Performance Review: Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged - [2020]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Elise Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2020. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2021 McMurtry Speirling Goodwood and the 2021 Rimac Nevera 1888bhp Electric AWD.This particular Lotus Elise has a 1798cc Supercharged Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Elise shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Elise's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 924 kgs (2037 lbs) this makes the Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged in the same weight category as the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Elise shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 1798cc 16V St4 engine produces 217 bhp (161 kW) @ 6800 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (225 bhp).

The Supercharged St4 throws out 184 lb-ft (249.4 Nm) @ 7200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Lotus Elise you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2013 Porsche Panamera Turbo 4.8 V8 (259.8 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Elise.

The Lotus Elise has a Power to weight ratio of 234.8 bhp per ton and 199.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2020 Elise competing with the 2013 Porsche Panamera Turbo 4.8 V8 (259.8 bhp per ton) or the 2018 Bentley Continental GT 6.0 W12 Convertible (259.3 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Lotus Elise generating around 199.1 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 (223.5 lb-ft per ton) or the 2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed 6.0 W12 (223.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.20 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.3 secs, this made the Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged as fast as the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (4.20 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo G42 (4.20 secs) the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 5.2 V8 (4.20 secs) the or the 2020 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (4.20 secs). This Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged is also faster than the 2023 Lotus Eletre 603 bhp (4.30 secs) the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo (4.30 secs) the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo (4.30 secs) the and the 2022 Lotus Eletre S 603 bhp (4.30 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Elise and the 2006 Audi A8 4.2 Quattro

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Elise on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.37 secs @ 102.3 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2006 Audi A8 4.2 Quattro (13.32 secs), the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo GSR (13.32 secs), and the 2009 Volkswagen-VW Scirocco R 2.0 Turbo (13.33 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2020 version of the Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged has a maximum speed of 145mph.

Top Speed of the 2020 Elise equals the 2007 Lotus 2-Eleven 1.8 Supercharged (156 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged then how about the 2007 Lotus 2-Eleven 1.8 Supercharged (156 mph), the 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 (156 mph), or the 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR (156 mph).

Related Links:

2020 Elise Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison