2018 Lotus Elise Cup 250

The Cup 250 sits at the apex of the Series 3 Elise range, and represents Lotus's most track-biased road car of that generation. Beyond the standard Sport 220, it gains a full aerodynamic package — splitter, dive planes, and a fixed rear wing — alongside revised suspension geometry, and a supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder producing 245 bhp in a car weighing around 931 kg dry. That power-to-weight ratio puts it ahead of considerably more expensive machinery in real-world pace.

This 2018 car has covered 20,100 miles, which for an eight-year-old Elise suggests use as an occasional-drive or track-day machine rather than daily transport. No colour is stated in the listing, but the Cup 250's visual character is dominated by its functional bodywork — none of the aero is cosmetic. The manual gearbox is the only transmission offered, keeping the driving experience as direct as possible.

At £43,500, the Cup 250 occupies a specific and largely uncontested position: genuinely track-capable, road-legal, and built on one of the most driver-focused platforms of its era. For buyers who want involvement over comfort, it remains a compelling proposition.