These Elise Classic Heritage Editions celebrate four great classic Lotus liveries

The black-and-gold look is part of what Lotus wants us to think of as its Elise Classic Heritage Editions range. As much added stripes as racing liveries perhaps, the special editions are nonetheless intended to evoke glorious Lotus racecars of the past.

The range comprises four Elises, 100 cars in total and all loaded with extras at a single, all-in price. As well as the black and gold of the JPS sponsored F1 cars of 1972, you can opt for red, white and gold (think Graham Hill in the Type 49B of 1968); or blue, red and silver (Nigel Mansell’s Type 81 of 1980).

The fourth in the series aims to impress with a special appeal all its own: the blue and white livery is in tribute to the Lotus Type 18. That’s the car which, 60 years ago, delivered Lotus’s first F1 pole position and victory, courtesy of the late Sir Stirling Moss, at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The paint jobs are matched to interior colour packs, with key colours picked out on the door trims, seat inserts, gear selector surround and dashboard. The blue and white car has the additional flourish of red Alcantara seat centres. Predictably, each car has its own numbered plaque. Ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels also get a racing livery finish.

All pretty tasteful then to complement what is, always has been and always will be one of the greatest of drivers’ cars. All the editions are based on the Sport 220 model with its 217bhp and 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds.

As well as the colour themes and special wheels and brakes, you get extras thrown in (DAB digital radio with four speakers, air-conditioning, cruise control). Lotus says in total each car gets £11,735 worth of extras but at £46,250 on the road the special Elise is only £6,350 more than a standard Sport 220.

Heritage-inspired specials are nothing new for Hethel but as long as the base car is good enough, why not? Which colour scheme would you have? We rather fancy the blue, red and silver of Nige’s Type 81…