Lotus supercharged demon

The price premium is good value considering the power gain.

Elise SC has a compact supercharger in a special, one-piece casting of the intake manifold to the 1.8-litre variable-valve, four-cylinder engine.

It lacks an intercooler, saving weight compared with the supercharged version of its stablemate, the Exige.

Lotus says the new Elise SC has been engineered as a fast road car and so gets a progressive throttle response. The variable camshaft does not switch in at a single point but rather comes into effect between 4000rpm and 6200rpm, depending on how the car is driven.

The 162kW of power and, at 5000rpm, the 212Nm of torque are each about 15 per cent more than the Elise R. In deeper contrast, it's 62 per cent more power than the Elise S, yet at 870kg is just 10kg heavier.

That translates to a 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds, so watch out six-litre V8 HSV drivers. But the real talents of the Lotus are in cornering and braking.

The SC version has slightly wider rear wheels with 225/45 tyres. Its 17in diameter alloys have a unique design helping Lotus spotters pick it from other Elises, while its rear wing is another identification aid.

It has AP Racing calipers at the front and Brembo calipers at the rear on 282mm ventilated discs - more than enough braking for such a light car.

Instrumentation includes lights warning to change up a gear as the engine approaches its redline.

The Elise S sells for $69,990, Elise R $94,990 and the new Elise SC $104,990.

A touring pack costs $8000, a sports pack $7000 and options include removable hardtop and traction control.