1996 marque une étape importante pour Lotus puisque c’est le lancement l’Elise, produite jusqu’en 2021. Elle relance alors une gamme composée de l’Esprit, dont la sortie remonte à 1974, et de l’Elan, un petit cabriolet traction. L’Elise, elle, renoue avec la Seven, faisant la chasse aux kilos pour privilégier les sensations. Elle est ici dans sa série limitée Sport 160 lancée en 2000.

In 2021, Lotus (owned by the Chinese manufacturer Geely since 2017) unveiled what should be its last combustion engine sports car, before becoming an all-electric brand. The Emira succeeds the Elise, Exige and Evora all together. Two engines are available: either a mid-mounted 400 hp 3.5-litre supercharged Toyota V6 or a "standard" 360 hp Mercedes-AMG 4-cylinder.

Released in 1977, this small British hatchback looks like the Simca Horizon, its Franco-American cousin launched in 1978. Except that it had only two doors and was a rear-wheel drive. Sold from 1980 under the Talbot brand, like the Horizon, the Sunbeam was a lot hotter when "adapted" by Lotus. Here we have this rally version, ready to race, with no sponsors.

Based on the Lotus Eleven produced from 1956 to 1960, this unique model was bodied at the request of a wealthy customer by the Swiss company Ghia Aigle, led by Michelotti, who has agreements with Ghia in Italy but is financially independent. It was actually first introduced in 1957 as a spider, then received a plexiglass roof, reproduced here and unveiled in Geneva in March 1958.

This roadster is Colin Chapman’s brilliant work. The Seven, released in 1957, was supplemented by the Super Seven from 1958, followed by the Series 2, whose revised chassis was also less expensive, in 1960. The Super Seven Series 3 that we have here was launched for 1968. It receives redesigned fenders as well as a new front grille and improved equipment, including a gasoline gauge.

This roadster is Colin Chapman’s brilliant work. The Seven, released in 1957, was supplemented by the Super Seven from 1958, followed by the Series 2, whose revised chassis was also less expensive, in 1960. The Super Seven Series 3 that we have here was launched for 1968. It receives redesigned fenders as well as a new front grille and improved equipment, including a gasoline gauge.

The Exige is the more powerful coupe variant of the Elise. The Series 1 was sold between 2000 and 2002. This Series 2 was launched in late 2003, based on the most recently updated Elise. This version uses the same magic pill: this featherweight (935 kg/2,060 lbs)) receives a small but boosted 1.8-litre Toyota engine that originally developed 192 hp, then 220 hp in 2006 on the Exige S.

In Geneva in March 2010, the British brand, owned by the Malaysian manufacturer Proton, unveiled a very special Evora: it is equipped with two electric motors developing 414 hp (explaining the name), plus a small conventional range-extending engine. We saw this concept car on the roads during the summer of 2012.

At the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012, six months after restyling the Exige, Lotus introduced the Roadster version, changing its own habits: usually, the Elise was a roadster and the Exige a coupe. This version S is equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 borrowed from Toyota (the same than the Evora). This LookSmart reproduction, in white or red on Minicarweb, is a limited edition of 59 units.

Launched in 2006, the Europa borrowed its name from a Lotus released in 1966 (equipped, at the time, with a Renault 16 engine!). This model was not successful. Therefore, its career was shortened: Lotus withdrew it from its catalogue in 2010. In fact, the Europa is a somewhat gentrified Elise, and purists preferred the original. Collector in sight!