Mercury History

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Mercury is a division of Ford Motor Company marketed as being somewhat more upscale than Ford. Throughout the latter part of its 71-year history, Mercury's vehicles were essentially Fords with unique styling details and special features meant to enhance desirability. However, this limited-scope strategy led to a diminishing market share over the years as shoppers found little reason to choose a Mercury. By the time it was discontinued in late 2010, Mercury was but a shell of its former self.

It all started in the 1930s, when Edsel Ford, Henry Ford's son, saw an opportunity to create an additional brand within the Ford hierarchy, one that would slot vehicles between the everyman Ford Deluxes and premium Lincoln Zephyrs. To achieve this, Edsel felt the vehicles of this new brand should offer distinctive styling along with innovative features and better capabilities. He named the new division "Mercury," after the Roman mythological god. The 1939 Mercury Eight was the division's first car. It distinguished itself from similar Ford products thanks to a 95-horsepower engine that offered 10 more horses than the Ford V8.


The Eight proved to be a hit, with more than 155,000 sold by the early 1940s. Production stopped during World War II; after the war, the brand was realigned more closely with Lincoln. The company grew from strength to strength in the '50s, establishing itself as a home of vehicles offering style, performance and cutting-edge technology. A dash of glamour was added to the automaker's image when James Dean appeared onscreen in a Mercury in the film Rebel Without A Cause.

The 1960s saw the introduction of Mercury's Comet and Meteor vehicles. The Comet featured diminutive dimensions and luxury accoutrements, while the Meteor was a midsize family car that followed the trend toward more reasonably sized cars. Racetrack wins boosted awareness of the Comet and helped the model make a big splash in terms of sales. By the end of the decade, the iconic Mercury Cougar, a variation of the Mustang, had been rolled out, taking its place in the pantheon of legendary early muscle cars.

Hit hard by that decade's oil crisis, consumers during the 1970s were hungry for smaller vehicles that offered improved fuel efficiency. Mercury created vehicles like the Capri and the Bobcat to fill this need. The brand's products were well received, and its sales grew during a decade that was filled with turbulence and uncertainty for many competing marques. The brand took a stab at broadening its consumer base in the '80s by diversifying and expanding its lineup, which grew to include vehicles like the subcompact Lynx. Mercury enjoyed success with the 1986 launch of the Sable, a fraternal twin to the Ford Taurus whose sleek, aerodynamic lines served to diminish drag and improve fuel efficiency.

Mercury's sales hit an all-time high during the 1990s that would never again be matched. Minivans and SUVs were a big reason for that as Mercury introduced its Villager minivan and Mountaineer SUV. It also introduced a new Cougar, which differed from its predecessors by being a front-drive sport compact and holds the distinction of being the last Mercury that wasn't a rebadged Ford.

The years following the new millennium were challenging for the brand, as changing consumer tastes and a lack of differentiation between Mercury and Ford vehicles hurt sales. Pundits often proclaimed the end of Mercury is near, but Ford kept proclaiming it would keep Mercury around despite offering no hope for any unique, future vehicles that would differentiate the brand in a meaningful way. Finally in 2010, Ford announced it would pull the plug on Mercury, putting an end to more than 70 years of car-making heritage.

Ford says that existing Mercury owners will continue to receive access to parts and service via Ford and Lincoln dealerships. Current warranties will also be honored.

Source: Edmunds.com

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Mazda History

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There are affordable cars, and then there are cars that offer thrilling performance. Rarely do the two ever converge, but Japanese automaker Mazda has made a tradition of coming up with vehicles that combine both of these eminently desirable traits.

The Toyo Cork Kogyo Company, founded in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan, used the name "Mazda" for its first three-wheeled truck, built in 1931. Company founder Jujiro Matsuda chose the word "Mazda" because it was the name of the Zoroastrian god of good and light. Work on a small sedan began in the late 1930s, but development was halted so the company could pitch in with Japan's war effort. In the wake of World War II and the rebuilding that followed, the company refocused its efforts on car development and manufacturing.


By 1960, the first Mazda automobile — the R360 coupe — was developed, and the company's foray into the production of passenger vehicles began in full force. Other landmark developments were soon to follow. In 1961, the company entered into a technical partnership with NSU and Wankel to develop and produce rotary engines, a union that led to Mazda's distinguishing itself as the only manufacturer to offer three engine configurations: conventional gasoline piston, diesel and rotary. The '60s also saw the introduction of the company's first pickup, the B-Series 1500, as well as its first rotary-engine vehicle, the 110S Cosmo Sport.

Mazda began selling cars in the U.S. in 1970. In the early part of the decade, the automaker rolled out the RX-2. Powered by the noted 12A rotary, the RX-2 introduced America to Mazda's effort to build fun-to-drive and affordable cars. The decade also saw the introduction of the RX-3, RX-4 and now iconic rotary-powered RX-7 sports car. In 1979, the Ford Motor Company purchased a 25 percent stake in Mazda after the Japanese company encountered a number of financial difficulties.

The 1980s was a decade of rebirth for Mazda. The company officially took on the Mazda name (though all its vehicles since its launch in the '20s have carried that brand). It also witnessed an upswing in sales sparked by successful new products like the 323 (which was first called the GLC in the American market) and 626. The 1990 model year saw the launch of a car that would prove a huge hit for Mazda: the MX-5 Miata. Lauded for its responsive handling and affordability, the drop-top has been a consistent favorite, and now holds the distinction of being the world's best-selling roadster.

