Lotus Elan II (Type M100) photos

The second-generation Lotus Elan (project code Type M100) was engineered during General Motors' ownership and manufactured between 1989 and 1995. Departing from traditional rear-wheel drive, Lotus developed a revolutionary front-wheel-drive architecture utilizing a galvanized steel backbone subframe bonded to a composite fiberglass body crafted with Vacuum Assisted Resin Injection (VARI). Under the hood sat an Isuzu-sourced 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve engine, offered naturally aspirated with 130 hp or turbocharged with an intercooler producing 162 to 165 hp, paired with a five-speed manual transaxle. The patented Interactive Wishbone front suspension virtually eliminated torque steer and established new benchmarks for front-wheel-drive dynamics. A revised Series 2 (S2) limited run of 800 units arrived in 1994 with suspension tweaks and standard catalytic converters before production ended and the tooling was subsequently acquired by Kia.