married to the intake manifold plenum as part of a single-piece casting. Combined with the absence of an intercooler and its associated pipework, this integrated supercharger/intake assembly contributes to an 8kg reduction in engine weight compared with the Exige S.

A further benefit of dispensing with the intercooler for the Elise SC application is the supercharger packaging viability for Elise and improved rear visibility when adopted into the Exige S, where vision from the rear view mirror is masked by the current intercooler installation. The Elise SC has been designed to have different driving characteristics to the Exige S. In keeping with its role as a supremely fast road car rather than extreme track machine, throttle response is very progressive but also very direct, resulting in a measured, refined driving experience.

But, as you might expect of a car with 217 horsepower and weighing only 1987 lbs, the performance of the Elise SC is electrifying 0-60 mph in 4.4 secs (estimated); 0-100 mph in 10.7 secs (estimated); top speed 150 mph (estimated). Although for the record, the Exige S remains the faster car on track, thanks to its superior aerodynamics package that generates 92 lbs of downforce at 100 mph. The fuel economy of the Elise SC is impressive with an estimated combined figure 31.0 mpg.

A new bespoke wheel design is introduced to the Elise SC, the rears having increased half an inch in width to 8.0 inches, to give even better grip performance from the standard Lotus specific Yokohama AD07 LTS 225/45 R17 tyres.

Airbags for all

In this safety-conscious age and with more and more owners using their Elise as daily transport, demand has been growing for standard-fit airbags. Lotus have responded to provide driver and passenger airbags as standard on all Elise models; previously they were available as part of the Super Touring option package. The new dashboard has a new, softtouch surface finish.

More than just new dials

The new instrument pack in the Elise and Exige contains so much more than just a fresh pair of stylishly back-lit dials. It also features a high-definition LCD message panel that can display a scrolling text message with vehicle systems information.

The new instrument pack always displays the fuel gauge, engine temperature and odometer, however you can select to display the time (from November 07), trip distance or a digital readout of your speed in the opposite calibration to that of your speedometer dial if your dial is in mph, the readout is in km/h.

Warning symbols are secret until lit, keeping the instrumentation free from visual clutter and distraction until absolutely necessary. New gearchange shift lights similarly remain hidden until required. There are three shift up lights, cumulatively lighting when the driver is getting closer to the rev limiter and when all three are illuminated, they flash to indicate that youre almost on the rev limiter so time to change up a gear!