Lotus Elan (M100) | The Brave Pill

The automobile business frequently arrives at the similar area from different directions, never ever much more so than when it will come to the two distinctive models inspired by the initial Lotus Elan. The initially of these, obviously more than enough, was the one particular that provides us here: the 1989 Elan, usually distinguished from its predecessor by its M100 style code, a radical entrance-driven roadster that was meant to reinterpret the original car’s blend of significant enjoyable and limited mass. The next was a lot nearer to currently being a direct homage to the ‘sixties Elan roadster, a minimalist rear-pushed ragtop termed the Mazda MX-5. 

In conditions of profits, it was not even shut to getting close. The Mazda was a smash strike very significantly all over the place, freshly sent autos transforming arms for rates above their list charges when it was new and with a focused fanbase that has observed it by means of 4 generations and more than a million gross sales. Versus which the Lotus’s output quantity appear like a rounding error: 4,700 across two individual operates, the second released following a hole of two a long time. Kia later on purchased the legal rights and manufactured 1,000 more vehicles working with a various engine. 

Not that the M100 did not get off to a great commence. Whilst vital enjoy for new Lotus designs all through this period was commonly relatively muted and couched in the mild euphemism of the politely unimpressed, the Elan was released to in the vicinity of common praise. Effectiveness from the turbocharged engine was powerful, handling secure and the new car’s ability to deal with bumps and uncomfortable contours gained rave assessments. Autocar nominated it as the “quickest stage-to-issue car” then available in the United kingdom, though Motorsport praised its “unmatched poise” and capability to “digest distance and rougher roadways at unbelievable averages.” Of course, there were a several grumbles about shonky ergonomics, and even a pair of mentions of moist carpets. But the point Lotus experienced expended an unprecedented £37m establishing it – the new dashboard reportedly price more than the full Excel task – proved the seriousness of the endeavor.

At the rear of the scenes there was a fair bit of Hethel cleaning soap opera underwriting the Elan’s generation. Lotus experienced earlier labored on making what would have been a Lotus-engined Toyota roadster, with some of all those learnings later on absorbed into the first MR2. But the company’s takeover by GM in 1986 gave funding to transfer forward with a automobile that would use a team motor, in this scenario a reworked version of the Isuzu 4XE1-MT. Whilst this did not audio especially promising – Isuzu becoming best acknowledged for chunky off-roaders at the time – Lotus’s engineers experienced spotted the possible in the solidly engineered 1.6-litre DOHC 16-valve motor, especially functioning in conjunction with an IHI turbocharger. As released the Turbo SE had 162hp, with a by natural means aspirated foundation edition also available with 130hp. The extensive greater part of potential buyers opted for the added electricity and pressured induction. 

Much more radical was the conclusion to use entrance-wheel drive. This was carried out for both equally noticeable packaging good reasons offered the use of a natively transverse engine and gearbox, but also simply because Lotus reckoned it would produce a additional safe and forgiving driving working experience offered the absence of electronic safeguards. Beneath the surface Lotus’s significant engineering talent experienced worked difficult to supply a manufacturer-acceptable driving encounter, inspite of what many purists would take into consideration improper-wheel generate. The M100 acquired unbiased suspension entrance and rear with geometry diligently optimised to lower dive, squat and torque steer. 

Bodywork was classic glassfibre above a steel spine chassis, with the classy curves flowing from the pen of Peter Stevens, probably the greatest designer of his period for maximising the outcome of minimal assets. The concluded car didn’t try out to cover the compact dimensions – at 3.8 metres in length it was shorter than a up to date Ford Escort – nor the proportions demanded by the engine’s location. But the deficiency of an in-line gearbox permitted a decent amount of cabin place for the dimension. It was a clever-seeking matter converted, with the potential to manually fold the fabric roof beneath an integral tonneau go over. And who does not enjoy pop-up headlights?

When the M100 was launched in 1989 Lotus claimed to have more than enough early desire to quotation a two-year ready listing in the United kingdom, that irrespective of what then appeared like punchy pricing: £21,620 for the Turbo SE and £19,200 for the obviously aspirated model. Lotus also said it would be able to make up to 3,000 cars and trucks a yr, even though it under no circumstances received near that figure – and several of individuals pre-start hand-raisers look to have have received cold toes perfectly before signing finalised orders.

Whilst a recognised unidentified, it appears selected some of those people opportunity purchasers adjusted their minds following the British isles start of the MX-5 in March 1990. The Mazda experienced a lot less electrical power – a modest 115hp as released – but it also had to encourage a lot less mass and arrived with a sizeable preserving, costing just £14,249 when it was released. It was more compact, slower and fewer practical, but its size, design and obtainable rear-pushed managing ended up unarguably nearer to the primary Elan than Lotus’s new variation was. In the US, which Lotus had hoped would be the M100’s biggest sector, it arrived near to sinking without having trace just 560 cars and trucks were bought there, regardless of costly modifications manufactured to permit it to move crash criteria.

The other evident concern for the Elan’s status and desirability more recently was the fact it got adopted by the Elise, which was often destined to sit greater in the hierarchy of Lotus roadsters. As values of the early Elises fell, so M100 charges ended up pressured down even even further – and it is only as the mid-engined successor obtained to the upward slope of the residual bathtub curve that Elan values have started to rally. At £10,995 our Tablet is the most economical at this time in the classifieds, a 1991 Turbo SE, and although shabby illustrations are nevertheless available for noticeably a lot less, this just one doesn’t search highly-priced as opposed to the wider industry.

The seller selling our Tablet promises a comprehensive services heritage, this like a cambelt adjust in 2019. That means it is halfway to needing the following one on Lotus’s formal 6 calendar year interval, even though the MOT historical past indicates the car or truck has hardly been made use of in that time. The digital document reveals semi-typical advisories for suspension enjoy and brake don, none most likely to trigger stress in prospective buyers, but also demonstrates that mileage has been creeping up really slowly. In 2011 it had protected 73,700 miles, and even with becoming set in for yearly tests given that then the odo rating experienced only enhanced to 80,340 at the time of the last exam in January 2021. That has given that expired, but the seller will doubtless screw on a new a person before sale.

Pitfalls? Modest in terms of the sudden arrival of major, frightening expenditures – but any elderly Lotus is probably to call for a sizeable amount of money of ongoing fettling to keep in trim. The engines are tough if appeared after – 6,000 mile oil adjustments are advised, but our Pill’s will probable all have been time-dependent – rear suspension can rust and broken trim can be challenging to swap. Minor perils as opposed to these that occur as normal with some of the company’s flakier offerings. The largest irritation for the subsequent operator might well be the continual have to have to explain picking one more than an Elise. 

Lotus’s only front-travel will normally have novelty on its side, but that is unquestionably not in which its enchantment finishes. These times it’s a much more primary decision than an MX-5 would be.