The
Lotus Elan
This ill-fated car is representing Lotus' first and only experience with front-wheel drive. Named after the famous original Elan of the sixties & seventies, it is also the first car after Colin Chapman's untimely death, which was launched under the auspices of the 'Big Brother' GM in 1991.
Though a pure Lotus designwork, it never gained the affection and attention that it would have deserved. Equipped with an ISUZU-LOTUS engine, this model was scapped only two and a half years later, after 3857 produced cars. All copyrights and toolings were then bought by the Korean based KIA-Group and now this car has found it's second birth under the KIA ELAN badge. The Koreans have installed a KIA powerplant and changed the rear lights, but in spite of that the ELAN is still a true LOTUS-design and now shares the fate of all the Caterhams, Westfields, Donkervoorts, etc.
