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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  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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  If You Want to be Different - 2008 Lotus Elise
  By csrvices - June 14 - 6:03 pm

  If you do not fit in the same common human mold like most folks do, then you may want a different kind of car... consider a Lotus Elise if you want to be truly in touch with the road while plying the power and handling of your vehicle to it. The Lotus Elise built like no other vehicle I know of for the consumer market. Lotus has taken years of specialized racing builds turning their experience into a well built, well tuned, well heeled and well, a good-looking automobile that can turn heads and flat dust the next Guy. It is a race car built for the street, Lotus has produced a competent vehicle, a workhorse that wants to run hard as a different kind of daily driver.

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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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  Musclecar in Exotic Clothing - 2004 Lotus Esprit
  By jbrookstone - April 20 - 8:36 pm

  Only 33 2003.5-2004 Final Edition Lotus Esprits were made and shipped to the United States. Equipped with a turbocharged 32-valve flat-plane crankshaft V8, they start, idle and sound very much like a 60s era musclecar with a hot cam. Exhaust note is very good from a low grumble at idle to a roar under acceleration. There is almost no turbo lag, tons of torque above 2000 rpm allowing the Esprit to easily burn rubber in its first 3 gears. Steering is very, very fast and precise - plus the turning radius is exceptionally tight. Cockpit space is adequate for those under 6 feet and trunk space is surprisingly generous. Handling is outstanding, as in all Lotuses. Front spoiler seeks bumps.

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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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  Outdated - 2002 Lotus Esprit
  By Abuser - February 6 - 10:00 am

  Esprits are sorely in need of a redesign. Their old design can barely keep up with cars half there price, let alone the cars in its price range.

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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.

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  Best Attention Getter - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By Ryan - January 2 - 5:00 pm

  If you choose to buy a lotus Elise you are also making a commitment to people wanting to know what it is. I have seen more Ferraries and Lamborghinis than lotuses. That truly makes this an exotic car. It sounds like a formula one car under an over pass! This truly is the best bang for your buck you can get. Touring and sport packs are great! Worth the money.

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  Finally a car to replace the Acura NSX - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By ACURAMAN - December 16 - 6:16 pm

  The Lotus Elise is the most pure sports car experience on the road today. I have never driven a car that is more responsive to the touch than this one. It is as though this car is an extension of your mind and body. It is a blast to drive at high speeds through twisting, turning roads, passing muscle cars with 500 hsp plus motors that simply cannot hold the road. My last toy was an Acura NSX and after test driving Corvettes, Porsche 911s and BMWs I thought I would never find a car that would touch the NSX. Just as I was losing total faith in finding a replacement for the aging NSX it was announced that the Elise was finally coming to Canada! In the true Campbell tradition less is more!

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  A big go kart for the street - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By rob - November 15 - 10:23 pm

  This car is all about the handling. It has the most direct steering response car Ive ever driven. The interior is spartan, but has everything I want, good track seats, radio, AC/heat, and a fun 6-speed transmission. It accelerates very well, but at freeway speeds cars with 350+ hp will finally get their edge. The handling, acceleration and braking are all helped thanks to the cars lightweight design, 1984 lbs.