Lotus sports cars are known as many things. Modern is not among those descriptions. The Lotus philosophy of simplify and add lightness precludes the need for most modern pieces of technology but the company has decided that new equipment can be helpful so long as it improves the driving experience. That is why Lotus has just announced a new 'plug and play' digital dashboard, to improve the track day experience.

The retrofit kit is available on specific Lotus Elise and V6 Exige models built from 2008 onwards, meaning that the only model currently sold in the US, the 2020 Lotus Evora GT, is not eligible for the upgrade. Both the Elise and Exige were previously sold in the US, meaning those cars could make use of the new dashboard.

Unlike most digital gauge clusters, Lotus has designed its dashboard specifically for the race track, so you won't find radio information on this display. The plug-and-play unit comes pre-loaded with integrated GPS technology and lap performance indicators and data for 4,127 race tracks around the world. When you arrive at the track, you can load the start/finish line coordinates to calculate lap times and analyze your performance in real-time on the display or later by downloading the data to a laptop, much like Porsche'sTrack Precision App.

A unique Lotus-branded start-up screen appears when you start up the vehicle and the can be customized based on user preferences. The system even includes a camera input so that drivers can install a portable action camera to capture video footage from their laps.

"We know our customers appreciate the motorsport heritage of Lotus cars and love to use their own vehicles on track days. Integrating a Digital Instrument Pack into an Elise or Exige is only going to enhance that experience," said Chris Hinks, Aftersales Director of Lotus. UK Lotus retailers will offer the pack for £1,470 including VAT but the company says prices in other markets will vary. When fitted by an approved Lotus retailer, the pack includes a two-year warranty.