Lotus Elan
| Lotus Elan 1500, 1600, S2, S3, S4, Sprint | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Lotus Cars |
| Production | 1962–1973 |
| Assembly | Hethel, England |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car (S) |
| Body style | 2-door coupé 2-door roadster |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1,498 cc later 1,558 cc Lotus TwinCam I4 (petrol) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 84.0 in (2,134 mm) |
| Length | 145.0 in (3,683 mm) |
| Width | 56.0 in (1,422 mm) |
| Height | 45.5 in (1,156 mm) |
| Curb weight | 1,516.8 lb (688 kg) |
| Lotus Elan +2 | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Production | 1967–1975 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1,557 cc Lotus TwinCam I4 (petrol) |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual (all-synchromesh) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 96.0 in (2,438 mm) |
| Length | 169.0 in (4,293 mm) |
| Width | 66.0 in (1,676 mm) |
| Height | 47.0 in (1,194 mm) |
| Lotus Elan M100 | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Also called | Galloper Elan (Arabia) Kia Elan Kia Roadster (Germany) Kia Vigato (Japan) |
| Production | 1989–1995 |
| Assembly | Hethel, England |
| Designer | Peter Stevens |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door roadster |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1,588 cc Isuzu 4XE1 I4 (petrol) 1,588 cc Isuzu 4XE1-MT turbo I4 (petrol) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 88.6 in (2,250 mm) |
| Length | 149.7 in (3,803 mm) 152.2 in (3,870 mm) (US) |
| Width | 68.3 in (1,734 mm) |
| Height | 48.4–48.8 in (1,230–1,240 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,198 lb (997 kg) (NA) 2,370–2,447 lb (1,075–1,110 kg) (Turbo) |
| Lotus Elan (2013) | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Production | concept, not produced |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | Mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
Lotus Elan is the name of two convertible cars and two fixed head coupés produced by Lotus Cars. The original Type 26, 26R Racing version (of the Elan 1600, Elan S2 and Elan coupe), 36 Fixed Head Coupe, 45 Drop Head Coupe, and the "Type 50" +2 Coupe, circa 1962 to 1975, are commonly known as the 1960s Elans.
A similar Elan-inspired model called Evante was produced from mid-1980s by British Lotus specialists Vegantune.
The Type M100 from 1989 to 1995, is also commonly known as the 1990s Elan. This second model was also produced in South Korea by Kia Motors between 1996 and 1999, rebadged as the Kia Elan.
The original Elan 1500 was introduced in 1962 as a roadster. After a very short production run of just 22 cars the engine was enlarged and the car was redesignated the Elan 1600. An optional hardtop was offered in 1963 and a coupé version in 1965. The two-seat Lotus Elan replaced the elegant, but unreliable and expensive to produce Lotus Elite.
It was the first Lotus road car to use a steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass body. At 1,600 lb (726 kg), the Elan embodied the Colin Chapman minimum weight design philosophy. Initial versions of the Elan were also available as a kit to be assembled by the customer. The Elan was technologically advanced with a DOHC 1557 cc engine, 4-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, and 4-wheel independent suspension. Gordon Murray, who designed the spectacular McLaren F1 supercar, reportedly said that his only disappointment with the McLaren F1 was that he couldn't give it the perfect steering of the Lotus Elan.
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Wikipedia