Production of the Lotus Elise and Exige will finish this year so the company has created special editions as a final hooray. 

The British-based company recently announced that it will create a new sports car range after releasing an image of the prototype. Called Type 131, the sports car will go into production later this year.

But fans of the original Lotus cars have a chance to buy the last models called the Final Edition that gain extra kit, a performance boost, and bespoke design elements.

Chief among the revisions for the final production cars is the addition of a new digital gauge cluster with a choice of conventional dials or race-style digital readouts. There is also a new Alcantara/leather steering wheel design and unique seat trim patterns and each car will be supplied with a Final Edition build plaque. 

Both the Elise and Exige will be available in "some of the iconic colour schemes" from their past, including Azure Blue, black and Racing Green. 

Lotus says these cars are the “ultimate versions of the Elise and Exige, and mark the pinnacle of technical development to showcase more than two decades of engineering excellence”. 

To be built in limited numbers, there will be five new variants – two Elise and three Exige – have been created and Lotus is anticipating high demand from global markets as customers rush to buy a slice of history. They are available with unique paint colours, new exterior decals, new wheel finishes, new trim and Final Edition badging.

The improvements continue under the skin, a fact reflected in new names which reveal higher power outputs on three of the five – the Elise Sport 240, Elise Cup 250, Exige Sport 390, Exige Sport 420 and Exige Cup 430.

As revealed last month, the Lotus Evora has also entered its final year of production. Further announcements about plans to celebrate this model will be announced in due course.