Hi Misfits,

todays car gallery is all about Lotus. A manufacturer with a long tradition in car building. Some really fantastic and iconic models in their line-up. Famous for street cars as well as race cars. There are countless variations on each model. Way too many to list. Also too many to list if I would have chosen one per year of each model. So I just chose 1-2 for each model. As well as some concepts, race cars, movie cars and customs. But let's dig into the rich history first.

Colin Chapman built his first competition car in 1948 while studying engineering in London. Using an old Austin Seven as a base. And 1952 he formally established the Lotus Engineering Company. Chapman died unexpectedly in 1982. His death left the company without its visionary leader, and Lotus faced significant financial challenges during the 1980s.

1986 it was acquired by GM. General Motors. In 1993 sold to a company controlled by Romano Artioli, who also owned Bugatti at the time. In 1996 the majority ownership transferred to Proton of Malaysia. In 2017 the controlling ownership was acquired by Geely Holding Group of China, which remains the principal owner today.

Started in the 50s and 60s with models like:

Lotus Mark VI (52 -57)
Lotus Seven (57 - 73)
Lotus Elite (57 - 63 and 74 - 82, Concept 2010)
Lotus Elan (62 - 75 and 89 - 95)
Lotus Europa (66 -75 and 2006 - 2010)

Now only these models are produced: Emira, Eletre, Emeya and Evija.

A very mixed line-up from EV to supercar. Some cars used the same platforms. Vehicles like the Opel Speedster / Vauxhall VX220, Cadillac ELR, the early Tesla Roadster and the Caterham Seven. Parts were shared with Alpine / Renault, Toyota MR2, Proton Satria Neo / Gen-2 / Persona and Volvo. Lotus - besides their own - also used Ford, Toyota, Renault Isuzu, Rover and Mercedes engines in their production cars.

Lotus had its share of trouble and problems. Points like:
Chronic financial instability
Outdated manufacturing + quality issues
Dependence on external engines and part
Weak global dealer + service network
Slow transition to modern luxury/EV market
Repeated ownership changeVery low production scale

The main technical problems from the 70s until even the 2000s were electrical faults, water leaks, inconsistent panel fit, and general reliability issues

But they often had very iconic cars in their line-up. The Lotus Seven, the Esprit, the Elan, the Elise. And appearances in movies / shows like the Lotus Esprit S1 in The Spy Who Loved Me, the Lotus Esprit Turbo in For Your Eyes Only, the Lotus Esprit SE in Pretty Woman or the Lotus Elan in The Avengers (TV) driven by Diana Rigg as Emma Peel also cemented their strong legacy as an iconic car manufacturer. The Esprit was produced from 1976 - 2004! Personally I'm not gonna forget the way Richard Gere abused that poor Esprit in Pretty Woman - the clutch, the gear changes...I could hear that car scream! Also: The Top Gear Special in Argentina - James May driving an Esprit - is a classic episode and not to be missed.

Despite decades of financial challenges and several ownership changes, the company survived. Lotus, famous for its philosophy of "simplify, then add lightness," was and is creating some of the world's most influential lightweight sports cars. And despite all the newer EVs and SUVs, the Elise is often considered the most important Lotus ever made because it revived the company in the 1990s and perfectly embodied Colin Chapman's philosophy of "simplify, then add lightness."

Lotus has one of the richest Formula 1 and international racing histories of any manufacturer, especially during the 1960s–1980s era. Some racing stats:

7 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championships
6 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championships
79 Formula 1 Grand Prix wins
First F1 win: 1960 Monaco GP (Lotus 18)
First F1 title: 1963 (Jim Clark + Lotus)
Most dominant driver: Jim Clark (2 world titles, 25 GP wins)
Indy 500 win: 1965 (Jim Clark, Lotus 38)
Major innovation: first modern monocoque F1 chassis (Lotus 25)
Last F1 win: 1987 Detroit GP

Now let's have a look at some of them!

1957 Lotus 7

Lotus Mark VI

Lotus Elite 1965

Lotus Elite S2 Type 75

1981 Type 83

1965 Elan S2

1990 Elan

1970 Europa

2006 Europa S

1976 Eclat

1976 Esprit

1980 Esprit S2

1985 Esprit Turbo

1985 Esprit S3

1989 Esprit x180

1994 Esprit Sport 300

1994 Esprit S4

1996 Esprit V8

2002 Esprit V8

2010 Esprit Concept

Encor Series 1 Restomod

Lotus Excel

1996 Lotus Elise

2021 Elise

2000 Exige

2021 Exige

2000 340R (based on Elise)

2012 Evora S

Evora GT430 Sport

Lotus 2 Eleven (based on Exige S)

Lotus 3 Eleven

Lotus Elan Concept

2010 Lotus Elite Concept

Lotus Eterne - four-door concept

Lotus Ethos Concept

Lotus APX Concept

Lotus Theory 1 Concept (986hp)

Lotus Emira (400hp - current line-up)

Lotus Eletre EV (current line-up)

Lotus Emeya Sedan EV (current line-up)

Lotus Evija Hypercar (current line-up)

Esprit "The Spy Who Loved Me"

Esprit "The Spy Who Loved Me"

Esprit "Four Your Eyes Only"

Esprit in "Pretty Woman"

Esprit in "Basic Instinct"

Elan in "The Avengers" - Emma Peel (Diana Rigg)

Lotus Excel Campervan by James May in Top Gear

Lotus Esprit driven by James May through Patagonia/Argentina

Vauxhall Lotus Carlton (UK - 377hp)

Lotus Omega (same as Carlton, but German)

1963 F1 car - driven by Jim Clark (first F1 championship for Lotus)

Sennas Lotus 99T (Lotus' last F1 win)

Honda K20 Turbo swapped Elise (700hp)

Hayabusa V8 Hillclimp Monster Elise

Hennessey Venom GT (based on Elise - up to 1200hp)

BMW M5 V10 Swap