Mazda began the 1990s with a bang by winning Le Mans with the 787B; it was the first time a Japanese automaker had won the prestigious race, and marked the only win for a rotary engine. Vehicles like the RX-7 and MX-5 Miata scored kudos from automotive journalists, and landed on many top 10 lists. However, save for the Miata, the company's vehicles experienced declining sales in the U.S., and the company's fortunes suffered as a result.

The new millennium has seen Mazda regain its stride. The automaker has invested in new development, with impressive results. New models like the Mazda3 and CX-9 have broadened the company's customer base and won over a whole new generation of fans, while the enthusiast-oriented RX-8 and Mazdaspeed performance models have exemplified the company's "Zoom-Zoom" philosophy.

Source: Edmunds.com

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Maybach History

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With a highly focused lineup that consists of just two incredibly sumptuous touring sedans, Maybach creates luxury cars that are as exclusive as they are expensive. The automaker's vehicles are custom-built to each customer's taste. A long list of options, colors and interior furnishings can be applied to any vehicle, but you won't find a selection of popularly equipped Maybachs waiting on dealer lots. Instead, you must order your vehicle by visiting a Maybach dealer's "Commissioning Studio," housed within a Mercedes-Benz dealership.

The company's name comes from Wilhelm Maybach, one of Germany's first automotive engineers. He designed the first car that bore a Mercedes badge in 1901 and later collaborated with Graf Zeppelin to design and produce engines for the airships known as Zeppelins. With his engineer son Karl by his side, the automaker crafted the very first Maybach in 1919. Based on a Mercedes-Benz chassis, the Type W1 was an experimental project designed to give Maybach the opportunity to test-drive a few of his favorite engineering concepts. A couple of years later, the engineer evolved this prototype into a vehicle intended for public use — the Maybach Type W3, which made its debut at the Berlin Motor Show in 1921.

Other models followed. Unveiled in 1929, the Type Zeppelin DS 8 was one of the best-known Maybachs, and exhibited remarkable timelessness and durability. The car was powered by a 200-horsepower V12 and was capable of reaching a top speed of 93 mph. The company's 1936 limousine, the Type SW 38, offered luxurious seating for seven via five standard seats and two folding seats. As a brand, Maybach's epoch was short-lived, however. By 1941, production of Maybach automobiles ceased as the company shifted its focus to manufacturing engines for military, marine and rail purposes.

With considerable effort from Daimler-Benz, the Maybach brand was resurrected in 2003 with a lineup consisting of a pair of luxury sedan models, the 57 and the similar but longer 62. Today's Maybachs are hand-made in Germany, made to order according to customer requests. As in the past, supremely luxurious interiors and extremely powerful and smooth power plants (in this case twin-turbo V12 engines) are the hallmarks of the marque. A price tag well into six-figure territory means that these are luxury cars solely for those with mountains of money to spend, but the lucky few able to afford this luxury will find themselves cocooned in vehicles that offer the ultimate in automotive extravagance.

Source: edmunds.com

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Maserati History

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Italian sports-car excitement doesn't have to come at super-steep prices. Maserati has made a name for itself as a maker of lust-worthy exotics that, though costly, are bargains relative to their stratospherically priced competition. Maserati cars currently come in a number of configurations that range from an open sports car to a spacious luxury sport sedan.

The company was founded in 1914 by six Maserati brothers: Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto. Based in Bologna, Italy, the brothers were racing enthusiasts and planned to craft racecars for private use. Mario, an artist, was believed to have based the company's trident emblem on a statue of the mythological god Neptune found in a Bologna square.

Throughout the '20s and '30s, the Maserati brothers scored many wins around the globe in their custom-built racecars. In 1937, the surviving brothers sold their stake in the company to the Orsi family, who moved the company's headquarters to Modena. A couple of years later, one of the automaker's cars won the prestigious Indianapolis 500.


Postwar, Maserati continued to rack up impressive racing victories with cars like the famous Tipo 60 and 61 "Birdcage" models. The company didn't start building road cars until the A6 coupe, which was made from 1947-'57. With only 138 cars produced in that long span, most of Maserati's money came from its other products: spark plugs and car batteries. The Maserati 3500 GT, fitted with a double-overhead-cam inline six, debuted in the mid-1950s.

By the 1960s, the automaker had shifted its focus from racecars to road cars. The company rolled out sexy models like the Mistral Coupe and the Sebring. But it wasn't until 1966, with the introduction of the sleek Giugiaro-styled Ghibli, that Maserati fielded a truly powerful (330-horsepower V8) and sexy Italian sports car. In 1968, the marque was purchased by Citroën.

Throughout the 1970s, Maserati made the most of its partnership with Citroën, using some of that company's suspension and steering components in Maserati cars such as the V8 Bora and V6 Merak models. The decade's fuel crisis took its toll, though, wreaking havoc and killing demand for the sort of gas-guzzling sports cars that were Maserati's specialty. Citroën was driven into bankruptcy and Maserati was placed in liquidation. In 1975, the company was purchased by Alejandro de Tomaso, an Argentinean who had a previous life as a successful racecar driver. He quickly rolled out a new model, the Quattroporte III, a four-door luxury sedan.

