Where the magic happens is in the engine bay of the Elise. A Rover K-series motor powers it; and while these engines weren’t usually revered, this example produces an astonishing 850 hp on methanol. The owner didn’t go for a typical engine swap to get more power. Instead, he modified the original motor extensively to get to his desired power output.
The Rover K-series has a GTX 42 twin-scroll turbo, making 55 pounds of boost at 6,900 rpm on straight methanol. Yes, the car is now methanol injected, but it can still run on high-octane pump gas. It also includes eight 2,200-cc injectors, a custom intake manifold, multiple sensors for the air-fuel ratio, and a custom tune.