The Elise Cup 260: lighter, meaner, pricier
Lotus has launched the 'ultimate' limited-edition Elise - yours for Porsche Cayman GTS money
Many of those weight savings come from previously optional carbon fibre components now offered as standard on the latest model. These include two-piece brake discs, lightweight carbon race seats - weighing just 6 kg each - a lithium-ion battery, forged alloy wheels and a polycarbonate rear screen. The devil's in the detail though, so the front access panel, engine cover, roll hoop cover and side sill covers have also been on a diet, together saving a further 6kg.
Elsewhere, lift reducing louvred front wheel arches, a gigantic new rear wing developed from the Lotus 3-Eleven, and a carbon front splitter and rear diffuser help the Cup 260 to generate up to 180kg of downforce at top speed - a 44 per cent improvement on the Cup 250. All of which makes for a Hethel lap time 2.5 seconds faster than its predecessor.
That doesn't mean that there aren't a fistful of alternatives just a click away. Sitting in the classifieds we have this brand new - it can't be easy for Lotus dealers can it? - Cup 250, and this Exige Sport 350, both for a few thousand pounds less than the 260. There's also this 2-Eleven for nearly half the price - admittedly a rather different proposition; but if you're looking for the ultimate pared-back, track-derived expression of an Elise, a 2-Eleven is mightily hard to beat.
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Seems to be the day for them.
Porsche, Lotus and Mclaren seem to be competing for the smallest delta they can call a new car. 
Perhaps £2mil at a push with options
Over 5 years 30 extra cars come in for servicing, contributing a minor amount.
If they made the cheaper end more affordable like with the Caterham, surely the net effect would be much better?
Even 100 cars @30k is £3 mil (much lower profit of course), but would start to rebuild the brand and network.
Perhaps I don't 'get it', but surely a light 1.8 low co2 sports car is all a lot of people can justify now for a fun car, but at 60k? No thanks
Also i think the Mk3 250 Cup with carbon splitters and wing (minus lame Union Jack) looks great. However this new mk3.1 ones front bumper looks like a watered down Exige, i dont want to buy a car that look like its been hit by two watermelons, i want it to look good in its own right.
And the back ends new single lights?!! oh dear, everytime i see the small white lights on the back i think...... whats an " OLOTUSO " .. cringe.
I love Lotus and i want them to do well, i think the Exige looks ok but its time for a new Elise/Exige design allready. Some thing like a Ferrari J50 for the mases should do the trick. It has to look good thou, really good, not like a kit car done good, it has to look flippin amazing, Jaw droppingly good, so if no one at Lotus can do that, get someone who can and please no more Fail superchargers!
Im not hating, just obvious (not just to me) constructive criticism. And dont make the next Elise too high, the Evora looks too high coming down the road, it has to have a good height to width ratio, the Latest SC Elises have that naff slapped on spoiler on the back and it looks awfull, the back end looks to high now, making the car appear too narrow.
Good luck Lotus im rooting for you, i want you to do well, ps the carbon work is awesome!
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