Lotus Elise R Spied Testing at the Nrburgring
Lotus has been caught honing its next model at the Nürburgring.
At first glance, the Lotus Elise caught by spy photographers appears to be the Elise S Cup R but noticeably missing is the track-only variant’s external battery isolator switch and the external button for the fire extinguisher. With those components missing, it appears that the British automaker is working on a production, road-going variant for its Elise S Cup R.
SEE ALSO: Lotus Elise S Cup R Announced as a Track Day Special
The track-only car is based on the Elise S and is powered by a supercharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, which will almost certainly stay the same for the road car. The Elise R will likely feature the same aerodynamic and suspension improvements as the Cup R, though it will be slightly toned down for street use. If it gets the green light, expect the Elise R to make its debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show.
GALLERY: Lotus Elise R Spy Photos
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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guess that these type of automakers usually pay some reporters to "spy" their cars.