Manufacturer Lotus Cars Class Sports car Related | Production 1982–1992 Body style 2-door coupe | |
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Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive | ||
The Type 89 Lotus Excel, built from 1982 to 1992, is a front-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car designed and built by Lotus. It was based on the design of the earlier Lotus Eclat, which itself was based on the earlier Lotus Elite II.
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Development
Toyota engaged Lotus to assist with engineering work on the Supra. During this period, Toyota became a major shareholder in Lotus, later giving up their holding when General Motors bought Lotus.
Part of the deal between Lotus and Toyota included the use of many Toyota mechanical components in Lotus' cars. The original Excel (aka the Eclat Excel) used the W58 manual transmission, driveshafts, rear differential, 14x7 in alloy wheels, and door handles from the Supra Mk II, which was made from 1982 to 1986. The engine was the familiar all-aluminium, DOHC 2.2 L Lotus 912 Slant Four (which was used in the Lotus Esprit S3).
Upgrades
During its lifetime, the Excel received two major upgrades. With the introduction of the Excel SE (a 180 bhp (134 kW; 182 PS) engine vs the standard 160 bhp (119 kW; 162 PS) engined car) in October 1985, the bumpers, wing and interior were changed, including a new dashboard. In October 1986 the Excel SA with automatic gearbox was introduced. Further facelifts in 1989 saw Citroën-derived mirrors, as featured on the Esprit, and 15 inch OZ alloy wheels to a similar pattern as the Esprit's.
The Excel is also known for its high cornering power and excellent handling thanks to 50:50 weight distribution.
According to Lotus records, only 1 Excel was manufactured to USA specification. The decision not to release the model in the USA was due to that country's stringent emission regulations (which would hinder the car's performance), and poor sales of the car in Europe.
415 are still registered in the United Kingdom as of 2011, but 240 of them are SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). James May purchased one on the television show Top Gear in the fourth episode of season 15. Top Gear also used a Lotus Excel in the James Bond 50th Anniversary Special and converted it into a submarine. This was done to prove the Lotus Esprit used in The Spy Who Loved Me wasn't science fiction.