This compact and richly illustrated book is part of the popular A Pictorial History series and charts the full journey of Lotus road cars from 1952 through to 2024. Enthusiasts, collectors, and motorsport fans will discover a chronicle of innovation, style, and pure driving excitement that only Lotus can deliver.
From the lightweight brilliance of the Lotus Seven to the exotic Esprit and modern Evora, each model is examined with rare and previously unpublished photographs, capturing the elegance and engineering genius of the marque. Author Matthew Vale — a recognized expert on Lotus — brings his extensive knowledge and passion to this sixth Lotus title, offering clear insight into the brand’s heritage and technical evolution.
The book also explores how Lotus’ racing pedigree shaped its road cars, resulting in vehicles that deliver exceptional handling and performance.
Whether you're a seasoned Lotus devotee or new to the marque, this compact visual history is a must-have addition to your automotive library.
- A definitive visual guide to every Lotus road car from 1952 to 2024
- Over 200 rare and never-before-published images in one collectible volume
- Written by Matthew Vale — respected author of six books on Lotus and 20+ automotive titles
Table of Contents:
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 Lotus VI
- Chapter 3 Lotus Elite
- Chapter 4 Lotus Seven
- Chapter 5 Lotus Elan
- Chapter 6 Lotus Elan Plus 2
- Chapter 7 Lotus Elite and Eclat
- Chapter 8 Lotus Esprit
- Chapter 9 Lotus Excel
- Chapter 10 Lotus Elan M100
- Chapter 11 Lotus Elise
- Chapter 12 Lotus Exige
- Chapter 12 Lotus Evora
Named after Elisa, the granddaughter of Lotus's owner at the time, Romano Artioli of Bugatti fame, the Lotus Elise was launched at the Frankfurt Show in 1995. In the subsequent twenty-five years it has not only established itself as the embodiment of what Lotus stands for, it retains a unique place in the international sports car market.
The Elise story is one of steady evolution. The original car, conceptually a true Lotus complying exactly with the mantra ‘performance through light weight’, employed traditional Lotus construction practices, based on a radically innovative extruded aluminum chassis. The Series 1 Elise opened the gates for the Series 2 (S2) model and its principal derivative sibling, the more track-focussed Exige, and the concept matured steadily, with powertrain revisions, styling facelifts and chassis modifications though the next two decades.
No other manufacturer came up with a car to seriously rival the Elise, nor the Exige, in terms of handling dexterity on both road and racetrack, and it aptly characterizes the definition of a sports car.
