When the Lotus Elan SE was launched in 1969 it had a mixed reception. For the sports car 'purist' the whole concept of a front-wheel drive 'rag-top' was a complete anathema. Yet from the engineering perspective it has been described as '"..the finest front-drive chassis ever."
M100 Elan: The Concept
The idea behind the concept of a front-wheel drive sports car was logical for the time. Front-wheel drive had been commonplace for approximately twenty years. Most young drivers had learned to drive in such a car. It was all that most of them had ever experienced. It was also the format of the 'hot hatch'. Lotus envisaged the 'M100' as being an attractive step up for those drivers.
The History
In its relatively short history the 'Lotus' badge has had more owners than most of its products. In 1996 it was bought out by 'General Motors'. With GM came a mighty development and production budget. A total of £35 million was invested in the M100 Elan project. One of Lotus' top designers, Peter Stevens' was given a blank drawing board to create the M100. According to Alastair Clements the result was "...a fiendishly clever car."
Lotus had acquired a reputation for producing beautiful yet fragile cars. In a bid to overcome this the M100 was tested as no other Lotus before. With the American market in mind the car faced trials in extreme hot and cold conditions. Many models were crash tested and and before any car was delivered to the showroom it completed thirty miles round the test track at Norwich.
The engine for the M100 had been chosen for its performance and robustness. An 'off the shelf' product was used to prevent the extremely costly process of developing a suitable 'mill'. A modified version of an Isuzu 1588cc double overhead cam 16 valve engine was the preferred choice. In the Elan SE a turbocharger was added giving it an impressive 165 BHP.
It is sad to relate that the M100 did not sell as anticipated. There are several reasons for this. They include the fact that its launch coincided with a recession on both sides of the Atlantic. Also, at the same time that it appeared on the market it met with stiff competition from a Japanese rival. The Mazda MX5 had a retro style and was considerably cheaper than the Lotus. As a consequence, only 3855 of the original Lotus model were sold.
The Lotus Elan SE: Ownership
The Elan SE is a quick little car capable of 137 mph. It is also smart off the mark reaching 60 mph from a standing start in a tasty 6.5 seconds. One of true joys of accelerating hard in the Elan is the way it lurches forwards as the turbo kicks in. But without a doubt the car's real strength is in its cornering ability. It will eat up bends (to quote the cliche) as if it were on rails. Finally, when it is polished up and pristine it still turns heads.
Conclusion
Classic and Sports Car Magazine' (July 2007) set out to compare eight similarly priced (used value) sports cars. This group included such marques as MG, BMW, Jensen-Healey and Alfa Romeo. Their stated remit was to discover which of them offered the 'most thrills'. Their conclusion was this,'...but top spot is secured for Norfolk by the Elan's sublime steering'.What more needs to be said?
Reference:
- Clenents, A. 'Lotus Elan; Classic and Sports Car Magazine' July 2007
