The Big Picture
Brand-new Type 131 to replace a dynamic British success story
The end of an era as Lotus stops production of Elise, Exige and Evora.
Aquarter of a century of Elise production will come to a close this year, with the announcement of three new sports cars, as well as improved manufacturing facilities at the Norfolk firm.
After combined sales of 55,000 worldwide, the Elise, Exige and Evora will all be replaced, but it is the eldest of the range that’ll be mourned most by enthusiasts. The Elise was the creation of a handful of engineers, who completed their ‘Proto One’ rolling chassis project in record time at the factory workshops on Christmas Eve, 1994. Within months, the car was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where Lotus announced it would be named after the granddaughter of then boss, Romano Artioli.
Now 27, Elisa Artioli was given her own S1 at the age of four – a car she still owns and drives regularly today. ‘I just love the Elise and always have. Until I was old enough to drive, I used to go outside to the garage and pretend to drive it!’ Elisa told Practical Classics she feels sad to see production ending, but is mindful of the firm’s future. ‘As a Lotus fan, I wish only the best for the company. For me though, no car is quite like the Elise!’
The final Elise leaves the Hethel production line this year and paves the way for a new series of Lotus models based on the upcoming Type 131 platform, all part of a £100m investment plan that involves the creation of an extra 250 posts, on top of the 670 new jobs created over the past three years.