Overview & Reviews

Founded in Britain, Lotus is very much a specialty outfit, with output limited to high-performance racecars and sports cars known for their sleek and lightweight designs. Though its cars are prized by enthusiasts seeking maximum handling performance, Lotus has never been particularly keen on sales volume, and it rarely has more than one or two models for sale at a time.

The marque was founded by racing enthusiast Anthony Colin Chapman. The first Lotus was built in 1948, and used by Chapman to compete in races. By 1955, Chapman had officially formed Lotus Cars Ltd. A company milestone was reached two years later with the unveiling of the innovative Lotus Elite. This remarkably light coupe owed its featherweight status to its fiberglass unibody construction. Though the use of fiberglass for a car's body wasn't unique, the Elite was the first vehicle to use this material both in its skeleton and its skin. The resultant weight savings helped the Elite to distinguish itself at Le Mans and other notable races around the world.

The 1960s saw Lotus expanding its line with the addition of the Elan. First available as a roadster, the car offered a twin-cam engine, four-wheel disc brakes and a four-wheel independent suspension. Hardtop versions were later offered. By 1967, Lotus had added the Elan Plus 2 to its lineup. Dubbed Lotus' first family car, the Plus 2 was just as sporty as the Elan, but more practical thanks to a bigger cabin and the addition of two jump seats.

Lotus discontinued the Elite in 1972, but the name was revived in 1974. The new Elite was a four-passenger model with a 160-horsepower engine. Two years later, the Lotus family grew yet again, with the addition of the Esprit. The two-seat sports car continued Lotus' ethos of lightweight design, and it was instantly recognizable due to its distinctive wedge-shaped exterior and appearance in two James Bond movies.

Movie stardom aside, this was not a good decade for Lotus. The brand's vehicles had evolved significantly since the first Elite cruised off showroom floors. But Lotus cars of the 1970s were bigger and more expensive than their predecessors, and the brand had muscled its way into a segment populated by the likes of Ferrari and Porsche. Lotus cars were now premium-priced exotics; unfortunately for the brand, this segment saw a dramatic fall-off in demand in the wake of that era's fuel crisis. As a result, the niche-market automaker suffered significant losses.

In 1986, General Motors took full control of Lotus and created Lotus Cars USA in 1987. That relationship lasted until 1993, when GM sold Lotus to Bugatti. Bugatti's ownership was even shorter; Lotus was sold to a Malaysian firm in 1996. The same year, Lotus began producing the flyweight Elise, a car that would quickly become the company's main product and financial savior. The Elise was finally imported to North America in 2004 after safety and emissions considerations were overcome.

Today, Lotus remains true to Chapman's original desire of producing lightweight and race-oriented sports cars. With tight cabin accommodations, a stiff ride and minimal comfort and storage features, modern Lotus cars make poor grocery-getters. But for the enthusiast looking for world-class handling, sporty style and an unfiltered connection between car and driver at a reasonable price, the Lotus brand is hard to beat.

User Reviews:

• 

  Remember what its for... - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Jay - October 15 - 6:13 pm

  The Elise is a pure, unadulterated sports car. It does not try to be anything else. It is one of the fastest street legal cars, and handles arguably better than just about anything else on the road. Its form (all the vents are real and needed) is functional - you can like the look or not, but there is nothing extra, e.g. a big rear spoiler. That it manages to do this for under $50K is stunning. It does this by sacrificing weight (e.g size,gadgets, electronics, "comfort" stuff) and by designing to the best ergonomics once you are in it. My Elise puts a grin on my face every time I drive it, and feels as comfortable as a glove. Complaints about cupholders, ease of entry, etc. miss the point.

• 

  Kats Toy - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Kat - October 8 - 9:30 am

  Much more than I ever expected. Waited a long time for it, but more than worth the wait. So much fun to drive, its hard to get anything else done. Cornering is unlike any other car or motorized vehicle I have ever driven.

• 

  Worth the trouble - 2004 Lotus Esprit
  By thurscarguy - September 5 - 10:00 am

  This car is fast and fun. It isnt reliable but worth the trouble. If your going on a long trip dont even think about taking one but if you want a sporty, enique, and fast this is your ride.

• 

  Exhilerating - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By JLElise - July 3 - 10:56 pm

  Picked up the car 2 weeks ago. Performs exceptionally well. Handles like its on rails. Very quick. Comfortable driving position. Exterior styling is second to none. Interior is a bit sparse, but, heh, its a sports car. Amazing how many "thumbs up" one gets!! Cant wait until the spring and do some real, open air motoring.

• 

  Take It To The Track! - 2007 Lotus Exige
  By Exige_S - June 30 - 11:33 pm

  This is it. THE car Ive wanted for so many years. Ive had everything from a 68 Shelby GT350 to a 66 Sunbeam Tiger, even a pair of 02 Miata SEs, but this car shines above them all. The control you have is beyond anything else on the street. Its not the fastest or quickest car, but it feels like it is. It even looks fast sitting still. Everyone wants to race, talk about, touch or drive it and lots of people take pictures of it. Even kids love it. Its one of those cars that kids of all ages get to "drive" in video games, and when they see it on the street its almost as if youre looking at a Matchbox car. It has race-car looks but you can drive it on the street... AND the track!

• 

  02 Esprit - 2002 Lotus Esprit
  By tim hayden - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Bought it 2 weeks ago. Have owned a Boxster, 911, Ferrari 308 Quattrovalve and a Testarossa and I go out to the garage at night just to look at this one more than the others. The interior is gourgeous in tan and the wheels are the most beautiful I have ever seen. The twin turbo acceleration is the best Ive ever driven and the exhaust is pleasantly loud. Major service is maybe $1200 and was $5000 on the Testarossa. Other accessories and parts much more reasonable also. I am using as everyday driver and I fully expect it to be reliable.

• 

  Lotus Experience - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Stewartbp - May 18 - 3:10 am

  The car continues to amaze and thrill me. The control and power combination is unequalled. I have not had it on a road track yet but Im looking forward to it in the near future. This is not the modern sports car. Spartan and no frilles interior, but I didnt buy the vehicle to live in. The Consumers Report review of this vehicle must have been done buy some soccer mom, so I have lowered my expectations as far as their reviews. A must drive vehicle, if you can find a dealer that will let you test drive one.

• 

  rocket w/ 2 seats - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By jonf_so_fla - April 26 - 6:53 pm

  i have had the car for about three and a half months, and i enjoy it just like day one! purchased new, now over 10,000 miles, runs like day one. small rattle in drivers door, front speaker grills needed to be replaced the dealer has been great! all performance and fun! my other car is a surburban 2500, guess what i drive most days. i ordered and waited for this car a year and a half, i would do it again!

• 

  Extreme Fun - 2002 Lotus Esprit
  By MK - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Esprit got a Fantastic look and good performance.It is different,but fun to drive and giving me so much driving pleasure.