2021 Lotus Elise 250 Cup Final Edition

Guide price: £62,000 - £67,000

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

● One of the last 29 Elises produced

● Unique Porsche Viper Green paintwork

● Private plated included

● VAT-qualifying

● Hugely collectible

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

The last day of Elise production was a sad day for many. Bringing to an end 26 years of production of a car that was pivotal to Lotus’s continued existence and also a source of great joy to many owners, it did at least bow out on a high. The last 29 cars were ‘Final Edition’ specification which included unique paint choices, a new TFT instrument cluster, a new steering wheel design and new seat trims.

The core elements of the Cup 250 remained the same, which was no bad thing, packing as it did a 245bhp 1.8 litre Toyota-sourced engine and driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

This one-owner car was specified with great care and, following some negotiations with the factory to ensure that he got all the details he wanted, the final specification of this Final Edition was racy but with the essential creature comforts.

Sadly, other commitments mean that it’s not been used as much as the owner would like and he’s now decided to let it go. As a super rare version of a legendary car, it looks like a sports car you could buy with your head and your heart.

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

● The seller is the first owner and specified it with the factory

● In addition to being the only Viper Green Final Edition car, optional extras include the carbon pack, Alcantara sills and steering wheel, air conditioning, cruise control, carpets, stereo delete and reduced sound deadening

● Due to the lack of a local Lotus dealer, the factory arranged for the running in service to be performed at a McLaren dealer

● The first full service was carried out in April of this year and the invoice is present

● A full set of original manuals and two keys accompany the car

● The first MOT is not yet due

● The private plate ‘LA57 LOT’ is included and is a clear reference to this last Lotus of its type

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿

● Entry to an Elise takes a little practice, but the Alcantara-covered sills make it a more comfortable process

● Once inside, the Alcantara finish across the rest of the cabin gives a lightweight but luxury feel, while the green stitching complements the bold exterior colour

● The exposed gearshift is a thing of beauty

● Elise-branded seats hold you firmly in place and it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position

● The TFT display shows that the car has covered just 3,245 miles and this is certainly reflected in the condition of the interior which is as-new

● The focus is certainly on driving but with air conditioning and cruise control, it’s still a very usable road car

𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿

● Porsche Viper Green suits the diminutive Elise well, and really makes it stand out, while the design still looks fresh and modern to our eyes

● The paintwork is unmarked, helped by PPF on the front, and the numerous decals that mark this out as a Final Edition are all pristine

● The carbon pack includes a front splitter, side skirts and a gorgeous rear wing

● Black Lotus alloy wheels compliment the carbon nicely and wear Yokohama Advan AO52s all round

● The hard top is removable, though not without getting the spanners out which means that it was left in place for the photo shoot; a soft top is provided

𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹

● The 1.8 litre Toyota-sourced inline 4 starts with a bark, reflecting the exhaust tuning work that Lotus did on the later Elises to improve the sound quality

● On the road, it sounds great and goes hard, exhibiting the sort of agile handling for which Elises are renowned

● The two-piece brakes have been fitted with Pagid RS42 pads for improved stopping power

● It’s nicely compliant on the road but also promises to be a fearsome track weapon

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆

As the end of Elise production recedes in the rear-view mirror, it seems likely that our appetite for them will only grow stronger. On that basis alone, a Final Edition car looks like a great investment but when you also get a beautifully specified example of one of the finest driver’s cars thrown in, you can’t really ask for better fuel for the man-maths calculator.