Currently reading: Lotus refreshes the Elise
Lotus Elise gets an airbag, traction control and new pedals for 2006

The Lotus Elise, the firm's best-selling model, and the hardcore, hardtop Exige have been given a new line-up of standard and optional equipment.

On sale now, the '06 Elise and Exige boast faster-acting LED taillights, central locking and a retuned brake pedal and electronic throttle operated by a new steel pedal box. The loss of Elise chief chassis engineer Richard Rackham's elegant extruded aluminium pedal box has been in the name of weight-saving, along with the LED lights, which save 0.6kg.

The exterior styling is unchanged, but there are now 21 paint colours to choose from, with metallic paint a £595 option and new 'lifestyle' finishes for £1010. Inside there is an easier-to-read tachometer and new Probax seats, which save weight and offer an improved posture.

Both the £27,995 Elise and £29,995 Exige are powered by a mid-mounted 189bhp Toyota engine, and each can now be specified with one of four option packs.

The £1495 Touring pack includes leather trim, a CD player, carpet set and electric windows, while for an extra £500 the Super Touring pack adds driver and passenger airbags - an Elise first - a starter button and extra trim and storage areas.

If your Lotus is likely to spend more time on the track, twin oil coolers, switchable traction control, uprated springs and dampers and lightweight forged alloys are part of the £1495 Sport pack. For serious circuit bias, the £2495 Super Sports pack loses 1.2kg from each corner with new alloys and features more focused suspension with adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars and a double shear track control arm. Super Sports Elises also receive Exige-spec Yokohama Advan tyres and a roll hoop.

Air-conditioning remains a £1295 option, traction control is available on its own for £395 and a limited-slip differential for £995.

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