Specifications
| Engine | 4-cylinder Turbo 1600cc |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | Manual 5-speed |
| Body Work | Convertible |
| Colour | Red |
| Interior | Black |
| Trim | Leather |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Brakes | Discs |
Description
The Lotus M100 Elan, launched in 1989, was a two-seater, convertible sports car designed by Lotus, with a reliable Japanese engine and transmission supplied by Isuzu, and built with the development and testing resources of General Motors. Around 35 million pounds was invested in its development, more than any other car in Lotus history. Its design, featuring a fiberglass composite body over a rigid steel monocoque chassis, was true to Lotus founder Colin Chapman's original philosophy of achieving performance through low weight, and the name 'Elan' connected the car with its 1960s ancestor, the original Lotus Elan. The choice of front wheel drive is unusual for a sports car, but according to Lotus sales literature, "for a given vehicle weight, power and tyre size, a front wheel drive car was always faster over a given section of road. There were definite advantages in traction and controllability, and drawbacks such as torque steer, bump steer and steering kickback were not insurmountable."This was the only front wheel drive vehicle made by Lotus. Every model made since the M100 Elan, such as the Lotus Elise, has been rear wheel drive. The Elan used a 1,588 cc double overhead camshaft (DOHC) 16-valve engine, sourced from the Isuzu Gemini and extensively modified by Lotus.
The M100 Elan's cornering performance was undeniable (on release the Elan was described by Autocar magazine as "the quickest point to point car available"). Press reaction was not uniformly positive, as some reviewers found the handling too secure and predictable compared to a rear wheel drive car. However, the Elan's rigid chassis minimised roll through the corners and has led to its description as 'the finest front wheel drive [car] bar none.
The M100 Elan was conceived as a mass-market car. Lotus put an enormous effort (for such a small firm) into testing the car; over a two-year period 19 crash cars and 42 development vehicles were built, logging nearly a million test miles in locations from Arizona to the Arctic. The Elan was driven at racing speeds for 24 hours around the track at Snetterton. Finally each new car was test-driven for around 30 miles at Lotus's Hethel factory to check for any manufacturing defects before being shipped to dealers.
