Lotus 1990-1999: Type 100 to Type 118

Championship success in the USA with the racedeveloped Esprit Turbo, a dominant gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for the Type 108 Pursuit Bike, and accolades for “The World’s Fastest Production Saloon Car” were all prelude to the takeover of Lotus Cars by Bugatti International of Italy. In 1995, Lotus produced its 50,000th car, and donated it to the Prince’s Trust charity where the car raised £65,000. Later that year Lotus unveiled a new model, the Elise, a car which would garner awards and rave reviews from the public and press alike, and go on to be the most prolific Lotus ever. A year later, Malaysian company Proton would acquire a majority shareholding in Lotus and provide the investment and stability needed to take the company into the new millennium. Following 50th Anniversary celebrations, a new production facility at Hethel would give Lotus the capacity to produce 10,000 cars annually.

Images © Lotus Cars Plc., William Taylor
Lotus Elan (M100) Federal

Lotus Elan (M100) Federal

Road Car - 1990 - 559 built

Lotus Type 102

Lotus Type 102

Formula 1 - 1990 - 5 built

Type 104 Lotus Carlton/Omega

Type 104 Lotus Carlton/Omega

Road Car - 1990 - 950 built

Type 105 SCCA Esprit

Type 105 SCCA Esprit

Racecar - 1990 - 22 built

Lotus Type 102B

Lotus Type 102B

Formula 1 - 1991 - 3 built

Type 106 Esprit X180R

Type 106 Esprit X180R

Racecar - 1991 - 5 built

Type M200 Speedster

Type M200 Speedster

Concept car - 1991 - 1 built

Type 82 Esprit Turbo SE (high wing)

Type 82 Esprit Turbo SE (high wing)

Road Car - 1992 - 172 built

Lotus Type 107

Lotus Type 107

Formula 1 - 1992 - 4 built

Type 82 Esprit Sport 300

Type 82 Esprit Sport 300

Road Car - 1992 - 65 built

Lotus Type 108

Lotus Type 108

Pursuit Bike - 1992 - 26 built

Lotus Type 107B

Lotus Type 107B

Formula 1 - 1993 - 6 built

Elan M100 Coupe

Elan M100 Coupe

Concept Car - 1993 - 1 built

Type 82 Esprit S4

Type 82 Esprit S4

Road Car - 1993 - 624 built

Lotus Type 110

Lotus Type 110

Time Trial Bike - 1993 - n/a built

Type 100 Elan S2

Type 100 Elan S2

Road Car - 1994 - 800 built

Lotus Type 109

Lotus Type 109

Formula 1 - 1994 - 3 built

Type 82 Esprit S4S

Type 82 Esprit S4S

Road Car - 1993 - 361 built

Type 82 Esprit GT2

Type 82 Esprit GT2

Racecar - 1995 - 3 built

Type 82 Esprit GT3

Type 82 Esprit GT3

Road Car - 1993 - 196 built

Type 114 Esprit GT1

Type 114 Esprit GT1

Racecar - 1996 - 3 built

Type 82 Esprit V8

Type 82 Esprit V8

Road Car - 1996 - 550 built

Type 111 Elise

Type 111 Elise

Road Car - 1996 - 8,600 built

Type 111 GT1 Roadcar

Type 111 GT1 Roadcar

Roadcar - 1997 - 1 built

Type 111 GT1 Racecar

Type 111 GT1 Racecar

Roadcar - 1997 - 7 built

Type 82 Esprit V8GT

Type 82 Esprit V8GT

Road Car - 1997 - 204 built

Type 82 Esprit V8SE

Type 82 Esprit V8SE

Road Car - 1998 - 600 built

Type 82 Esprit Sport 350

Type 82 Esprit Sport 350

Road Car - 1998 - 58 built

Type 111 Elise Sport 135

Type 111 Elise Sport 135

Road Car - 1998 - 85 built

Type 111 Elise Sport 190

Type 111 Elise Sport 190

Road Car - 1998 - 40 built

Type 111 Elise 111S

Type 111 Elise 111S

Road Car - 1999 - 1487 built

Type 118 M250

Type 118 M250

Prototype - 1999 - 2 built

Type 111 Elise Type 49

Type 111 Elise Type 49

Road Car - 1999 - 134 built