Limited Slip Differential for the Elise
While a limited slip differential (LSD) is officially available as an option for 2006, what most people don’t know is that it was also an option for 2005 models. Though introduced very late in the model year, each dealer could order up to two models so equipped in the 2005 model year. Most significantly, this means that competitive autocrossers may retrofit the differential to any 2005 Elise, though the ‘two per dealer’ could create some confusion and rules challenges later. Before the rest of you go clamoring off to your dealer to ‘upgrade’ to this, keep in mind that Lotus engineers have reported that the LSD creates weird and unsafe handling beahvior on the track, hence the mandatory traction control that comes with every LSD (via a reprogrammed ECU). The only practical application of LSD in an Elise is on tight, competitive courses like an autocross.