Wikipedia

Lotus Elite

Not to be confused withLotus Elise.

TheLotus Elitename has been used for two production vehicles and one concept vehicle developed and manufactured by British automobile manufacturerLotus Cars.The first generation Elite Type 14 was produced from 1957 until 1963 and the second generation model (Type 75 and later Type 83) from 1974 until 1982. The Elite name was also applied to a concept vehicle unveiled in 2010.

Lotus Elite Type 14

Type 14 (1957–1963)

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Lotus Elite Type 14
Lotus Elite SE
Overview
Manufacturer
Production1957–1963
Designer
Body and chassis
ClassSports car(S)
Body style2-doorcoupé
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine1.2 LCoventry Climax FWEI4[1]
Transmission4-speedmanual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,242 mm (88.3 in)[2]
Length3,759 mm (148.0 in)[2]
Width1,506 mm (59.3 in)[2]
Height1,181 mm (46.5 in)[2]
Kerb weight503.5 kg (1,110 lb)
Chronology
SuccessorLotus Elan

The first generation of the Elite orLotus Type 14was a light weight two-seatercoupéproduced from 1957 until 1963.

The car debuted at the 1957London Motor Car Show, Earls Courtbearing chassis number #1008.[3]The Elite had spent a year in development, aided by "carefully selected racing customers" before going on sale.[4]

The Elite's most distinctive feature was its highly innovativefibreglassmonocoqueconstruction, in which a stressed-skinGlass reinforced plasticunibody replaced the previously separate chassis and body components. Unlike the contemporaryChevrolet Corvette,which used fibreglass for only exterior bodywork, the Elite used glass-reinforced plastic for the entire load-bearing structure of the car. A steel subframe for supporting the engine and front suspension was bonded into the front of the monocoque, as was a square-section windscreen-hoop that provided mounting points for door hinges, a jacking point for lifting the car and roll-over protection components.[5]The first 250 body units were made by Maximar Mouldings atPulborough,Sussex.[6]The body construction caused numerous early problems, until manufacture was handed over toBristol Aeroplane Company.[4]

The resultant body was lighter, stiffer, and provided better driver protection in the event of a crash. Still, a full understanding of the engineering qualities of fibreglass-reinforced plastic was several years off and the suspension attachment points were regularly observed to pull out of the fibreglass structure. The weight savings allowed the Elite to achieve sports car like performance from a 75 hp (56 kW), 1,216 cc (1.2 L)Coventry Climax FWEall-aluminiumInline-four enginewhile returning a fuel consumption of 35 mpg‑imp(8.1 L/100 km; 29 mpg‑US).[1]All production Elites were powered by the FWE engine, except for one that acted as testbed for the newly developedLotus-Ford Twin Camengine. The FWE engine was derived from a lightweight (FW = Feather Weight) high-capacity water pump engine used for firefighting.[7]

The car had independent suspension all round with transverse wishbones at the front andChapman strutsat the rear. The rear struts were so long, that they poked up in the back and the tops could be seen through the rear window.[1]The Series 2 cars, with Bristol-built bodies, had triangulated trailing radius arms for improved toe-in control. Girling disc brakes, usually without servo assistance, of 9.5 in (241 mm) diameter were used, inboard at the rear. When leaving the factory the Elite was originally fitted withPirelli Cinturato155HR15 tyres.

Advancedaerodynamicsalso contributed to the car's lowdrag coefficientofCd=0.29[1]considering the engineers did not enjoy the benefits ofcomputer-aided designorwind tunneltesting. The original Elite drawings were by Peter Kirwan-Taylor.Frank Costin(brother of Mike, one of the co founders ofCosworth), at that time ChiefAerodynamicEngineer for thede HavillandAircraft Company, contributed to the final design.

The SE was introduced in 1960 as a higher-performance variant, featuring twin SU carburettors and fabricated exhaust manifold resulting in engine power output increasing to 85 hp (63 kW),ZFgearboxes in place of the standard "cheap and nasty" MG ones,[4]Lucas PL700 headlamps,[8]and a silver coloured roof. The Super 95 model[4]had a more powerful engine with raised compression ratio and a stronger camshaft with five bearings. A limited number of Super 100 and Super 105 cars were made with Weber carburettors, for racing use.

Among the Elite's few faults was a resonant vibration at 4,000 rpm (where few drivers remained, on either street or track)[9]and poor quality control, handicapped by an overly low price (resulting in Lotus losing money on every car produced) and, "perhaps the greatest mistake of all", offering it as a kit (with a substantial reduction in price and Purchase Tax), exactly the opposite of the ideal for a quality manufacturer.[4]Many drive-train parts were highly stressed and required re-greasing at frequent intervals.