The 1980s were an especially dark time for Maserati. Its main model for the U.S. market, the Biturbo, was bland and notoriously unreliable. In 1991, the company stopped importing cars into the U.S. completely. Fiat bought Maserati in 1993 and variants of the Biturbo continued to be produced until the factory closed in 1997 for a total refurbishing. During this time, Ferrari bought 50 percent of Maserati; Ferrari went on to acquire full control of the marque. After the factory's rebirth, Maserati started production of a pair of world-class cars, the current two-seat Spyder roadster and the four-seat Coupe. With powerful V8 engines, the availability of an F1-style gearbox, styling by Giugiaro and vastly improved build quality, the new Maserati cars were introduced to the U.S. market for 2002 and have restored prestige to this Italian sports car company.

In 2005, Maserati was split from Ferrari but remained within the Fiat fold. That year also saw the reintroduction of the Quattroporte luxury sport sedan, which is now accompanied by the voluptuous GranTurismo coupe. Today's Maseratis may lack the brand recognition of the marque's Italian rival, but they hold the advantage of being considerably more affordable while still offering sexy Italian styling and supercar performance.

Source: edmunds.com

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Mahindra History

Few groups can identify as closely with India's destiny and industrial progress as the Mahindra Group. In fact, Mahindra is like a microcosm of India. Both were born around the same time, had the same aspirations and both experienced the inevitable troughs and crests in the journey towards their goals. And both continue to march on the path to progress and global recognition.

The birth of Mahindra & Mahindra began when K.C. Mahindra visited the United States of America as Chairman of the India Supply Mission. He met Barney Roos, inventor of the rugged 'general purpose vehicle' or Jeep and had a flash of inspiration: wouldn't a vehicle that had proved its invincibility on the battlefields of World War II be ideal for India's rugged terrain and its kutcha rural roads?

Swift action followed this thought. The Mahindra brothers joined hands with a distinguished gentleman called Ghulam Mohammed & on October 2nd, 1945, Mahindra & Mohammed was set up as a franchise for assembling Jeeps from Willys, USA. Two years later, India became an independent nation and Mahindra & Mohammed changed its name to Mahindra & Mahindra. Ghulam Mohammed migrated to Pakistan post-partition and became the first Finance Minister of Pakistan.

Since then, Mahindra & Mahindra has grown steadily in size and stature and evolved into a Group that occupies a premier position in almost all key sectors of the economy. The Group's history is studded with milestones. Each one taking the Group forward. In fact, today, its total turnover is about 6.3 billion dollars.

Mahindra is a group in a hurry, engaged in an ambitious, sustained and prolonged penetration into the global arena. Its spirit can be encapsulated in the words of the poet Robert Frost, a favourite of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru:

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."

For Mahindra & Mahindra, this translates into many more milestones to be set up before it rests. If ever. Source: Mahindra

