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Lotus will pull the covers off the Elise S Cup R racer at the Autosport International 2014 show in Birmingham (January 9-12), alongside the more powerful Exige V6 Cup, Exige V6 Cup R and Evora GT4.

The latest addition to Lotus Motorsport’s stable, the Elise S Cup R, builds on the road-going Elise S’ capabilities, transforming into a track-only race car. The car is powered by a mid-mounted, supercharged 1.8-liter Toyota engine producing 217 hp (220PS) and 250 Nm (181 lb-ft) of torque. The engine control module (ECM) has motorsport-specific mapping

The Lotus Elise S Cup R sports a bespoke livery and a CFD proven aerodynamic body kit including revised front splitter, barge boards, winglets, rear diffuser, floor extensions and rear wing.

The manipulation of air-flow creates extra downforce and together with the adjustable dampers and springs contribute to quicker lap times – the Elise S Cup R is around 4 seconds faster than the standard Elise S over a 2.2-mile lap.

"With so many new markets becoming interested in motorsport, the Elise S Cup R gives us the perfect entry level track-car," said Rupert Manwaring, head of Lotus Motorsport. "Whether the focus is racing or simply developing your driving skills on a race circuit and having fun, the incredible handling and ease of use with low running costs make the Elise S Cup R an intelligent choice."

The car is eligible for entry to the production class in the 2014 Lotus Cup series which include Lotus Cup UK, Lotus Cup Europe, Lotus Cup Italia, Lotus Cup USA, Lotus Cup Japan, Lotus Cup Thailand, Lotus Cup China and Lotus Ladies Cup.

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