Lotus says its latest race car distils the company’s engineering expertise into “one hardcore, track-orientated package”.

Eligible for many race series around the world, the new Elise Race 250 has been developed to meet the high demands of the track, with a raft of performance-orientated features as standard, the UK carmaker says.

Packing a supercharged, 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the Elise Race 250 boasts 243 hp (246 PS) at 7,200 rpm and an impressive 250 Nm of torque between 3500 rpm and 5,500 rpm.

Delivering a level of ability you’d expect from one of the world’s most famous racing marques, every aspect of the car has been optimised to help slash lap times. This covers track-oriented features including Nitron adjustable dampers, uprated brake pads, FIA approved carbon fibre race seat with six-point racing harness, a removable steering wheel and a polycarbonate rear windscreen.

The Lotus Elise Race 250 also features a full aero package, including front splitter, rear diffuser, floor extensions and a rear wing. As a result, the car’s design generates substantial downforce, equal to 66 kg at 100 mph and 155 kg at maximum speed of 154 mph (248 kmph).

As befitting a race car, the cabin of the car is fitted with an A-Frame harness bar and an FIA compliant front roll-cage section, fire extinguisher, battery isolator and front and rear towing eyes. The front headlamps are replaced with lightweight composite blanking panels.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus, comments: “Lotus was established to build race cars and with 68 years’ experience, no one knows more about extracting the best performance possible. The Elise Race 250 is the fastest, most focused Elise we’ve ever produced and, judging by what it’s capable of on track, it looks set to become a favourite with our racers around the world.

The new Elise Race 250 benefits from the continuous design philosophy of Lotus and its perpetual quest to evolve all constituent parts, lightening and optimising them. 

At the core of the new car lies the company’s famous Lotus’ aluminium vehicle chassis technology. Employing strong and stiff lightweight extrusions joined by epoxy adhesive, it’s both immensely strong and torsionally stiff yet, the chassis for the Elise Race 250 tips the scales at just 68 kg.

Specifically developed by Lotus’ famous Motorsport division the car has benefited through the company’s ‘Lightweight Laboratory’, and includes as standard, a Lithium Ion battery saving 10 kg compared to a standard battery, carbon fibre race seats (6 kg lighter than the equivalent composite seats) and ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels. Those wanting to cut weight still further, can opt for the Carbon Aero Pack which replaces the standard front splitter, rear wing, rear diffuser and side floor-extensions with lightweight carbon components and reduces mass by a further 10 kg. With these lightweight options, the Elise Race 250 weighs less than 900 kg (dry).

Lapping the company’s Hethel test track in 1 minute 33.5 seconds, the Elise Race 250 is 0.5 seconds quicker than the previous Elise Cup 220 R and represents the fastest recorded lap time for a Lotus developed race-variant of the Elise.

Developed through Lotus’ extensive motorsport experience, the Elise Race 250 features an adjustable front anti-roll bar, Nitron one-way adjustable dampers and Eibach coaxial coil springs and double wishbone suspension providing optimum body and roll control, but not at the expense of composure or turn in and without sacrificing high-speed stability. AP Racing twin-piston front calipers, and Brembo single-piston rear calipers work in conjunction with the ABS system with ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels (16-inch, front and 17-inch rear) with Yokohama AO48 tyres (195/50/16 on the front and 225/45/17 on the rear).

The new Elise Race 250 is being launched as Lotus celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the founding of its factory in Hethel, Norfolk, when in 1966, founder Colin Chapman moved Lotus to the purpose-built facility. 

Last month, the first Elise Cup 250 along with the first Lotus 3-Eleven, rolled off the company’s production line last month.

The Elise Cup 250 goes from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 154 mph (248 kmph).

The 3-Eleven, meanwhile, is the Lotus’s quickest and most expensive series production car ever. It offers a giant-slaying power-to-weight ratio, thanks to a revised V6 supercharged engine developing 460 hp, to provide in excess of 500 hp per tonne. It is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds before reaching a maximum speed of 180 mph (290 kmph).

The Elise Race 250 is priced in the region of $76,000.