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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  This car is sick. - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By Clint - August 25 - 12:10 am

  Instant celebrity status, whether you want it or not. You will begin getting gas at night just to avoid all the questions and strangers chatting you up for 20 minutes. I have learned more about the car from others than I knew before I purchased it. It is alarmingly quick to 100 mph and I have not had one problem with it. Not one, ever, an extraordinary feat for a hand-built vehicle. The interior is simple and clean, with only the essentials. The high RPM power is addictive. I would equate driving this vehicle with how a great white shark must feel swimming along out there, knowing there is nothing out there that can touch him. Lotus is ahead of its time with 30 MPG and iPod hook-up!

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  Lotsa fun - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Zack Jones - August 19 - 2:46 pm

  I have felt the need to have the dealer do the service which tends to be expensive. I was involved in a minor accident (not my fault), but the repairs were extremely expensive. That said, it really is fun and will turn heads and have lots of people asking what it is and how much it cost.

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  Elise - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Dion - August 12 - 3:13 pm

  Wonderful car to drive, if you are realy into driving and enjoy track days. For the price this car has no equal. The Elise puts a smile on my face every time I drive the handling limits are so high It is impossible to explore on public roads, realy is a wonderful track car. I cant believe Lotus deprived us of so much fun for the past 7 years.

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  proud to be a member of this elite club - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By larry - August 6 - 7:53 pm

  if you want a car unlike anything youve ever seen or driven before, this is it. If you are shy and introverted and do not want to draw attention to yourself, this is not your car. It stands out in the crowd of cars 3-4x more expensive. It is very quick and handles better than any other car ive ever driven. getting in and out with the roof on is initally a little challenging, particularly if you are tall. It was definitely worth the 17 months i had to wait to get it.

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  Awesome - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By Phil - August 6 - 10:20 am

  This car is awesome. It handles well and its a thrill to drive. Even though the gas mileage isnt the greatest its worth it.

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  Way Too Fun - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Chris D - June 22 - 1:06 am

  Driving this car is very comparable to riding on a roller coaster: same sensations going around curves and accelerating, an occasional hard bump, etc. Other "sports cars" seem pointless in comparison. Best toy Ive ever owned. It makes me feel like a teenager again. Beats other exotics more than twice the price in many ways. Love the body lines and the handling. Absolutely a blast to drive.

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  Lotus Experience - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Ken - June 7 - 11:00 pm

  Back in the sixties when I was driving MGBs and Triumphs the car that stood out for me even then was the Lotus, particularly the Europa. This was a car that a true enthusiast would want. I never did get that Europa but, finally,in my later years, I was able to get the new Lotus Elise (an 05). The car has been a joy to drive and its handling and braking rival that of any sports car at any price. I cant count the number of times people have approached me with questions about the car and how much they liked it. I have had complete strangers come up to me and ask me if it was OK to take pictures of the car. The car has been a true driving experience, unlike any other sports car.

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  One wicked car! - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Magnetic Blue Elise - May 11 - 3:46 pm

  Bought this car 6 months ago and have the only complaint of driving it too much! Nothing has gone wrong so far and I do my own oil changes with Mobil 1 5w40 synthetic oil. On curvy roads its unbeatable. Me and my friends with fast cars (08 evo, 05 vette, 04 G35 Coupe, 04 STI) go cruising on local back roads and none of them can keep up with me. Try taking a tight turn on the hwy at 130mph... this car can do it! Has a very unique design that is eye catching for all ages!

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  Fast and Fun - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By John Grage - March 30 - 5:26 am

  An absolute true sports car. Not only all show but more than enough go. Tight interior that holds you snug for those twisting roads that push you to the limits. A real eye catcher, lots of looks and plenty of camera phone shots on the road. A bit of trouble entering and exiting but well worth the effort. Excellent power to weight ratio. Not quite a vehicle for winter conditions, which makes one pine for summer.

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  Street Legal Race Car - 2008 Lotus Exige
  By SanDiegan - March 11 - 12:23 pm

  This is my second Lotus. My first was an 05 Elise with 190bhp, a soft top, and standard ("Touring") suspension. My new S240 could not be a more different car. This Exige is serious business. The acceleration is spectacular; when you get on the throttle the supercharger sounds like a jet engine and you quickly become one with the drivers seat. I really enjoyed the handling and cornering of the Elise, but the Exige S240 with the Track Pack is not to be believed. The capability of this car to corner hard with minimal body roll is unlike anything you have experienced before (including 360 Modenas and Gallardos that I have driven).