Lotus Club Queensland
Dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of the Lotus experience
Login
Register
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Membership
    • Member Login
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Motorsport
    • Lakeside DTC Timed Laps
    • LAKESIDE DTC RESULTS
  • Magazine
  • For Sale
    • Merchandise
    • Classifieds
  • Posts
  • Galleries
  • Directory
    • Suppliers & Parts
    • Advertisers
  • Archives
2014-lotus-elan-1

2014 Lotus Elan

Lotus revives one of its most hallowed badges, adding a few pounds in the process

Avert your eyes, stringback-gloved purists: A new Lotus Elan is set to debut at the Paris auto show, and, for the first time, the model will not be available with an open top.

First, a bit of history: The Elan badge dates back to 1962, when Lotus was a fledgling concern known largely for its motorsport success and an impractical sports car called the Mark VII, or 7. That year, it launched a gossamer wisp of a rear-drive roadster, one that weighed just over 1700 pounds and sprinted to 60mph in 7.1 seconds. It would prove to be one of the defining moments in sports-car history.

The Elan was a massive success, injecting much-needed cash into Lotus’s coffers and serving as the benchmark for the modern sports car. A host of derivatives followed, both in-house and out (the first-generation Mazda MX5 was an unabashed Elan tribute), and although Lotus revived the name in the late 1980s for a front-wheel-drive convertible with an Isuzu-sourced powertrain, the first-generation Elan is widely hailed as Lotus’s masterstroke, and one of the greatest cars ever built.

In short, the Elan is Lotus, and Lotus the Elan, and we can therefore assume that the resurrection of the name was not taken lightly. The ingredients for success—if not an accurate recreation—are present: The car that will be shown in the Paris 2014 show is a 2900-pound, rear-wheel-drive coupe due for production this year. Power comes from a mid-mounted, 4.0-litre Toyota-sourced V6 that spins to 7800 rpm and uses forced induction—no word on what type—to produce 444hp and 343lb-ft of torque.

Top speed is claimed to be 193 mph, and Lotus says that 60mph comes up in 3.5 seconds. Two seats are standard, but as with the first Elan, a 2+2 configuration also will be offered. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is the only available gearbox, and a “push to pass” F1-inspired hybrid system will be optional. Price is said to be around £75,000, which we hear will also be the approximate price in $US.

Like the original, the ’14 Elan will sit in the bottom half of Lotus’s product range, perched above a lighter, cheaper, and more focused model (the all-new ’14 Elise, which fills the slot once occupied by the 7) but below heavier, faster, and more expensive cars (the Paris-announced Elite, Esprit, and Eterne, which recall early high-dollar Lotuses like the 1970s Elite and original Esprit).

If nothing else, the parallel is interesting—Lotus founder Colin Chapman used the first Elan’s success and volume to fund the company’s growth, moving upscale and chasing profits through costly, low-volume offerings. More Lotuses are always a good thing; here’s hoping this one lives up to its name.

Lotus Cortina Mk1: A history Part 1 Lakeside July 2013

Related Posts

duratec-banner

Articles, Homepage, Technical

Duratec Elise – better late than never

marburg-banner

EMRs, Gallery 2022, Homepage, News

Marburg Pub Run – 4 Sept 2022

plus2-banner

Articles, Gallery 2022, Homepage, Technical

Unique +2 Road Trip to Brisbane

Random images

IMG_0783 7-Roger-Greg-and-Clive Vyvyan 19-Clive-Tim-John-Penny-Rob 14-Robs-brillant-setup lotus IMGP1265 Daryls-new-paint-job P1020846 20130511_104738 George-Rowes-Lotus11-3 IMG_6245 IMG_8421 IMG_4409 IMG_6843 IMG_6774 IMG_6730 image_029 IMG_4199 Excel_Henry_1 Lloyd Jones 1969 Lotus Europa - 2 172_THC22_2022-3 IMG_4859 aa Rob-Parer-leading-the-pack-by-SDPICS GT-Sports-trophy-podium-lockout Mitch-Ringuet-trying-hard-photo-by-Trapnell-Creations IMG_2477 IMG_1087 Lindsay IMG_0040 Kris McKerron 2004 Lotus Elise 111R - 1 gw-Clive and Liam A Full Grid Rob on Track Timers On your marque 20160522_103934 _MG_4680 as Smart Object-1 Peter_Brock_Memorial_Bathurst_NSW image_101 Mar-main-9 Gathering-at-OReillys-2 Shane's-Seven Jason-and-Joe Attendees-at-the-meeting-1 P1010454 2006_08_27_Gympie_Skid_Pan0099 Sep_MS03_1 IMG_5219 MG_7081 Ploughman's Lunch Ploughman's Lunch IMG_0004 IMG_0219 IMG_0101 img_0952 img_1058 P1020820 IMG_5318 MG_4266 31b Mike IMG_1308e P1060265 20090822_072 095_95 Clive_Wade_Lotus_Elise P8310107 IMG_5128 P1020781 P1090169 DSC03859 IMG_7959 IMG_8011 IMG_8076 Cane_field_run_5 Award-Outright-Greg-Bray Check out the fog phils-evora-1 IMG_0031 IMG_8202 Evan-ready-to-run Mike-Goodfellows-Lotus-Elan-2-S130-4-runner-up-in-Class-2-1963-1974 pretty-red-elise Fencing-wire-jury-rig IMG_3693 Martin P1020962 IMAG5973 caterham-seven-air-vents main-24 e-type-v12 _MG_9887 as Smart Object-1 IMG_6144 John IMG_8811 Jason Torana donk alvis-2

Recent Articles

  • Morgan Park Sprints R4
  • Kev’s Big Day Out
  • Duratec Elise – better late than never
  • Gold Rush Hill Sprint – 2022
  • Marburg Pub Run – 4 Sept 2022
  • Unique +2 Road Trip to Brisbane
  • Leyburn 2022
  • August 2022 DTC

Latest Gallery Images

20220220_093834 20220220_093818 20220220_093827 20220220_093743 20220220_093812 20220220_093730

Search articles by category

Archived articles

Lotus Club Queensland
© Lotus Club Queensland   |   Site by Black Eye Studios