Lotus Elise S Cup R poised for US consumption

Lotus can’t sell its road cars in North America anymore (dang safety regulations!), but that won’t stop them from sending some hardcore track vehicles here for the true enthusiasts. Enter the Lotus Elise S Cup R.

The Cup R variant of the Elise sports a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 217 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque with help from a Magnuson R900 supercharger. A six-speed manual is standard, sending power to the rear wheels.

Performance is improved over the Elise S by way of a model-specific ECM tune and a computational fluid dynamics proven aero kit. The front splitter, side skirts, winglets, rear diffuser and rear wing all create extra downforce, which helps reduce lap times by 4 seconds on a 3.1-mile track over the Elise S, according to Lotus.

Curb weight is pegged at 2,037 pounds, and the Cup R is eligible for entry into the production class of the 2014 Lotus Cup series. The organization consists of Lotus Cup UK, Lotus Cup Europe, Lotus Cup Italia, Lotus Cup USA, Lotus Cup Japan, Lotus Cup Thailand, Lotus Cup China and Lotus Ladies Cup. The series is open to all owners of Elise, Exige, Evora, 340R and 2-Eleven vehicles.

Cup R race bits include an FIA-approved roll cage and fire extinguisher, battery isolator, six-point racing harness, HANS device, front tow hooks, quick release steering wheel, brake pad updates and more. An FIA fuel cell, air conditioning, race passenger seat and lightweight wheels are optional.

All of this track-day goodness can be yours for the price of $66,650.

By Jake Lingeman