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Lotus History

Type 1 - Trials Special (1948) The first Lotus based on a 1930 Austin 7 saloon. Chapman ensured that every body panel was stressed such that it would add to overall strength of the car without adding unnecessary weight. This was an engineering philosophy which was to carry on for the rest of Lotus history
Type 7 - Lotus Seven (1957 - 1972) The Lotus Seven began as an uprated version of the successful Lotus Mark 6 (which was the first production sports car for Lotus). Steel tube frame with aluminium bodywork, later with glass-fibre nose and fenders. A variety of engines were used. Produced mainly in kit form, it enables many enthusiasts to own a dual-purpose road/racing sports car at a reasonable price. Four basic variants are produced by Lotus until 1973, when the rights to manufacture were taken by Caterham Cars Ltd., which still produces the Caterham Seven (a development of the Lotus Seven Series 3).	Lotus 6 and 7s at racing at Goodwood, 1958 Modern Caterham 7
Type 10 (1955) In 1954, Chapman brought aerodynamics to racing with Frank Costin, aeronautical aerodynamics engineer with De Havilland Aircraft Company. The Mk 8 used a MG 1467cc engine. Customer Mike Anthony wanted a Mk8 capable of running a 2 litre six cylinder Bristol engine. The Mk 10 used Dunlop disc brakes front and rear with an aerodynamic low drag body.  Type 11 (1956-1958) The "Eleven" was a class winning car at Le Mans. It set the world speed record for an 1100cc (67 CID) car at 143mph! The Eleven won in class at the LeMans 24 hours of Endurance in the 1500cc and 1100cc classes and took the overall win for the Index of Performance. Revised in 1956 to Series 2 specifications.
Type 14 - Lotus Elite (1957-1962) The Lotus Elite was introduced at the 1957 Earls Court Motor Show and was the first closed passenger offered by Lotus. It used a glass fibre monocoque chassis comprised of eight box sections. Independent front suspension by coil springs and wishbones. Independent rear suspension by Chapman struts incorporating coil springs. Powered by a 1216cc all aluminium Coventry Climax engine. Winner in class at LeMans 24 hour races.
Type 19 (1960 to 1962) The Lotus revolution began with the Lotus 18 which was one of the first race cars with mid-engine design. Although under-powered when compared to the then dominant Ferraris, the Lotus 18 was capable of out handling them. In the hands of Sterling Moss, Lotus scored its first Formula One victory at the 1960 Grand Prix of Monaco. For the road going Type 19, the Type 18 was widened and formed into Lotus' first mid-engined sports racer, powered by 2.0 and 2.5 Coventry Climax FPF engines. The 19B was built for Dan Gurney and powered by a Ford V8. The Type 19 was also known as the Lotus Monte Carlo.
Type 23 (1962 to 1964) One of the most popular sports racers in Lotus history. Powered by the Ford based engines, 1100cc and later the Lotus Twin Cam. Used Type 19 suspension, with larger tanks. The Type 23 was one of the cars used for styling inspiration for the Lotus Elise.
Type 26 - Lotus Elan (1962 - 1973) The first Lotus road car to use the now famous steel backbone chassis over which a glass-fibre body was fitted. First available as a roadster, an optional hardtop was later offered, and eventually a coupe version. The Elan continued in production through to 1974 and became the most produced Lotus ever.
Type 28 - Lotus Cortina (1963 - 1966) Ford of England came to Lotus to build 1000 special Cortina GT's with a twin cam engine to compete in Group 2. The Lotus Cortina sported a completely different rear suspension, light alloy body panels and Lotus Twin Cam engine. Top speed was 105 mph, 0-60 in 9.9 sec. The Lotus Cortina dominated the Sedan classes in its time. Click here for a Lotus Cortina restoration site; or here for more Lotus Cortina Mark 1 info.
Type 38 - Indianapolis Racer (1965) The Lotus Type 38 represented a major structural improvement over its predecessors, the 1963 Type 29 and the 1964 Type 34. The Type 38 was of true monocoque, stressed skin construction, rather than being merely a "bathtub" with non-stressed upper bodywork. Lotus estimated that it had 50% greater torsional stiffness. The off-set suspension and DOHC 4.2 litre 505bhp V-8 engine followed previous Lotus practice. This car, driven by Jim Clark, won the Indianapolis 500 in 1965, and finished 2nd in 1966 behind Graham Hill in a Lola.
Type 40 (1965) Only 3 Type 40's were built. The bodywork was distinctive with two angled stack exhausts emerging from the rear deck. The last Lotus sports racer to be built. Powered by a Ford 5.3 litre V8, 410 bhp.  More Type 40 info here: http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/type40/
Type 43 (1966 - 1967) Chapman truncated the monocoque chassis, ending it abruptly behind the driver. The engine was mounted to the rear bulkhead and the entire rear suspension was mounted to the engine and transaxle. Other teams declared that the car would fold in half at the first corner. Today EVERY Formula One, Indy Car and World Endurance Cup car has a truncated monocoque chassis with its engine and transaxle carrying the rear suspension, it is now accepted as the "only" way to build a fast race car. Formula One History
Type 46 - Lotus Europa (1967 - 1974) The first non-track mid-priced mid-engined car produced. A glass fibre body draped over a steel backbone chassis with 4 wheel independent suspension. Early cars were powered by a Lotus modified Renault engine. Later this engine was replaced by the Lotus Twin Cam engine and a 5 speed gearbox.
Type 49 (1967 to 1970 ) The Lotus 49 was an uprated Lotus 43 designed for Formula 1 using a truncated monocoque chassis. In its inaugural race it not only took pole position in the hands of Graham Hill but was victorious in the hands of Jim Clark. This car introduced the Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine to racing. Later derivatives of the Lotus 49 introduced aerofoils, high mounted wings, wedge shaped body panels, and the use of air management to create downforce. The Lotus 49 took Lotus to the Constructor's Championship in 1968. Click here for more Lotus 49 info, or here for even more.
