The Lotus Exige and Elise will bow out in style with the special Final Edition

With the announcement of Lotus’s Vision80 plan, the British brand is on the verge of major changes to its range, which will mean the arrival of new models that will undoubtedly continue to deliver unique driving sensations but which will also mean the inevitable withdrawal of models that are still current to make room for the new ones. In this way, the Evora, Exige and Elise will have their last year on sale in 2021, although Lotus wants to send them off in style before then.

Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition

The Lotus Elise celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021, standing as a true icon within the British brand’s range, so its farewell has to be in style. Both this 240 Final Edition and the next version I’ll explain below will receive bodywork colours that have held significance in the model’s history, such as Azure Blue (used in the promotional images for the first production version from 1996), Black (the racing division’s colour when they took part in the Autobytel Lotus Elise Championship) and Racing Green (used on the model presented at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show).

Inside, they will feature a new steering wheel with a flattened bottom, upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara. However, the most important change is the instrument panel, which is now digital and offers two display configurations: one showing conventional dials and another, more sporty, with digital gauges that can also display engine parameters.

More specifically, on the exterior of the Elise Sport 240 Final Edition you will find as standard forged aluminium wheels with a 10-spoke design, measuring 16 inches at the front and 17 inches at the rear, which are 0.5 kg lighter than those fitted to the standard model, and shod with Yokohama V105 tyres. Optionally, you can add several carbon fibre panels, such as the engine cover, as well as swapping the battery for a lithium-ion one or having a polycarbonate rear window, reducing its weight from 922 kg to 898 kg.

Mechanically, it keeps the 1,800 cc turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but slightly revised to raise its power to 243 CV alongside a torque figure of 244 Nm, allowing it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and register lower CO2 emissions, now standing at 177 g/km.

Lotus Elise Cup 250 Final Edition

Aesthetically, the Elise Cup 250 Final Edition is distinguished by incorporating new aerodynamic solutions such as a front splitter, a rear wing and a diffuser, among others, which generate greater downforce while also improving its final weight, which, together with the carbon fibre options described above, can be brought down to just 931 kg. Inside, as I mentioned, you will also find the same novelties described above.

Mechanically, its engine output rises to 248 CV with the same torque figure of 244 Nm, enabling it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 248 km/h. Its handling is also improved not only by the weight reduction, but also by the new ultralight wheels as well as the new dampers signed by Bilstein and adjustable anti-roll bars.

Lotus Exige Sport 390 Final Edition

As with the previous Elise Final Edition, the three Final Edition models of the Exige also get the same interior changes, plus new upholstery. On the outside there are also new colours that add to the existing palette, including the new Metallic White (used on the Exige V6 presented at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show) and Metallic Orange (used on the brand’s first press car in 2000 and on the Exige GT3 prototype presented at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show).

The Exige Sport 390 Final Edition replaces the Exige Sport 350 and includes aerodynamic updates that will improve its downforce, especially at high speeds, along with new 17-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels with a 10-spoke design, shod with Michelin PS4 tyres. Mechanically, the 3,500 cc turbocharged V6 engine raises its power to 402 CV and delivers a torque figure of 420 Nm thanks to improvements made to the turbo, allowing it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 277 km/h.

Lotus Exige Sport 420 Final Edition

In addition to the aesthetic improvements described above, the Exige Sport 420 Final Edition comes as standard with new elements that enhance its driving, such as Eibach anti-roll bars, adjustable dampers signed by Nitron and the new AP Racing braking system with discs gripped by four-piston callipers. The wheels, also with a 10-spoke design and the same dimensions, are finished in anthracite grey.

The 3,500 cc turbocharged V6 engine’s output is raised for the Exige Sport 420 Final Edition to 425 CV, alongside a torque figure of 427 Nm, thanks to improvements also applied to the turbo system, allowing it to improve its acceleration to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 290 km/h, while also delivering a stronger sense of acceleration.

Lotus Exige Cup 430 Final Edition

With the Exige Cup 430 Final Edition we find ourselves at the pinnacle of this series, so outstanding performance is to be expected, especially considering that it weighs just 1,110 kg. Its 3,500 cc V6 engine is capable of producing 436 CV and raising its torque to 440 Nm, which allows it to reach 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and attain a top speed of 280 km/h.

Its aerodynamics are also modified with the introduction of new carbon fibre elements that serve to reduce its weight, but also to achieve a downforce of 171 kg. On top of this, we must add the same mechanical changes introduced on the Exige 420 Final Edition to the suspension and braking system, along with a new exhaust line that is now made of titanium.