The Type 75 Elite was a huge step for Lotus - new market, new engine, even a new way of making cars - but it was a difficult journey and Project M50 came at a high price, in more ways than one. Here’s the story of its development.
Recommended reading:
A Life in Car Design by Oliver Winterbottom - www.amazon.co.uk/Oliver-Winte...
Mike Kimberley on Oliver Winterbottom: media.lotuscars.com/en/blog/o...
Chapters:
00:00 The Lotus Elite
00:21 What were they thinking?
01:30 Early struggles
03:26 Design: Elite model management
05:50 VARI - a game of two halves
08:22 Interior: the inside from outside
10:50 The first Lotus engine
12:54 A lot of wedge
14:20 Beyond the Elite
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Third party image credits
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Lotus Elite Type 14:
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Lotus Elan +2:
Charles01, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Lotus Excel:
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
2003 Lotus Esprit:
Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Ford Escort Mk1:
GPS 56 from New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Citroen SM:
Charles01, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
SG2012, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Jensen-Healey:
pyntofmyld, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Injection moulding machine (not VARI):
384, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Austin Maxi series 1:
John Shepherd, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Alfa Romeo GTV 2000:
Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Magazine features: CAR Magazine September 1974 / September 1978
Volvo 244 and Don Safety Trophy courtesy of Volvo Car AB
Vauxhall Chevette HS courtesy of Stellantis/Vauxhall Media Centre
All other third party images and footage courtesy of Lotus Cars
28 май 2024