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

P1020863 IMG_4899 run-through-the-countryside Steve-Clive-Mike-Tim-and-Derek Ben 17-Tim-John-doing-it-tough Jon-heading-for-the-start-line- 7.-Mick-Garry 1.The-gathering MG_9120 Russells-Elise-1 Scene_from_the_tour_bus Antique_Shop_at_Yackandandah IMG_3901 117_1747_IMG 121_2200_IMG IMG_4403 IMG_4402 IMG_6674 image_166 group-1 Lotus-Exige Lotus-left-right-centre_gw Track-Day-Winners Aston-Greensill-rocking-the-black-and-gold Rhys Watson 2013 Renault Megane RS265 - 1 IMG_1971 gw_Ken Philip gw_Andrew Drying Out 20131005_181359 MG-8180 IMG-0163 IMG-0161 Mug with Slicks tony-galletly-with-car The Hill Tim A contemplative Dick P1010430 image_128 image_016 IMG_8507 IMG_8475 Mar-main-91 Inside-the-Outpost-Cafe-for-lunch main-32 img_1583 lot_019 IMG_7377 img_1116 img_1122 2006_08_27_Gympie_Skid_Pan0050 lec_0183 lec_0178 Berlingo_Van_full_of_Lotus_Goodies P1010080 IMGP8575 IMG_5616 lot_007 IMG_3333 IMG_8930 IMG_7408 DSC_1530 Daryl_fixing_a_rattle IMG_1267e P1060331 020_20 IMG_5098 2009_Maccleans_Bridge_009 Club_Lotus_Dec_08_009 IMG_3918 IMG_3263 IMG_0917 IMG_8161 DSC03856 P9180022c1 IMG_20210925_095015 Paul-smiling-after-scaring-me-on-track Beechworth - Here we come IMG_3201 Evan-Molloy-enjoying-his-first-Morgan-Park-Sprints.-Bt-Trapnell-Creations IMG_4342 Pat-Richards-trying-to-work-out-why-Geoff-is-so-fast-by-Bridie-Moran 20200815_075805 Contemplating-the-serious-nature-of-Concours Getting-ready-for-the-home-run Phil daryl-wilsons-caterham-2 Wade-and-Aston main-10 now-theres-a-bonnet-emblem Post Event Glow P1020961 Chatter super-healey Daimler-interior IMG_8498 20181111_144324 IMG_0177

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