Moonraker, 1971 Colin Chapman took over the Moonraker Marine boatyard in 1971 and redesigned their product, the Moonraker 36. The boat had a glass fibre hull and Chapman was to later introduce a revolutionary technique producing one piece vacuum injection moulded GRP hulls in an ex-war aircraft hangar on the edge of Hethel airfield, next to the Lotus Cars factory in Hethel. The method was eventually used for the production of the Lotus cars . Clan Crusader, 1971 The Clan Crusader is a fibreglass monocoque sports two-seater, powered by a Rootes Imp Sport engine. Paul Haussauer and John Frayling designed this car as a follow-up to the Europa, but when Chapman didn't accept their plans they started their own business, aided by government development grants in Washington near Durham. Approximately 350 cars were built by Clan Motor Company, some at the beginning being sold as kit cars. More info here and the owners club website
Type 50 - Lotus Elan Plus Two (1967 - 1973) Lotus enlarged the backbone chassis of the Elan and kept the Twin Cam engine, the disc brakes, the independent suspension; but was able to offer two jump seats and a roomier cabin. This was Lotus' first "family" car. The Elan Plus 2 retained all of the sporty performance of the standard Elan but, added practicality.
Type 72 (1970 to 1975) The most successful Formula One race car ever raced. The Lotus 72 used variable rate torsion bar springs at both front and rear, front inboard disc brakes, the continuation of the wedge aerodynamic bodywork, multiple element rear wing and side radiators. Today nearly every formula car uses these elements introduced by the Lotus 72. The Lotus 72 won 3 World's Constructor's Championships and 2 Driver's Championships and is the only Formula One race car to have won 20 Grand Prix races. Click here for more Lotus 72 info.
Type 75 - Lotus Elite (1974 - 1982) The new Elite was a four place car with a glass-fibre body and a steel backbone chassis. 4 wheel independent suspension system. Power was provided by Lotus' own 907 twin cam 4 valve per cylinder all aluminium engine. This engine was the first 4 valve production engine sold on the open market.
DeLorean DMC12, 1981 In 1981, Chapman became involved in a new venture with his friend John DeLorean. The DeLorean sports car is now best remembered for its role in the Back to the Future films, but prior to this the name DeLorean was best known for scandal. The British government gave DeLorean tens of millions of pounds to put his sports car into production in an unemployment blackspot in Belfast, at an axis between Catholic and Protestant communities. De Lorean used some of the money to pay Chapman to design the car (based on the Lotus Esprit), and further money was extracted from the government using a network of offshore companies. The car once produced was underpowered, overpriced, and extremely poor quality - DeLorean declared insolvency in January 1982. DeLorean's arrest on coke-dealing charges simply added to the chaos (he successfully defended those charges). In February, the British government appointed receivers and by October production had ceased, after only 8,550 cars had been built. DeLorean evaded extradition and was never jailed for his part in the operation. Colin Chapman died of a heart attack in 1982. Lotus MD Fred Bushell was left to serve a three year sentence. The frustrated trial judge commented that if Chapman and De Lorean had been there they would have each received 10 year sentences for "an outrageous and massive fraud".
Type 76 - Lotus Eclat (1975 - 1982) The Lotus Eclat was a fastback version of the new Elite. The rear roof line of the Elite was sloped down into a sporty fastback. Replacing the glassback of the Elite was a trunk lid that opened to a generously sized and practical boot. This type designation was also assigned to an F1 car. It featured twin brake pedals (for left foot braking), with an electronically activated clutch controlled by a button atop the gear selector.
Type 78 (1974) The JPS Mk1, designed as a replacement for the Type 72. Click here for more Team Lotus info.
Type 79 - Lotus Esprit (1976 - 1980) The Lotus Esprit was first shown to the world as a styling exercise by the famous Italian design studio of Giugiaro Design in 1974. The show car was so successful, and inquiries so great, that Lotus committed to taking the successor to the Europa into production. Glass-Fibre bodied, steel backbone chassis and Lotus' own 907 multi-valve engine mounted mid-ship with 4 wheel independent suspension were all features of these first Esprits.
James Bond Submarine Esprit, 1977 The Lotus Esprit was perhaps the most advanced car Bond has driven, it had the capability to transform into a submarine, and an array of other ingenious gadgets. The Lotus was personally delivered to 007 in Corsica in the film The Spy Who Loved Me, driven by Q, who warned Bond to be careful with the car. Bond responded to Q with a smart remark, dropped the clutch, and took off with a grinding screech.
Type 79 (1978 to 1979) The Lotus 79 refined the concept of Ground Effects (a concept first developed by Lotus in their Type 78) to its fullest extension. It dominated the season scoring 8 Grand Prix wins out of the 16 races. Lotus became the 1st team in Formula 1 history to score 3 consecutive 1-2 victories. Lotus again won the Constructor's and Driver's Championships. Every race car today uses the Ground Effects system of under car air management. Click here for more Lotus 79 info.
Type 81 - Sunbeam Lotus Talbot (1980) A derivative of the Lotus 907 engine was dropped into a Chrysler (Omni) Sunbeam chassis and became an instant Rally winner. Click here for the UK Avenger and Sunbeam Owners Club. This type designation was also used for an F1 car.
Type 82 - Lotus Turbo Esprit (1981 - 1987) Lotus used the turbocharging technology learned in racing and applied it to the Esprit. Instantly power output was raised to 210 bhp from 2.2 litres. The Turbo Esprit received revised rear suspension and a revised and stronger chassis. A deeper front spoiler and taller spoiler were added to cope with the higher speeds. The Turbo Esprit was capable of 0-60 mph in 6 seconds and 150 mph. Power was raised to 215 bhp in 1986 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection.
Excel (1982 - 1992) Around 1982/83 when the Excel was introduced, the Eclat Excel also existed. Lotus put forward the Excel as an improved Eclat to avoid Type Approval. Lotus even roled over the name and the first Excels were badged Eclat on the boot, Excel on the rear wings, but after a short while the Eclat badge was dropped and by late 1983 the Excel was fully established. http://www.mikecauser.com/ http://www.lotusexcel.co.uk/
Ultralight, 1982 Colin Chapman loved to fly and had a vision of designing and making an aeroplane for the individual. He dabbled in designing a personal jet in the 1970's, but turned to ultralights as they were less regulated. Very simple winged hang gliders with a small engine and propeller, he was aiming for 2-seat aeroplanes that could be used for both business and pleasure. Designer Burt Rutan was contracted to design and build a prototype 2-seater ultralight for him whilst Lotus developed a light and small engine. This project was never finished before Colin Chapmans death.
