Lotus introduced the Type 75 Elite in 1974. Being a full
four-seater coupe with an opening glass tailgate, it was designed
to carry a family in comfort while retaining Lotus' trademark,
excellent road holding and handling. Perhaps most importantly, it
was the first - and successful - step in Colin Chapman's plan to
move upmarket and away from Lotus' kit car image. The Elite gave
rise to two derivatives, the Eclat and the Excel. The Eclat was a
restyled coupe version, sacrificing the Elite's unique rear styling
and good rear passenger headroom for a more stylish exterior. With
its conventional coupe styling, the Eclat was more mainstream than
the Elite, and it was in the end the better seller. In turn, the
Eclat spawned the Excel, the last of the Elite-inspired family.
Matthew Vale looks at the history of these unusual Lotus models,
and gives a thorough guide to buying and owning the cars today.
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