When you rely on another manufacturer to supply engines for your offerings, sometimes things can get a bit tricky. In the case of Lotus, that time has now come for the Elise and Exige.

With the supply of Toyota Twin Cam 2ZZ-GE four-cylinder engines now used up, the Norfolk based sports car maker is winding down production of these two models, though will send them out with bang, offering a run of Final Edition versions based on each car.

On the Exige front, this consists of a special model called the 260 Final Edition. Only 30 examples will be allocated for North American buyers, each retailing at a cost $67,500. For that you get the Lotus Tour Pack, Track Pack and Limited Slip Differential. In addition, for an extra $2400, 25 buyers will have the option of getting their 260 finished a menacing matte black exterior hue if so desired.

As for the Elise, well, in our neck-of-the-woods, just 15 examples of the SC Final Edition will make it to North American shores. Each of the cars will come fully loaded with options and the buyers will have a choice of four different exterior colors derived from that  used on the Euro market Elise Club Racer. Price? $57,500.

Production of the Elise/Exige is scheduled to end in July, so if you want one of the Final Edition cars, better sign up now!

[Source: Golden Gate Lotus Club]

While Lotus’s philosophy of making its cars as light weight as possible has obvious benefits on the race track, owners of non-supercharged Elise and Exige models can attest to the fact that the tiny Toyota-sourced engines don’t always deliver the sort of thrust one might hope for.

To help remedy this situation Lotus has just announced a new factory engineered, warrantied and 50 state legal supercharger kit. Using the same supercharger and intake manifold as found on the Elise SC, this kit also includes high flow fuel injectors and a reprogrammed ECU which can be bought and installed at any authorized Lotus dealer in the U.S. and Canada.

Compatible with any  Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine the Lotus supercharger kit boost engine output from 189hp to 218hp and torque from 133 ft-lbs to 155 ft-lbs. Torque also comes on earlier at just 5000 rpm (as opposed to 6800 rpm in the naturally aspirated mode) to deliver a stronger powerband.

“Lotus Elise and Exige owners are genuine driving enthusiasts and that’s what has attracted them to Lotus cars in the first place,” said Lotus Cars USA, Director of Operations Arnie Johnson. “They will fully appreciate the dramatically enhanced driving character these Lotus Supercharger Kits will bring their vehicles and the peace of mind from a fully warranted, factory engineered kit.”

Official release after the jump:

Owners of Naturally Aspirated Lotus Elise and Exige Vehicles Can Now Supercharge Their Thrill Rides

Duluth, GA, August 3, 2009 – Lotus Cars USA, Inc. is pleased to announce the availability of a new Lotus factory engineered, warranted and 50-state legal complete Supercharger Kit for naturally aspirated Elise and Exige models.

These Lotus Supercharger Kits use the same supercharger and integrated intake manifold unit as fitted to a production Elise SC and can be installed on any naturally aspirated Elise or Exige powered by a Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine. The compact supercharger and integrated intake manifold, working in concert with new high-flow fuel injectors and a re-programmed engine management control unit, increases horsepower from 189 HP up to approximately 218 HP and torque jumps from 133 ft.-lbs. up to approximately 155 ft.-lbs.

Perhaps even more important, the increased maximum torque is available at a lower 5,000 rpm instead of the naturally aspirated 6,800 rpm providing the Lotus driver with a much broader and more flexible power band to work with when carving their favorite twisty roads.

“Lotus Elise and Exige owners are genuine driving enthusiasts and that’s what has attracted them to Lotus cars in the first place,” said Lotus Cars USA, Inc. Director of Operations Arnie Johnson. “They will fully appreciate the dramatically enhanced driving character these Lotus Supercharger Kits will bring their vehicles and the peace of mind from a fully warranted, factory engineered kit.”

The Lotus Supercharger Kit is available for purchase and installation at all authorized Lotus dealers in the U.S. and Canada