The English weight conscious sportscar builders, Lotus have announced a special edition of their lightweight Elise model designed specifically for the US market. Priced just a shade under $44,000 the 2009 Lotus Elise Purist Edition is now available for orders.

The Purist Edition is optioned with the Sport Pack and includes everything from the Touring Pack except the iPod interface and leather covering the transmission tunnel and the door inserts. This special edition is being offered in three colors: Ardent Red, Saffron Yellow, and Monaco White.

Under the engine cover, is a mid mounted 1.8 Liter 4 cylinder making 190 HP. The power rockets the Lotus from 0-60 MPH in only 4.9 seconds and keeps going until a top speed of 150 MPH. Thanks to the lack of excess mass the well performing Elise is able to achieve 21 MPG in the city and up to 27 MPG on the highway.

Press release after the jump.