When production ended in 1963, 1,030 cars had been built.[10]Other sources indicate that 1,047 were produced.[11]

A road car tested byThe Motormagazine in 1960 resulted in a top speed of 111.8 mph (179.9 km/h) and a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration time of 11.4 seconds. A fuel consumption of 40.5 mpg‑imp(6.97 L/100 km; 33.7 mpg‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £1,966 including taxes.[2]

Legacy

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The ownership and history of the more than 1,000 Elites is maintained by the Lotus Elite World Register.[12]There are several active clubs devoted to the Lotus Elite.[13]

Motor sport

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A Lotus Elite in racing trim

Like its siblings, the Elite was campaigned in numerous formulae, with particular success at Le Mans and theNürburgring.The Elite won in its class six times at the 24 hour ofLe Mansrace as well as twoIndex of Thermal Efficiencywins. Les Leston, driving DAD10, and Graham Warner, driving LOV1, were noted UK Elite racers. In 1961,David Hobbsfitted a Hobbs Mecha-Matic 4-speed automatic transmission to an Elite,[14]and became almost unbeatable in two years' racing – he won 15 times from 18 starts.New South WalesdriverLeo Geogheganwon the1960 Australian GT Championshipat the wheel of a Lotus Elite.[15]After winningIndex of Thermal Efficiencyprize, Lotus decided to go for an outright win at Le Mans in 1960. They built a one-off Elite, called the LX, with a 1,964 cc (2.0 L)FPFengine, larger wheels, and other modifications. In testing, it proved capable of a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h). Unfortunately, the lead driver withdrew the night before the race, so the car did not have a chance to prove itself in competition.[16]

Types 75 and 83 (1974–1982)

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Lotus Elite Types 75 and 83
Lotus Elite Type 75
Overview
ManufacturerLotus Cars
Production1974–1982
2,535 produced
AssemblyEngland:Hethel,Norfolk
DesignerOliver Winterbottom
Body and chassis
ClassSports car(S)
Body style2-door2+2shooting brake
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
RelatedLotus Eclat
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,490 mm (98.0 in)
Length4,470 mm (176.0 in)
Width1,820 mm (71.7 in)
Height1,210 mm (47.6 in)
Kerb weight1,112 to 1,168 kg (2,452 to 2,575 lb)[17]

From 1974 to 1982, Lotus produced the considerably larger four-seatType 75and laterType 83Elite. With this design Lotus sought to position itself upmarket and move away from its kit-car past.[18]The Elite was announced in May 1974.[19]It replaced the ageingLotus Elan Plus 2.

The Elite has ashooting brakebody style, with a glass rear hatch opening into the luggage compartment. The Elite's fibreglass bodyshell was mounted on a steelbackbone chassisevolved from theElanandEuropa.It had 4-wheelindependent suspensionusing coil springs. The Elite was the first Lotus automobile to use the aluminium-block4-valve,DOHC,four-cylinderType 907engine that displaced 1,973 cc (120.4 cu in) and was rated at 155 hp (116 kW). With this engine the car does 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 8.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h). (The 907 engine had previously been used inJensen-Healeys.) The 907 engine ultimately became the foundation for the 2.0 L and 2.2 LEspritpower-plants, the naturally aspirated912and the turbocharged910.The Elite was fitted with a 4 or 5-speed manual transmission depending on the customer specifications. Beginning in January 1976, an automatic transmission was optional.

The Elite had a claimed drag co-efficient of 0.30 and at the time of launch, it was the world's most expensive four-cylinder car. The Elite's striking shape was designed byOliver Winterbottom.He is quoted as saying that the basic chassis and suspension layout were designed byColin Chapman,making the Elite and its sister design theEclatthe last Lotus road cars to have significant design input from Chapman himself.[20]

The Elite was available in four main variations, set apart by equipment levels: 501, 502, 503, and later on 504.

  • 501 - "Base" version.
  • 502 - Added air-conditioning to the base model.
  • 503 - Added air-conditioning and power-steering.
  • 504 - Added air-conditioning, power-steering and automatic transmission.

The Elite was the basis for theEclat,and the laterExcel2+2 coupés.

Although larger and more luxurious than previous Lotus road cars, the Elite and Éclat are relatively light, with kerb weights not much over 2,300 lb (1,043 kg).

