2005 Lotus Elise 111R 2ZZ Harrop TVS1320 Supercharged

The Lotus Elise 111R is the one you want. It turfed the old-school and temperamental Rover K-series engine for a superior and more reliable Toyota driveline, which unlocked potential.

Opening the door to new levels of performance is the Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine – a fantastic, modern four-cylinder performance motor with variable valve timing and lift. It came with stronger and better geared Toyota gearbox too, meaning the package could now handle far more grunt.

This 2005 Lotus Elise 111R is an Australian delivered example that was interestingly bought new by a famous Australian road cyclist.

However, it was in the hands of its second owner where it became a project to build the ultimate sports car.

The first step was supercharging, with a Harrop TVS1320 blower employed to compress air. This Lotus Elise 111R now produces in-excess 250kW per tonne, offering extreme levels of performance. Getting from 0-100km/h takes less than four seconds, with roll-on acceleration events equally as startling.

The chassis wasn’t left alone, being supported by high-quality Nitron adjustable suspension. Other additions include a Simply Sports Cars intake and exhaust system.

Finishing off the build was a body-off repaint in Mercedes-AMG Graphite Grey. As a matte finish, it provides a hefty amount of visual clout to match the performance, and contrasts nicely against the car’s glossy elements.

Having never been raced and only enjoyed moderately on the road and occasionally on the track, this comprehensively upgraded Lotus Elise 111R is beckoning you to get involved.