Type 90 (1981) The proposed new Elan project, using Toyota running gear. Became project X100 when Toyota running gear was dropped.
Type 98T This is the Lotus 98T, as raced in the 1986 F1 season by Ayrton Senna and Jason Dumfries. It was powered by the Renault 1.5 litre V6 Turbo engine. Senna drove it to two GP victories and had eight other point finishes. Lotus took third in the Constructors' points table.
Type 99T (1987) Unveiled in London on 3rd February 1987 the Lotus 99T holds the honour of being the last ever Lotus Formula One car to win a Grand Prix. Sportung bright yellow and blue of the sponsors Camel. Moving away from the Renault powerplants that had been employed since the Type 93T in 1983, the 99T harnessed a new twin-turbo Honda unit capable of pushing out more than 800bhp. This car also reintroduced the revolutionary ‘Active' suspension system. Active suspension was eventually outlawed as it gave massive performance and handling advantages.
Lotus Esprit Turbo (1988 - 1989) In 1988 the Esprit gave up its original lines of Giugiaro and received a complete makeover. The new lines were curved and softer. The interior was also greatly revised. The electrical system was completely replaced with new wiring, gauges, switches and central electric door locks. In 1989 the Esprit Turbo engine received a complete electronic engine management system based on Delco components. This further boosted output to 228 bhp and 0-60 times were reduced to 5.2 seconds and top speed rose to 155 mph. A stronger Renault built 5 speed transmission was also fitted to handle the increased power.
Type 100 - Lotus Elan (1990) Powered by a 1588cc twin cam 16 valve turbocharged engine that produces 162 bhp, the Elan goes from 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds and attains a top speed of 137 mph. The chassis is a hybrid of Lotus' classic steel backbone mated with advanced composites to create one the stiffest cars in the world.
Type 104 - Lotus Carlton/Omega (1990) Lotus developed and built version of the Vauxhall Omega and Opel Omega 4 door sedan with a 3.6 lire 24 valve twin turbo straight six. A 6 speed gearbox from the Lotus developed Corvette ZR-1 allows the Lotus Carlton/Omega to hit 170 mph and 0-60 in under 6 seconds. Click here for James Waddington's Lotus Carlton site.
Lotus Emotion In 1991 Bertone decided to design a new body for the chassis of the Lotus Esprit, produced by General Motors. The chassis is the same length as the Lotus Esprit (245 cm), but with the total length at just over 4 metres (406 cm) this really is a very compact car. Link to Bertone here
Lotus Esprit Turbo SE (1989-1993) The Esprit Turbo SE is a further development of what is a very capable vehicle. The power of the Esprit Turbo SE is raised to 280 bhp with the use of a Lotus developed Chargecooler and and enhanced Engine Management System that uses six fuel injectors. Outwardly the Esprit Turbo SE sports a deeper front air dam and a rear wing. 0-60 times have fallen into the mid 4 second range and top speed is in excess of 165 mph. In 1991 three variations of this car were produced, the standard Turbo SE, the Jim Clark Special, and the X180R (the street version of the race car).
Type 108 prototype Olympic bicycle  Gold Medal Barcelona (1992) Lotus developed the aerodynamically optimised carbonfibre Lotus Sport bicycle, on which Chris Boardman rode to a gold medal in the 4000 metre pursuit at the Barcelona Olympic Games in July 1992. Type 110 was the production version of type 108 bicycle.
Type 109 - F1 car, 1994 Mugen/Honda ZA5C engined F1 car. See here for the full tech spec.
Type 110 - Road Bike The road racing version of the carbon bike (brakes and gears, twin rear blades), as ridden by Boardman et al in the Tour de France
Scorpion Tank The army recruited Lotus in 1994 to develop active suspension and active track tensioning for the Scorpion tank; by keeping the Scorpion's body steady while on the move, they improved its speed over rough terrain and created a more stable gun platform. Boats, trucks, buses and even microlights appear in their portfolio of projects.
Lotus Esprit S4 & S4s (1994-1995) The S4 represented a significant milestone for the Esprit model. Exterior changes included new front and rear bumpers and valances, new sidepods, a mid-mounted rear wing, and 17" wheels. Inside, a larger passenger cabin, the addition of a passenger airbag, and power assisted steering helped to elevate the Esprit to new levels of refinement. Joining the S4 for 1995 was the S4s, which was visually distinguished by an aggressive rear wing providing additional downforce. A larger turbocharger provided up to 300 bhp and was complimented by a firmer suspension with uprated springs and dampers. Top speed of 165 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds.
Type 112 (1995) A stillborn F1 car intended for the 95 season. Sadly it never progressed beyond the drawing board as a result of Teams demise. 112 was originally allocated to the car which became the Elise, but the number was swapped for 111 (which had already been allocated to the 95 F1 car) because at one early stage the intention was to call the Elise "one-eleven" in honour of the original Lotus Eleven from the fifties.
Type 111 - Lotus Elise (1996) Conceived as a low production model, the Elise has shattered sales expectations and returned Lotus to the forefront of sports car production. This incredible car has also spawned some very interesting limited editions, including the 340R, the Exige coupe, and several motorsport derivatives. The major (IMO) derivatives of the Elise are summarised below, for a more complete list of variations on the Elise, click here
Type 113 Number not allocated! Type 114 - Le Mans / GT2 Esprit (1996) The Type 114 debuted at the BPR Karcher Global Endurance GT series four hour race at Donnington., an improved version was later unveiled at the Paul Richard circuit for the first race of 1996 GT series. It had a Lotus V8 engine, a six-speed racing transmission, F1-style aerodynamics, carbon brakes, and is down to the 900 kg minimum weight limit. After showing initial promise, it retired due to fractured exhaust. More info here
