Lotus Elise S2 Sport 190 - The forgotten modern classic
Discussion
So back in 2002 Lotus when they still had their internal skunkworks the Lotus Motorsport division they offered what was essentially a very expansive option pack to beef up the standard 122BHP base Elise to a Rover VHPD (Very high performance derivative) 190BHP special with options ranging from full race rollover protection to extinguisher system/LSD/remote reservoir suspension etc. The engines were built in house and so far have avoided the reputation for detonation that the S1 cars had!
This car was specced from new with the following options and bought by main dealer Bell & Colville
VHPD 190hp engine upgrade
Hardtop
MSA approved roll bar
Motorsport seats & 4-point Schroth harnesses
Plumbed in fire extinguisher system
Battery master cut out switch
Race battery
Motorsport clutch plate
Carbon induction chamber
2 way adjustable Dynamics Dampers/Eibach springs.
Uprated AP Racing brake kit
Some digging around uncovered a picture of the car when it must have been under a year old being driven competitively by Bobby Bell
Also another previous ad for the car thats been on racecars direct for a number of years:
https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/82505/lo...
I picked the car up in January and having been pretty busy at work it got parked up awaiting a few plans I had for it
The car was in great condition having long been retired from it's racing days and with 9000 miles on the clock I wanted to do a few bits just to make it perfect to enjoy as a summer/dry weather car
First job was a full suspension refresh. The underside wasn't really bad for an 18 year old car but I removed all the wishbones and brake calipers to have them zinc passivated as per new
The car had these very expensive Dynamic dampers from new. They are very good but the springs were very short for a road car and they couldn't be refurbished back to the cosmetic condition I was looking for
To be replaced by these
Another job on the list whilst the wishbones were getting sorted was to get the wheels redone black (the original press car ran black OZ wheels and was also starlight black and also I wanted to redo the interior. Although original the blue was not to my taste. The seats were also worth quite a bit being OEM S1 Exige seats so they were taken out along with the race petty bar
Suspension back together
Under the plates there was the B&C Motorsport stickers these have been left in place!
The interior I had re trimmed in technosuede and nappa leather along with the steering wheel and also added floor mats
And that's pretty much where we are now it's taken 6 months to get it back on the road and what a car! The Throttle bodies make a fantastic noise an the handling is next level with the Ohlins. It also had a quaife LSD fitted and remote thermostat with further winter jobs to come including a new rad and some painting/detailing to finesse the cosmetics.
A truly special car one of only 33 made by Lotus and I think a forgotten gem in the Lotus range.
This car was specced from new with the following options and bought by main dealer Bell & Colville
VHPD 190hp engine upgrade
Hardtop
MSA approved roll bar
Motorsport seats & 4-point Schroth harnesses
Plumbed in fire extinguisher system
Battery master cut out switch
Race battery
Motorsport clutch plate
Carbon induction chamber
2 way adjustable Dynamics Dampers/Eibach springs.
Uprated AP Racing brake kit
Some digging around uncovered a picture of the car when it must have been under a year old being driven competitively by Bobby Bell
Also another previous ad for the car thats been on racecars direct for a number of years:
https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/82505/lo...
I picked the car up in January and having been pretty busy at work it got parked up awaiting a few plans I had for it
The car was in great condition having long been retired from it's racing days and with 9000 miles on the clock I wanted to do a few bits just to make it perfect to enjoy as a summer/dry weather car
First job was a full suspension refresh. The underside wasn't really bad for an 18 year old car but I removed all the wishbones and brake calipers to have them zinc passivated as per new
The car had these very expensive Dynamic dampers from new. They are very good but the springs were very short for a road car and they couldn't be refurbished back to the cosmetic condition I was looking for
To be replaced by these
Another job on the list whilst the wishbones were getting sorted was to get the wheels redone black (the original press car ran black OZ wheels and was also starlight black and also I wanted to redo the interior. Although original the blue was not to my taste. The seats were also worth quite a bit being OEM S1 Exige seats so they were taken out along with the race petty bar
Suspension back together
Under the plates there was the B&C Motorsport stickers these have been left in place!
The interior I had re trimmed in technosuede and nappa leather along with the steering wheel and also added floor mats
And that's pretty much where we are now it's taken 6 months to get it back on the road and what a car! The Throttle bodies make a fantastic noise an the handling is next level with the Ohlins. It also had a quaife LSD fitted and remote thermostat with further winter jobs to come including a new rad and some painting/detailing to finesse the cosmetics.
A truly special car one of only 33 made by Lotus and I think a forgotten gem in the Lotus range.
Yeah the K series is generally a bit of an underappreciated engine. They are tiny and light and with this output must be one of the highest power output to engine weight ratios of any NA 4 pot. The car weighs around 820KG and I've put a decent bit of time into setting it up. A very very special car!
in good hands though 
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