Lotus Releases Supercharger Kit for Elise and Exige

It is the same supercharger and intake manifold unit from the production Elise SC, and can be strapped onto any Elise or Exige with Toyota's 1.8-liter 2ZZ-GE under the hood. New high-flow fuel injectors and a reprogrammed ECU are also part of the package, and help give a serious power boost to the respective vehicles.

Stock output is rated at 189 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque, and the new system will bump that up to 218 hp and 155 lb-ft. In addition, maximum torque is now available at 5,000 rpm (it was previously available at 6,800 rpm). This gives the driver a broader and more flexible power band to work with in the twisties.

The Lotus Elise SC (equipped with a similar 217 hp and 157 lb-ft of torque) can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and maxes out at 150 mph.

"Lotus Elise and Exige owners are genuine driving enthusiasts, and that's what has attracted them to Lotus cars in the first place. They will fully appreciate the dramatically enhanced driving character these Lotus Supercharger Kits will bring their vehicles and the peace of mind from a fully warranted, factory-engineered kit," said Arnie Johnson, director of operations for Lotus Cars USA.

Pricing for a standard Elise kit is estimated at $4,950, if you give them the old ECU. An extra $500 will be tacked on if you opt to keep the stock control unit.

The kit is ready for purchase at all authorized Lotus dealers in the U.S. and Canada. Prices may vary by dealer.

Inside Line says: The supercharger kit will definitely be appreciated by owners with a naturally aspirated Lotus who are looking to improve track performance. — Mike Lysaght, Correspondent