Lotus Esprit V8 (1997) After more than 20 years, the Esprit's venerable 4 cylinder engine was replaced with a compact yet powerful 3.5 litre twin turbo V8. This very special car is the quickest and fastest of all road going Lotus. Capable of attaining 60 mph in just over 4 seconds with a top speed of 180 mph places this Esprit firmly in supercar territory. A revised suspension benefits from 17" front and 18" rear wheels mounting Michelin or Dunlop Z rated high performance tires. The latest V8 includes AP Racing Brakes with cross-drilled discs, OZ Racing wheels, and a tailgate-mounted rear wing. Available options include a removable glass roof panel.
Lotus Emme (1997) While mainly specialising in scooters, the Brazilian company Emme joined Lotus in 1997 to produce a sedan based on the existing Emme 420 and 420T. The turbocharged 16-valve engine produced over 121 hp per litre and 354 Newton metres of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.9 sec, 0-100 mph in 11.9 sec, and with a top speed 171mph. Only 12-15 were ever built.
Type 115 - Lotus Elise GT1 (1997) In 1997 Lotus unveiled the Lotus Elise GT1, a derivative of the Lotus Elise and powered by a 3.5 litre eight-cylinder engine with 580bhp. The body is carbon-fibre. Performance is 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, and top speed is 200 mph. For more info click here
340R (August 1999) Outrageously styled and dynamically outstanding, the 340R is powered by a 1.8-litre VHPD (Very High Performance Derivative) K series engine producing 180PS. And in an extremely light car, equipped with a close ratio gearbox, that adds up to explosive performance of 0-60mph in 4.4secs, for instance, and a top speed of 133mph (214km/h).
Exige (April 2000) The Exige is a road-going replica of the Sport Elise racer, albeit with a few concessions to type approval regulations and the rigours of everyday road use. More info here
Type 116 - Opel Speedster / Vauxhall VX220 (2000) Nicknamed the Skipton in Hethel during development, Lotus has worked in co-operation with designers and engineers from the Opel/Vauxhall International Technical Development Centre in Ruesselsheim, Germany, to build the VX200 (named the Speedster for the European market). Lotus built the original concept show car - one of the stars of the March 1999 Geneva Motorshow. For more info, click here
Lotus Extreme concept car (2000) The proposed vehicle is a radical, two-seater, with a fighter-cockpit seating arrangement, bringing together influences from aerospace, motorcycle and powerboat vehicles. Its construction will comprise of an aluminium chassis with composite bodywork and carbon fibre aerodynamic finning. The driving experience will be maximised by a unique suspension system, which will allow the vehicle to lean into bends. The total weight of the vehicle would be in the region of only 450kg, and the concept specification estimates a top speed of 150mph and a 0-60mph time of around 5 seconds. More info here, more pictures here
Lotus Shopping Trolley (2000) "The fundamental techniques of vehicle engineering apply to both sportscars and to all other vehicles including the humble shopping trolley. The requirements for a fine handling sportscar are both stability and agility in the driving experience. This can be a conflict but with clever, intelligent design you can find a perfect and balance between sporty handling and confidence inspiring stability."  More info here
Type 117 - Lotus Elise Mark II (2001) (This car is identified as a 111 variant for type approval). The Elise updated. The smooth contours have faded in favour of a more aggressive angular image. Available with two options - the Sports Tourer or the Race Tech.  Nicknamed the Monza in Hethel during development. More info here, and some pre-production model pictures here (along with the M250)
Electric Lotus Elise, manufactured by Zytek Electric Vehicles Limited. The Zytek electric Lotus Elise is powered by two oil-cooled, internally mounted brushless DC, Zytek electric motors. Power is transmitted through custom Zytek gearboxes and standard Lotus drive shafts, each motor weighing only 13 kg but producing up to 75kW (100bhp) and 550 Nm torque. The car has a driving Range of about 120 miles (urban driving), and a top speed of 90 mph. Acceleration is 0-90 mph in 11.2 sec, and the car weighs 875 kg (with battery pack). Other features include trailing throttle and pedal activated regenerative braking.
M250 (Type 118?) Frankfurt Motorshow 1999 - Powered by a mid-mounted Lotus-tuned 3.0 litre V6 engine that drives the rear wheels through a six-speed gearbox, project M250 was aimed to slot into the Lotus line-up between the Elise and the Esprit. Click here for a preview of the M250. More info from Pistonheads. Unfortunately this programme was cancelled :-(
Lotus Lada (2002) A 1996 Lada given a £100,000 makeover by Lotus cars of Norfolk, all courtesy of the BBC TV series Top Gear. Modifications made were sports lowered and much stiffened suspension, bilstein dampers, sports brakes, unique paint and decals, specially trimmed OMP racing seats with interior specially tailored to match, Momo steering wheel, big fat BBS alloy wheels with Yokohama track tyres. The engine is a Fiat 2 litre twin cam engine that has been stage 2 race tuned by renowned race engineer Guy Croft, and coupled to a fiat 131 five speed box via a race clutch. it develops approximately 180bhp at 5,000 RPM, is capable of 0-60 in about 7 seconds and has a top speed of 135mph. More info here: http://www.guy-croft.com/page11.html
Type 119 Lotus soapbox (July 2002) The world’s fastest go-kart, capable of reaching 60mph in 4.3 seconds, and has a top speed of 207mph. The Lotus Type 119 weighs just 77lb, has a carbon fibre monocoque and utilises bonded aluminium in its construction. The engineless kart is designed to race on downhill courses where gravity will power it. It competed for the first time at The Goodwood Festival Of Speed in the '2002 Goodwood Gravity Racing Soapbox Challenge' - where it was expected to reach a speed of around 60mph. More info here (Picture © MarkS) M120 - Elise Coupe (1998) & M121 - Europa S (2005) Project M120 was suspended in 1998. To answer the obvious question - the addition of a roof meant that the whole car was stiffer, which meant that lower sills could be used to accommodate larger doors - making entry and exit easier. More powerful engines were also considered - including the Rover 2.5 KV6 and even (reportedly) the 1.6 V8 twin turbo used in the Suzuki concept car (250bhp). The Elise Coupe (codenamed Sepang) eventually emerged in Dec 2005 as the Lotus Europa, click here for more details. Lotus ECO2S, 2002 The 2002 Geneva motor saw the launch of Lotus Engineering's project: 'ECO2s' (pronounced ECOS). The