Lotus Elite II (Type 75) gallery (1974–1982)

The second-generation Lotus Elite (designated Type 75 and later Type 83) arrived in 1974, marking Lotus's shift upmarket into the four-seater Grand Tourer segment. Styled by Oliver Winterbottom, it featured a dramatic wedge-shaped fiberglass shooting brake hatchback body mounted on a galvanized steel backbone chassis, moving away from the first generation's unibody concept. It was powered by a 2.0-liter 16-valve Lotus 907 four-cylinder engine delivering 160 hp, mated to either a 4-speed or 5-speed manual gearbox, or an optional 3-speed BorgWarner automatic transmission. In 1980, the revised Type 83 debuted with the larger 2.2-liter Lotus 912 engine, improving low-end torque, and a heavy-duty Getrag 5-speed manual transmission. The Type 75/83 boasted an upscale interior, power steering, and air conditioning, targeting wealthy buyers in Britain, continental Europe, and the United States until production ended in 1982.