CARS –
“The Third Generation Lotuses: Elite, Eclat, Esprit, Excel“ is a highly regarded collector’s book written by motoring author Graham Robson and originally published in 1983. [1, 2]
This classic motoring title acts as an enthusiast guide detailing Colin Chapman’s ambitious strategy to transition Lotus Cars away from its “kit car” roots into a premium, upmarket manufacturer. It provides deep historical context, build engineering insights, and design breakdowns for the four iconic wedge-era models that defined Lotus throughout the 1970s and 1980s
The third-generation Lotus lineage represents Colin Chapman’s strategic push upscale in the 1970s and 1980s, sharing lightweight fiberglass bodies, backbone chassis designs, and the Lotus 907/912 slant-four engine family.
The Evolutionary Lineage
- Lotus Elite (Type 75, 1974–1982): A wedge-shaped, four-seater fastback coupe featuring an innovative glass tailgate and designed to shake off Lotus’s kit-car image.Â
- Lotus Eclat (Type 76/84, 1975–1982): A more conventional, fastback-styled derivative of the Elite that sacrificed rear headroom for sleeker styling.
- Lotus Excel (1982–1992): Originally named the Eclat Excel, this heavy evolution of the Eclat fixed chassis corrosion issues with a zinc-galvanized frame and integrated robust Toyota mechanical components.
- Lotus Esprit (Type 79, 1976–2004): While sharing early design DNA and engine concepts (the 907/912 series) under Giorgetto Giugiaro’s famous wedge profile, the Esprit carved out its own iconic mid-engined supercar path compared to its front-engined stablemates.
Key Shared Engineering Traits
- The Chassis: Built around a steel backbone frame (shaped like a large ‘X’ in the later front-engined cars).
- The Powerplants: Powered by lightweight aluminum Lotus 907/912 2.2-liter engines (naturally aspirated in the Elite, Eclat, and Excel; turbocharged in the high-performance Esprit variants).
- The Toyota Partnership: The later Excel modernized the lineage by adopting a Toyota W58 5-speed gearbox, differential, and inboard/outboard braking components, vastly improving reliability.
- pp. 144 illusts First Edition (price-cut dustjacket) #220926