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