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:

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  Alwards Car - 2002 Lotus Esprit
  By Matt Alward - June 21 - 2:00 am

  CD player and xboxexterior ddesign is very nice in the back

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  Fun to dirve - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By dave jackson - May 27 - 12:30 am

  The Elise will make Colin Chapman smile .Lotus is back and better than ever.This is our 4th Lotus (after a "real" Dodge Daytona, with all its muscle. The Elise is reminsecent of our Europa Series 6, but is mnuch better constricted, with much better performance and much more striking beauty. I have never driven a car that handles this well, combining sub 5 second accelleration with ultra-responsive handling and eye turning beauty. One does have to take care getting into the car, especially if you are tall like me. But once in driving position, it is quite comfortable. The air conditioner works here in Florida. All in all, the value and fun quotient for the Elise is unmatched anywhere

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  Amazing. - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By John - December 22 - 2:16 am

  This is my third Lotus, and they have done an excellent job with this design.

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  wild car - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Raul - December 20 - 1:56 am

  The most fun to drive car Ive owned. before i got it i had forgotten driving could also be fun.

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  GOOD CAR - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By zleduc - November 29 - 10:00 am

  This is a really reliable car! Fun to drive and makes everyone go wild.

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  Sling shot - 2008 Lotus Elise
  By perfectpant - October 17 - 5:06 pm

  Look, if you want the best handling car on Earth today, buy it. If you want the best fun on road buy it, if you want a family car skip it. If you do not want driving enjoyment skip it. After owning 30 cars, trucks, sport cars, the Lotus is the best sport car ever build. Consider performance, price, economy, driving. Im 62" 184 lbs and has no problem to get in and out. Most Ferraries the same. I also have the F 430. The Lotus I can drive every day, but not the F 430.

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  Cool car - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By discool - July 12 - 10:00 am

  It is a very cool car. It is cheap and is very fast. I suggest everyone to buy it.

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  A real race car for the road - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By Brandon - May 13 - 5:00 am

  Probably the most fun car Ive ever driven and owned. Holds to road like super glue and tar combined. Steering is quick and light and you can move with the flick of a finger. Hard top is easy to remove and very light since the car only weighs about 1900 pounds which is less than a Mazda Miata. Soft top can be removed in a matter of seconds and rolled up to fit in the trunk. Theres enough room in the trunk for enough stuff for a weekend trip if you go alone. Its tough to get in and out of this car, unless you take the top off and jump in. Interior is simple and basic and comes without all the non-sense some cars bring. Overall a great value and the most fun I have ever had in a car.

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  over 3 yrs ownership - 2002 Lotus Esprit
  By tim hayden - February 24 - 12:03 am

  I have driven it daily for over 3 yrs and has been extremely reliable. I am so use to people making double takes when they see it on the road that it feels strange on the rare occasion when it does not occur. The performance is way beyond what I can explore and the exhaust note with the center exit U.S. exhaust is phenomenal and sounds only like exotic european cars can. The interior is very intimate and memorable and feels very nice once settled in. I think the exterior is one of the most beautiful, exotic shapes to date and still looks modern after all these years. I have owned Porsches and Ferraris and this is the most satisfying car yet. Dont be scared to take the plunge and get one.

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  Esprit V8 is a winner - 2001 Lotus Esprit
  By Dirk989 - January 9 - 10:00 am

  While not a well know marque, Lotus has produced one of the top supercars in the world. Handling has been described as the greatest ever. I dont disagree. Performance is unbelievable, especially with a few reasonably priced mods. This car will glue you to your seat and handle curves at speeds previously reserved for video games. The styling is not as outrageous as otherrs, but this is a car that looks much better in person than in print. Beautiful, exotic, good fuel mileage, unbelievable performance and handling for a fair price. The only flaw is that the interior, while very well made, is that of a typical British car - small and tight.