In 1980 the Type 75 was replaced by the Type 83, also called the Elite Mark 2.[21]This version received a larger 2,174 cc (132.7 cu in) Lotus 912 engine.[21]The chassis was now galvanised steel and the five speed BMC gearbox was replaced by a Getrag Type 265 unit.[21]The vacuum-operated headlights of the earlier model were replaced with electrically operated units and the Elite was now fitted with a front spoiler, a new rear bumper and brake lights from theRover SD1.[21]

  • 1978 Lotus Elite S2 (Type 75)
  • 1981 Lotus Elite S2.2 (Type 83)

Elite concept

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On 20 September 2010, Lotus unveiled photos of an Elite concept that was exhibited at the2010 Paris Motor Show.The car was expected to go into production in 2014.[22]

Proposed 2014 Elite at the2010 Paris Motor Show

The car was to feature a 5.0-litreV8 enginesourced from Lexus, rated at 592 hp (441 kW). The car would have afront-mid engine layoutto distribute weight evenly at all four wheels. An optional hybridkinetic-energy recoverysystem would augment the V8 by feeding electricity generated by braking to motors in the transmission. The 0–100 km/h (62 mph) time was reported to be as low as 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph).[23]

The car had a2+2body style and was to be marketed as a grand tourer.

The Elite project was cancelled in July 2012 after a take over of Lotus' then parent companyProtonbyDRB-Hicomwhich initiated a new cost effective business plan.[24]

Notes

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  1. ^abcdWillson, Quentin (1995).The Ultimate Classic Car Book.DK Publishing, Inc.ISBN0-7894-0159-2.
  2. ^abcde"The Lotus Elite".The Motor.11 May 1960.
  3. ^"Elite #1008 – The 1958 Earls Court Show Car".Club Elite Newsletter.No. 31. December 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 29 April 2017 – via Lotus Elite World Register.
  4. ^abcdeSetright, L. J. K.(1974), "Lotus: The Golden Mean", in Northey, Tom (ed.),World of Automobiles,vol. 11, London: Orbis, p. 1227
  5. ^Setright, p.1226.
  6. ^Crombac, Gérard(1986),Colin Chapman – The Man and His Cars,Patrick Stephens Ltd., p. 93,ISBN978-0850597332
  7. ^Taverner, Michael."Coventry Climax Industrial Water Pump Engine"(PDF).Club Elite North America Newsletter.Vol. 2, no. 1. p. 3. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 July 2014 – via Lotus Elite World Register.
  8. ^Lucas PL700 headlampsLotus Elite World Register.
  9. ^It was cured by substituting a diaphragm clutch spring. Setright, p.1227.
  10. ^Ortenburger, Dennis "The Original Lotus Elite, Racing Car for the Road" Newport Press, 1977 p.135.
  11. ^Trummel, Reid (April 2014). "1960 Lotus Elite Series II".Sports Car Market.26(4): 71.
  12. ^Lotus Elite World RegisterLotus Elite World Register
  13. ^Lotus Elite ClubsLotus Elite World Register
  14. ^Hobbs' Mecha-Matic Automatic TransmissionClub Elite Newsletter, Vol 1, No. 1; Motor Sports, December 1962
  15. ^Australian TitlesArchived2 March 2009 at theWayback MachineRetrieved from camsmanual.au on 16 April 2009
  16. ^Lawrence, Mike (December 1998)."The Lotus that should have won Le Mans".Motor Sportmagazine archive.p. 44.Retrieved7 October2017.
  17. ^Lotus Cars Workshop Manual
  18. ^Robson, Graham (6 September 1993),Lotus since the 70's Vol. 1: Elite, Eclat, Excel, Elan Collector's Guide,Motor Racing Publications,ISBN978-0947981709
  19. ^"Four-seat Elite from Lotus costs £6,000".The Times(59089): 4. 15 May 1974.
  20. ^Octane Magazine "Lotus Legends" (2010)
  21. ^abcdThe Lotus Elite Mark 2 Type 83 Sports Car, sportscar2Retrieved 19 February 2017
  22. ^Cropley, Steve (1 October 2010)."Paris Motor Show: Lotus Elite".autocar.co.uk.Retrieved14 February2011.
  23. ^Autos."Lotus moving beyond hardcore sportscars with new Elite – The Passing Lane".Thepassinglane.ca. Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2011.Retrieved20 March2011.
  24. ^Okulski, Travis (25 July 2012)."Lotus Cancels Nearly All Of Dany Bahar's Future Lotus Cars".Retrieved22 October2018.
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