We do not believe in "chipping" the engine, and have retained the standard camshafts. After testing the standard car on our rolling road, which is where a lot of our development is carried out, we have changed both the air filter and the silencer system, in conjunction with our modified cylinder head to produce 160 bhp at the flywheel. This has given the modified car super acceleration and increased torque right throughout the rev range. The standard engine developed maximum power at 5200 rpm and then dropped like a stone. The modified engine developed maximum power at 6500 rpm. We have not lifted the rev limiter; this stays at 7000 rpm. The main increase in power comes from the modifications to the cylinder head; this is where our skill and expertise come into practice.

So confident were we in our conversion that we contacted Lotus to see if they would be interested in testing our car. Both Dave Minter and Alistar McQueen, the test and development engineers for the Elise, took the car around the Lotus test track. Talking to them afterwards they praised our conversion above other modified Elises they have driven. Peugeot and Citroen models that we have modified are normally tested by the leading motor journals. With the Elise, however, we felt it more appropriate to take the car back to Lotus for testing. We were extremely pleased with their reaction and comments.

I was so impressed after driving the modified Elise we now have a modified Elise of out own, which unlike the standard car, had the "get up and go" you would expect from Lotus.

Another customer wrote to Club Lotus magazine praising our conversion carried out on a MK1 Elise:

Dear Lotus News,

My Lotus Elise reborn.

We all get to that point when although we love our car we feel its time to move on or update.

I have an Elise MK1 which I have cherished for a number of years and added lots of extras, recently I started to look at MK 2's and even other cars with a bit more grunt.

In short I preferred the look of my car to others viewed so I decided to modify my own.

After doing a lot of research I decided not to go the chip or cam route but to modify the head, inlet and exhaust system. As I live in the North West I looked for someone reasonably local to carry out the mod and contacted LAD Motorsport in Morecambe.

They are a friendly and helpful bunch with experience in Renault and Lotus tuning and I decided to entrust my Mk1 to them.

The tune consisted of a reworked head, straight through exhaust and a VVC inlet manifold.

After a week away I collected my trusty steed and found the difference astounding,the torque and bhp have been considerably increased and made the car much more driveable and, may I say, far better than the original.

The conversion has given the car a new lease of life and is an absolute pleasure to drive without being too racy and lumpy at low speed, it also returns the same mpg and runs on 95 octane fuel although a tankful of BP Ultimate or Shell Optimax does boost performance a little.

For anyone thinking of changing cars or seeking a bit more performance from a 118 bhp model it may be worth considering this modification .


Pete S.

The price of the 160 bhp engine kit, complete with air filter and exhaust system and modified cylinder head fitted and set up on our rolling road is £1950 including VAT.

All work carried out by L.A.D. for both parts and labour on our conversions carries a full 12 month warranty.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details.

NB Prices subject change without notice
Last modified 20/06/2006

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