Skip to main content

Good news, Europe! The Lotus Elise S Cup, the fastest road-legal Elise, is available to order

If you live in Europe, you can place your order for a Lotus Elise S Cup today.

The S Cup is essentially a road-going version of the track-only Elise S Cup R, and car is accordingly fitted with a myriad of circuit-ready gadgetry.

A supercharged 1.8-liter four-banger provides the Elise with 217 horsepower, which is sufficient enough to push the 2055-pound sports car to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. Like the Cup R, the insect-like Elise wears a slew of aerodynamic enhancements to keep it planted on the tarmac, only this time the featherweight Brit sticks both on and off the track.

The front splitter is new to the S Cup, as are the end winglets, lateral bargeboards, rear diffuser, T45-spec roll-hoop, and patriotically embroidered tail wing. Team Lotus has a storied history in racing, and this car looks to continue that success with bug-eyed track day glory.

“This engaging new model accentuates the pure driving competence elicited by Lotus,” said Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Lotus. Light, agile and significantly faster on-track than the standard Elise S, it will appeal to competition-minded enthusiasts.”

How much faster is it? Lotus claims it’s 3.0 seconds quicker than the Elise S around the brand’s 2.2-mile Hethel test track. Compared to the hardcore S Cup R, it’s only about 1.0 second slower.

The S Cup is only sold in Europe though, so if you’re American and want to drive one, either buddy up with a Brit or pack up your things and get used to driving on the left.

The sports car starts at £43,500 in the U.K. and €56,525 in Germany, which equates to about $65,000 U.S.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more