We clamber behind the wheel of the new supercharged Elise for the ride of our lives.

Last week we got to drive the new 218hp supercharged Lotus Elise SC. It boats less power than the equivalent Exige S 240 because the Elise makes do without an intercooler in order to maintain rear visibility. This, of course, leaves the door ajar for tuners who can overcome the packaging problem to squeeze more power from the Toyota 2ZZ engine.

As the most powerful Elise to date, the SC gets an entirely new Magnusson/Eaton M45 roots-type supercharger integrated into the inlet manifold. Its saves 17.6 lb over the Exige installation and was chosen over a turbo because it delivers a linear power curve, from low speed all the way through to the 8500rpm redline.
Visually, the SC gets new wheels, a rear spoiler and center-exit exhaust. All 2008 cars also get standard airbags, a revised instrument cluster and anatomical ProBax seats.
The extra power actually makes it easier to drive than the regular Elise. The increased torque (peaking at 153 lb/ft at 5500rpm) makes the engine more flexible and means you don’t have to work the gearbox as hard.
This flexibility meant you could concentrate on what the car was doing and rediscover the purest elements of driving. Having been spoilt driving the latest cars with traction control, electro-mechanical steering and adaptive damping, the Elise reminds you how cars used to be – pure, lean and fast.
The 2014 lb Elise is all about weight, or the lack of it. Being light, it doesn’t need a big engine (0-60mph 4.4sec), so it’s economical (20mpg city, 26mpg highway) and emissions-friendly. It also means the steering is sharper, the brakes are better and the suspension is surprisingly absorbent because it’s not supporting tons of steel.
If you’ve never experienced a Lotus of any kind, we encourage you to climb behind the wheel. While they’re sparsely equipped, they’re also one of the most focused cars you can buy, yet the SC is flexible enough to be used daily.
The regular Elise starts at $46270, while the SC comes in at $54500. However, we’d recommend the $1600 Touring Pack with its noise insulation, leather or micro-suede upholstery, carpets and even an aluminum cupholder. We also sampled cars with the $2600 Sports Pack. Aimed more at track enthusiasts, it includes uprated suspension, traction control, twin oil coolers and even lighter lightweight wheels. While perhaps less crucial for the street, it will enhance the ride of your life.
For our full review of the Elise SC, see the July 2008 issue of eurotuner Magazine, on sale June 17.