Back to the Future: Kia Elan Roadster is a Lotus for the Masses
Cars

Back to the Future: Kia Elan Roadster is a Lotus for the Masses



Back in the late 1980s, two automakers with very different values and historical backgrounds each set out to build a roadster model for mainstream enthusiasts. The two brands were Mazda with its MX-5, also known as Miata in North America and Eunos Roadster in Japan, and Lotus, then owned by General Motors, with the Elan M100.

Both two-seater models were presented in 1989, but only one managed to become a phenomenal sales success, and that was the MX-5.

Ironically, Mazda's goal was to create a direct descendant of the original Lotus Elan from the 1960s, with a nostalgic feel in terms of styling, lightweight philosophy and rear-wheel drive setup, adapted of course, to the times.

On the other hand, the British automaker purposely designed a futuristic successor that maintained the handling and nimbleness of the original Elan, but instead of RWD, opted for a FWD layout, the first and last time Lotus tried it on a production model.

Even though the modern Elan was praised for its handling and forward looking styling, it ultimately fell victim to its high price having to compete with the cheaper and more reliable MX-5, and the fact that it was not as entertaining on the road as a rear-wheel driven model.

Read more »




- It Came From Ebay Hell: The Bmw Z3 Miata Edition
Back in 1989, Mazda took the automotive world by surprise with the launch of the MX-5, also known as Miata in North America and Eunos Roadster in Japan. The frisky and affordable rear-wheel drive MX-5 was an instant success and as a result, many carmakers...

- New Owners Tell Lotus To Continue Development Of Future Models
For a company that hadn’t revealed a brand new car in 12 years until it launched the Evora in 2008, revealing five new models in the same auto show like Lotus did in Paris in 2010, was a ballsy move. The Proton-owned company said at the time that...

- Video: Lotus Elan Concept’s Digital Instrument Panel In Action
The Lotus Elan was one of five concept sports cars presented by Lotus at last year's Paris Auto Show while it also made a quick stop at the LA motorshow that followed in November. Now that the concept studies have made it back to the England, the...

- New Photo Gallery Of Lotus' Future Sports Car Lineup
You may have to ask a second time for their name and you probably need to take more than a couple of looks to tell them apart, but that doesn't mean we're not impressed by the next generation of Lotus sports cars. Unveiled for the first time...

- Lotus Metamorphosis: An Artistic Take On The Firm's Future Models [with Video]
To show that the brand is going through a metamorphosis after the presentation of five new models at the Paris Show, Lotus has joined forces with award winning French artist Gérard Rancinan to create seven artistic images that will be showcased alongside...



Cars








.