project uses a number of new techniques to reduce emissions and body weight with the ultimate goal of an environmentally friendly sports car. More info here Federalised Elise, January 2003 (Elise 111R) In January 2003 the first official announcement about a US bound Elise was made, to be based on the European Elise but with additional safety equipment to satisfy US legalities. At the same time as this announcement, it was also declared that the the Lotus Esprit would reach the end of its long and illustrious life in early 2004 in the USA and mid 2003 in Europe - with an all new replacement to be announced at a future date. In September 2003 Lotus announced that the Toyota 2ZZ-GE 1.8 litre 4 cylinder 16-valve engine with Variable Valve Timing and Lift-Intelligent (VVTL-i) system had been chosen, to be mated to a six-speed gearbox and tuned by Lotus specifically for the U.S. and to produce around 190hp. The Federalised Elise was officially launched at the 2004 Los Angeles Auto Show where the weight was confirmed at 891kg, 0-60mph claimed at 4.8 seconds and top speed at 150mph. The additional weight is down to twin airbags, brake servo and TRW anti-lock brakes, climate control, air-conditioning, carpets and additional sound proofing and a larger fuel tank. It also has a starter button. It was planned to get some in-life experience of the engine and to reduce potential launch issues and associated legal problems in the US by offering the same engine in the new Exige S2, due to be launched at the Geneva motorshow in 2004. The Toyota Elise was also made available in the UK under the name 111R in January 2004 The Pininfarina Enjoy, Sept 2003 Concept car by Pininfarina called the Enjoy. This car converts from a road car with fenders to a open wheeled, race car. More details here Motorsport Exige, Jan 2005 A direct motorsport derivative of the successful Lotus Exige. This Lotus designed and engineered racecar was part manufactured by RTN, the team responsible for the Le Mans winning Bentley, using the latest motorsport techniques and procedures to produce a lightweight yet strong carbonfibre bodywork structure. More details here Lotus Sport Exige 240R, 25th Feb 2005 Lotus Sport, the performance division of Lotus Cars Ltd., developed the Lotus Sport Exige 240R, a limited edition of 50 cars. With a supercharged and intercooled engine producing over 240 hp and over 170 lbft of torque, 0- 60mph in less than 4s and 100mph (160 km/h) in less than 10s before topping out at 155 mph (249 km/h). At this top speed the aerodynamics produce 113 kg of downforce increasing grip, stability and safety. More details here and here Lotus Circuit Car, June 2005 Tony Shute, Head of Product Development at Lotus Cars: "The new product has allowed Lotus to once again apply its key "performance through lightweight" philosophy. This is in order to achieve an innovative product for the track day and club racing Lotus enthusiast whilst staying true to the key design attributes of the Elise and Exige products." Project delayed whilst Lotus focused on the Europa. More here. Lotus Sport Exige GT3, Dec 2005 A prototype of the Lotus Sport Exige race car was unveiled at the annual FIA GT Championship presentation ceremony outside the world famous Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 02 December, 2005. This car was designed for the FIA series to start in 2006 for race cars that have an equal power to weight, and that have a direct lineage to their road going versions. In its maiden year (2006), Lotus Cadena ran in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship. More here APX, VVA technology, Feb 2006 Displayed at Geneva, the Aluminium Performance Crossover (APX) concept - a showcase of Lotus Engineering’s aluminium Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA). The design concept is expected to be used for the new Esprit replacement, but Lotus is also hoping to sell the concept to third parties. More details here Exige 265E, Aug 2006 Lotus Cars has introduced the Exige 265E, which it describes as the most powerful road version of the car ever. The E suffix indicates that the Exige has been adapted to run on bio-ethanol. Lotus fitted a slightly modified version of the 2ZZ VVTL-i supercharged four-cylinder that powers the production Exige S. Running on E85, the car delivers 265 horsepower and sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 158 mph. Lotus said it added two fuel injectors at the supercharger inlet to increase the amount of fuel being injected into the engine under higher loads and to cool the charge air before combustion. It also enlarged the four existing fuel injectors on the intake manifold and recalibrated the engine electronics. Lotus Engineering powertrain chief Geraint Castleton-White explained: "We wanted to prove that green sports cars can also be very high-performing sports cars." Lotus said it has no immediate plans to put the Exige 265E into production. See here for full details GT3 Exige, 2007 Lotus Sport, the race car performance arm of Lotus Cars Ltd, unveiled the Lotus Exige GT3 concept road vehicle at the 77th annual Geneva International Motor Show. More details here Tesla, 2006 Silicon Valley startup firm Tesla Motors developed a pure-electric, high-performance two-seater called simply the Roadster. The carbon-fiber-bodied Tesla Roadster was originally designed by and jointly developed with Lotus. More info here and at http://www.teslamotors.com/
EVE HYBRID, March 2007 The EVE programme was undertaken by a cross-functional team of Lotus and Proton engineers working together at Hethel and Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur. The resulting EVE Hybrid demonstrator, based on a Proton Gen.2 compact midsize car with a 1.6litre gasoline engine, but with tailpipe emissions down by 22% and fuel economy improved by 28%. See here for more details Evora, July 2008 (Type 124) One of the stars of the London Motorshow was the launch of the Lotus Evora. This is the long awaited 'Project Eagle' 2+2 sports car. Later, in Geneva Switzerland, Lotus officially confirmed Evora (named after a town in Portugal) production specifications ahead of the May 2009 launch in Europe. See here for details Announced to the 2009 Frankfurt Motorshow, the Evora Type 124 to be homologated for either FIA or GT3-spec racing, but until the technical regulations for those series are finalised - and until Lotus knows exactly how quick the Evora Type 124 is - the two factory-supported cars will run broadly to VLN Nurburgring endurance championship regs. Source: Lotus

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