Lotus Elan is the name of two convertible automobiles and one fixed head coupé produced by Lotus Cars. The original Type 26, 26R Racing version, 36 Fixed Head Coupe, 45 Drop Head Coupe, and the "Type 50" +2 Coupe, circa 1962 to 1975, are commonly known as the '60s Elans. The Type M100 from 1989 to 1995, is also commonly known as the 1990s Elan. Lotus Elan 66 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Automakers or automobile manufacturers are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at Hethel, England. ... The Lotus Elite name was used for two vehicles from Lotus Cars. ... The Lotus Elise is a roadster conceived in early 1994 and released in September 1995 by the English manufacturer Lotus Cars. ... Car classification is a somewhat subjective subject, as many vehicles fall between classes or even outside all of them. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1923 Ford Model T roadster 1950 Jaguar XK120 roadster This article is about the roadster car body style. ... Saab 900 Convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Internal combustion engine. ... A cubic centimetre (cm3) is an SI derived unit of volume, equal to the volume of a cube with side length of 1 centimetre. ... Saab 900 Convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupé 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupé, noted for its large, angular design A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a car body style with a close-coupled interior offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers up front and for... Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports cars and racing cars based in Hethel, Norfolk, formed as Lotus Engineering Ltd. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

1960s Elan

The original Elan was introduced in 1962 as a roadster, although later a coupé version and an optional hardtop were offered. It was the first Lotus road car to use the now famous steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body. The Elan was technologically advanced with a twin-cam 1558 cc engine, 4-wheel disc brakes, and 4-wheel independent suspension. The twin cam engine was based on Ford's Kent and would go on to be used in a number of Lotus production and racing models. An Elan +2 was introduced in 1967 with a longer wheelbase and two more rear seats. The Elan ceased production in 1973 and the Elan +2 in 1975. An estimated total of 17,000 original Elans and Elan +2's were built. 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... 1923 Ford Model T roadster 1950 Jaguar XK120 roadster This article is about the roadster car body style. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupé 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupé, noted for its large, angular design A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a car body style with a close-coupled interior offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers up front and for... A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... The old steel cable of a colliery winding tower Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon being the primary alloying material. ... Bundle of fiberglass Fiberglass or fibreglass is material made from extremely fine fibers of glass. ... A double overhead cam (also called a dual overhead cam, DOHC, or twincam) engine is a type of internal combustion engine where the camshafts that operate the intake and exhaust valves are mounted above the cylinders, and where there are separate camshafts for inlet and exhaust valves. ... A colorized automobile engine The internal combustion engine is a heat engine in which the burning of a fuel occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ... Close-up of a disc brake on a car On automobiles, disc brakes are often located within the wheel disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel. ... An independent suspension is an automobile suspension system that allows the wheels on an axle to move independently of each other. ... Ford Motor Company (also called simply Ford NYSE: F), is an American company that manufactures and sells automobiles worldwide. ... The Ford Kent is an internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

This generation of the two seater Elan was famously driven by the character Emma Peel on the British television series The Avengers. In 2004, Sports Car International named the Elan number six on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. The original version of the car was designed by Ron Hickman, who also designed the first Lotus Europa as part of Lotus' GT40 project bid, as well as the Black and Decker Workmate. The Avengers, John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), appear on the cover of a 1994 reprint of an Avengers novel co-written by Macnee. ... The Avengers is a British 1960s television series featuring secret agents in a fantasy 1960s Britain. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sports Car International is an automobile magazine in the United States focused on sports cars. ... Sports Car International magazine compiled a list of the Top Sports Cars of the last few decades. ... Lotus Europa (S2 Federal) The Lotus Europa, built by Lotus Cars from 1966 to 1975, was among the first production road cars to feature a mid-engine rear wheel drive design. ... Two GT40s Mk II GT40 Mk II rear The Ford GT40 was one of the most distinctive sports cars ever, winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans four times straight from 1966 to 1969. ... Black & Decker (NYSE: BDK) is a corporation based in Towson, Maryland best known for power tools and home appliances. ...

The original Elan is commonly credited as being the design inspiration, if not the outright predecessor, for the original 1990 Mazda Miata. This article is about the year. ... The Mazda MX-5 is a popular sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan. ...

