2004 Lotus Elise S2 111R with Supercharger

Highlights

• Professionally fitted Lotus Sport supercharger  

• Extensive service record

• Pipercross induction kit and Larini exhaust 

• Recently serviced 

• Exige wheels 

Overview

Some manufacturers are good at coming up with names. Lotus settled on the letter E as being their ‘thing’ during the 1960s, and they have stuck with it ever since. It’s amazing to see how a simple letter can create such a feeling of continuity in a brand’s persona. 

This is more than can be said for the standard engine normally found in Series 2 Elise 111R, with its Toyota 2ZZ-GE stirring a less emotional response. Although to be fair, it makes up for this with its excellent engineering and high performance output. And when combined with the Elise’s lightweight chassis and purposeful styling, it makes for a powerful combination. 

But a further layer of desirability lies beneath the bonnet of this particular Elise. Not only is it the 111R model, but it has also been fitted with a Lotus Sport supercharger too. This provides an additional shove low down in the rev range, meaning you can pull away at almost the speed of light. (Disclaimer: the speed of light is approximately 671 million miles per hour, so readers should judge our use of ‘almost’ accordingly).

Having only been driven a few thousand miles each year, this Elise remains in good condition inside and out. The sculpted glass-fibre body still looks like it means business today, and its fabulous shade of yellow paintwork reminds us that this is a car you drive for pure enjoyment. Nobody buys an Elise as a practical family car. You buy it because it makes you want to go out for a drive without any excuses required. And there are surely no excuses for wanting to drive this one!

History and documentation

• Registered 21 Apr 2004

• Stamped service book with services as follows: Jun 2004 @ 970 miles, Apr 2005 @ 3,497 miles, Apr 2006 @ 6,323 miles, Mar 2007 @ 7,009 miles, Feb 2008 @ 15,696 miles, Apr 2009 @ 22,474 miles, Apr 2010 @ 28,834 miles, May 2011 @ 35,047 miles, Aug 2012 @ 36,562 miles, Jun 2014 @ 41,357 miles, Nov 2016 @ 44,859 miles, Oct 2018 @ 46,723 miles, Jan 2021, Jan 2023 @ 52,182 miles

• Service invoice dated Apr 2025

• Full original document pack

• Sizeable collection of invoices and old MOT certificates

• Supercharger kit document and invoice on file, fitted in Nov 2009 at a cost of £2,750 

• Two keys and three remote fobs

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 6 Apr 2026

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• Tracker fitted

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Stepping in over the wide sills reveals a snug but well-trimmed cockpit 

• Black leather upholstery with contrasting stitching 

• Alcantara dashboard trim 

• Only light creasing to the leather seats 

• A little wear to the driver’s seat bolster 

• Aluminium floor panels, with fitted footwell mats 

• Leather door cards and centre console

• Leather-trimmed MOMO steering wheel

• Simple, uncluttered instrument cluster, with analogue gauges 

• The seller notes an intermittent wiring issue, causing the instrument cluster to temporarily stop working 

• Alpine stereo/CD player (not currently functioning) with aux input

• Small boot to the rear 

• Tool roll with towing eye and locking wheel nut key

Exterior

• Low-slung with a wide stance, this Lotus looks like it means business

• The fabulous shade of yellow accentuates the numerous air scoops and aerodynamic angles

• The condition of the GRP body panels is reported to be good 

• Some small chips and cracks to the paintwork, as usual for a car of this age 

• Small area of paint bubbling on the rear bumper

• The crack next to the front number plate is said to be superficial, and not structural

• 17-inch Exige black alloy wheels

• All four tyres were replaced in Jan 2025, and four-wheel alignment was carried out 

• The wheels are in good condition, with no significant scuffs or scrapes 

• Single windscreen wiper

• Some light scratches to the headlights

• Soft top roof panel in good condition, with no creases or fading 

• The underside looks clean, and has been undersealed 

• Central, twin-exit exhaust pipe

Mechanical

• 1,796 cc four-cylinder rear-mounted Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine

• Lotus Sport supercharger later professionally fitted 

• Pipercross induction kit

• The standard (non-supercharged) Elise produces 186 bhp, and 138 lb ft but the supercharger kit takes this to 217 bhp and 155 lb ft

• Pre-supercharger, the top speed was 150 mph, with 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds, and we’d expect an improvement on each

• Six-speed manual gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• rear engine bay clean and tidy

• The service in Apr 2025 included an engine oil and filter change, MOT test, and inspection service, which noted some surface corrosion to the suspension arms 

• In Jan 2023 an oil service was carried out, and the brake fluid was changed 

• The seller tells us that the car starts on the button, runs well, and sounds exotic with its Larini exhaust system 

• No warning lights reported 

• The supercharger is said to provide additional low-down torque, which adds to the performance and driving experience

Summary

This Elise benefits not only from ‘adding lightness’ when it was designed, but also from adding power when it had a supercharger fitted. Which makes for a phenomenal combination of performance, handling and noise. Surely just those two words: ‘supercharged Elise’ are enough to make anyone reach for the ‘bid’ button?

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Basingstoke, Hampshire.