Lotus Marks The End Of An Era With New Final Editions Of Elise And Exige

Shortly after the official announcement that the Elise and Exige will go out of production this year, Lotus bids farewell to its iconic sports cars with special Final Edition models.

Lotus will offer no less than five Final Edition variants, two for the Elise and three for the Exige, in limited numbers and featuring unique colors, new exterior decals, new wheel finishes, and new trims. A digital instrument cluster is fitted as standard, as well as a new flat-bottom steering wheel, and the latest manual gearbox gear selector with gorgeous exposed linkage.

The 2021 Lotus Elise Final Edition pays tribute to the 25-year-long career of the iconic British roadster. The Elise Sport 240 Final Edition is powered by a supercharged Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 240 HP and 180 lb-ft (244 Nm) of torque, an extra 23 HP from the Sport 220 thanks to a revised calibration. 0-60 mph comes in 4.1 seconds.

Other revisions include further weight savings that can be achieved with the use of the optional carbon fiber panels, including sill covers, an engine cover, a lithium-ion battery, and a polycarbonate rear window. With all the lightweight options specified, the Lotus Elise Sport 240 tips the scales at 898 kg (1,979 lbs), down from 922 kg (2,032 lbs).

If you want an Elise with an even sharper edge, Lotus also offers the Elise Cup 250 Final Edition. The differences here are focused mainly on the aerodynamics, with the Cup model featuring a more aggressive aero kit, enabling it to produce 66 kg of downforce at 100 mph, and 155 kg of downforce at its top speed of 154 mph (248 km/h). In addition, the Elise Cup 250 Final Edition also features Bilstein Sport dampers, adjustable antiroll bars, and ultra-light forged wheels, and can tip the scales as low as 931 kg (2,052 lbs) when all the carbon options are specified.

The Lotus Exige bows out with three Final Edition models – the Sport 390, the Sport 420, and the Cup 430. The new Exige 390 replaces the outgoing Sport 350, featuring a revised supercharged 3.5-liter V6 with 397 HP, 47 HP more than before thanks to a new calibration. Lotus claims that the new Exige Sport 390, which weighs just 1,138 kg (2,508 lbs), can reach 60 mph from a standstill in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 172 mph (276 km/h).

The Exige Sport 420 Final Edition offers 10 HP more than the outgoing Sport 410, at 420 HP and 315 lb-ft (427 Nm) of torque, and poses as the fastest Exige in the range with its 180 mph (289 km/h) top speed. 0-60 mph comes in 3.3 seconds. The Exige Sport 420 comes with three-way adjustable dampers, lightweight forged alloy wheels, AP Racing brakes, and more, as standard.

The new Lotus Exige Cup 430 Final Edition remains the flagship of the range, offering 430 HP out of its supercharged V6 engine and featuring the most aggressive aero kit in the range. Lotus claims the Exige Cup 430 produces up to 171 kg of downforce, along with a 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h).

Every Exige Cup 430 is fitted with motorsport-grade carbon-fiber panels, including the front splitter, the front access panel, roof, diffuser surround, bigger air-intake side pods, one-piece tailgate, and a race-derived rear wing. In addition to the standard adjustable Nitron dampers, the flagship Exige also features Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars and a set of sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, four-piston AP Racing brakes, and a high-flow titanium exhaust system.