1990s Elan

1990 Lotus Elan SE

The second Lotus Elan (often known as the M100 Elan based on its internal Lotus model number), released in 1989, was a technical tour de force but one that also defied Lotus's "performance through light weight" tradition, some say to its detriment. Its styling by Peter Stevens, who was also responsible for the redesign of the Lotus Esprit, was also controversial. Download high resolution version (1863x1308, 309 KB)1990 Lotus Elan SE at Bristol Car Show, The Downs, Bristol, England. ... Download high resolution version (1863x1308, 309 KB)1990 Lotus Elan SE at Bristol Car Show, The Downs, Bristol, England. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Peter Stevens (born 1943) is a British car designer. ... Lotus Esprit Turbo 1981-1986 1993 Lotus Esprit S4 The back of a 1993 Lotus Esprit S4 1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HC The Lotus Esprit was a sports car built by Lotus from 1976 to 2004. ...

The idea of a front-wheel drive Lotus, powered by an Isuzu turbocharged engine and motivated by an Isuzu five speed transmission, was a brave concept and its cornering performance was undeniable (on release the Elan was described by Autocar magazine as "the quickest point to point car available"). However the handling was negatively compared to the original Elan both by the press and some Lotus loyalists, often being accused of lacking driver feedback. Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... Air foil bearing-supported turbocharger cutaway made by Mohawk Innovative Technology Inc. ...

The relatively high price of the M100 Elan (vs. e.g. the Mazda Miata), along with the mixed reviews and the downturn in the global economy in 1992 particularly in the USA meant it was not a sales success. The Mazda MX-5 is a popular sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

Production numbers are a highly debated topic, with some claiming that there were less than 4,000 vehicles ever produced, with less than 600 imported to the US. However Ann Talbot of Lotus Cars USA cited US sales of 1,500 units in 1991, and Lotus Cars USA issued a statement that they sold more than 2,000 Elans in the US in 1991 and 1992. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

US market vehicles featured a 'stage 2 body' which had a different rear boot spoiler arrangement together with a lengthened nose to accommodate a USA compliant crash structure and 16" wheels instead of the UK car's 15".

The M100 Elan used a 1588 cc twin-cam 16-valve turbocharged engine, sourced from the Isuzu Gemini (a third generation of this engine was later used in the Isuzu Impulse), which produced 162 hp. 0-60 acceleration time was measured by Autocar and Motor magazine as 6.5 s, and a top speed of 137 mph was recorded. Air foil bearing-supported turbocharger cutaway made by Mohawk Innovative Technology Inc. ... The Isuzu Gemini was a compact car built by Isuzu and sold from 1974 through 2000. ... The Isuzu Impulse was a small sporty 3-door hatchback sold from 1983 through 1992. ...

In June 1992 Elan production ceased due to economic conditions and a desire by the then owner of Lotus, General Motors, to reduce losses which amounted to some 36 million UK pounds over the period the Elan was in production. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ...

In 1996 and 1997, Kia built the Elan under license for the Korean market, using a 151 hp 1.8 L engine instead of the Isuzu made 1.6. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Kia Elan is a convertible automobile produced by Kia from 1996 to 1997. ...

Series 2 M100 Elan

A limited edition (of 800) Series 2 (S2) M100 Elans was released during the Romano Artioli era (produced from June 1994 - September 1995) when it was discovered that enough engines remained available to make this possible. According to Autocar magazine, the S2 addressed some of the concerns over handling but the 0-60 acceleration time allegedly increased to 7.5 seconds, which they thought was probably due to the legislative requirement to fit a catalytic converter in all markets. In overall performance the S2's have very similar performance to the USA vehicles, having an identical engine management system calibration and a slightly lower overall vehicle weight. Romano Artioli is an Italian entrepreneur, born in Moglia (Mantova) and raised in Bolzano and one time owner of Bugatti and Lotus. ... A catalytic converter (colloquially, cat or catcon) is a device used to reduce the toxicity of emissions from an internal combustion engine. ...

External links

1990s Lotus Elan

• LotusElanCentral.com

1960s Lotus Elan

• LotusElan.net