Lotus Elite, Eclat y Excel: libros - historia y modelos

Lotus Elite, Eclat and Excel - An Enthusiast's Guide

Lotus introduced the Type 75 Elite in 1974. Being a full four-seater coupe with an opening glass tailgate, it was designed to carry a family in comfort while retaining Lotus' trademark, excellent road holding and handling. Perhaps most importantly, it was the first - and successful - step in Colin Chapman's plan to move upmarket and away from Lotus' kit car image.

The Elite gave rise to two derivatives, the Eclat and the Excel. The Eclat was a restyled coupe version, sacrificing the Elite's unique rear styling and good rear passenger headroom for a more stylish exterior. With its conventional coupe styling, the Eclat was more mainstream than the Elite, and it was in the end the better seller. In turn, the Eclat spawned the Excel, the last of the Elite-inspired family.

Matthew Vale looks at the history of these unusual Lotus models, and gives a thorough guide to buying and owning the cars today.

Lotus Elite : Colin Chapman's first GT Car

The Lotus Elite was a turning point for Lotus. First produced at the end of the 1950s, it marked Lotus' transition from a maker of small racing cars, which had limited utility on the road, to the producer of a highly sophisticated road and race car.
In the Elite, Lotus exploited its knowledge of new technology and racing pedigree to produce a car which, with its glass fibre monocoque and Coventry Climax engine, had the potential to be a world beater.

This book gives an insight into the reasons the car was produced and its importance in Lotus' history, especially in the production of lightweight innovative cars. Through interviews with Elite owners, first hand accounts provide a good overview of owning one of these iconic cars, covering its foibles and quirks as well as its exemplary roadholding, handling and performance.
Illustrated with many colour photographs, along with period advertising material, the book provides a valuable insight into owning, running and racing these iconic cars.

Lotus Elite (1957-1964) - Brooklands Portfolio

Un livre de Brooklands consacré aux voitures Lotus Elite des années 1957-1964.

• Les articles, parus à l'époque dans la presse automobile anglo-saxonne, sont une bonne source d'information sur l'histoire, l'évolution des modèles et la technique.
• Cet ouvrage contient aussi des impressions de conduite, des tests routiers et comparatifs, des données techniques, etc.

Lotus Elite & Eclat (1974-1982) - Brooklands Portfolio

Un livre de Brooklands consacré aux voitures de sport Lotus Elite et Eclat des années 1974-1982. Description des modèles Lotus Elite 75 et 83, S1 et S2.2 ainsi que des Lotus Eclat/Sprint 76 et 84, S1 et S2.2.

• Les articles, parus à l'époque dans la presse automobile anglo-saxonne, sont une bonne source d'information sur l'histoire, l'évolution des modèles et la technique.
• Cet ouvrage contient aussi des conseils pour l'achat d'une Elite ou une Eclat en occasion, des impressions de conduite, des tests routiers et comparatifs, des données techniques, etc.

Lotus Esprit - The Complete Story

NUEVO

El Lotus Esprit, lanzado en 1976, fue el modelo insignia de la empresa durante casi tres décadas, permaneciendo en producción durante más de 25 años. El coche fue actualizado en varias ocasiones, primero con su diseño original de Giorgetto Giugiaro y luego, a partir de 1987, con una versión de Peter Stevens. Estos cambios ayudaron al Esprit a mantenerse competitivo en su segmento de mercado.
A menudo comparado con los mejores deportivos alemanes e italianos, el Esprit se destacó tanto en la carretera como en la pista de carreras. Logró éxitos en competiciones internacionales de GT, compitiendo con marcas como Ferrari y McLaren, mientras se vendía a un precio mucho más bajo. El legado del Esprit es evidente en los modelos modernos de Lotus, que continúan priorizando un manejo excepcional y una dirección precisa.

Este libro, que incluye más de 300 imágenes, entre fotos profesionales, archivos de fábrica y obras de arte especialmente encargadas, también cuenta con entrevistas con personal clave de Lotus involucrado en la producción del Esprit, lo que lo convierte en un tributo apropiado a este icónico automóvil deportivo.

Lotus Esprit

First launched in 1976, the Lotus Esprit was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and based on a Lotus Europa chassis. The following year, the car made its debut in the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, where, after a car chase, it metamorphosed into a submarine.

In this comprehensive book, the authors use their first-hand knowledge from twenty years of ownership to cover essential information such as how to buy, own and keep a Lotus Esprit as well as unpublished research and history of the various models, including the original "Essex" turbo models.
They describe the development of the new designs for the Esprit in 1987 by Peter Stevens and in 1993 by Peter Thomson. They also explore the story of the Bond film cars, both terrestrial and aquatic, and where they are now.

The book explains how to maintain an Esprit on a budget and also lists the suppliers, businesses and clubs that can help keep an Esprit on the road while also adding a social dimension to ownership.
Packed with original illustrations, this book is a must-have guide to one of the Lotus company's most famous models.

Lotus Excel (1982-1992) - Brooklands Portfolio

Un livre de Brooklands consacré aux voitures de sport Lotus Excel des années 1982-1992. Description des modèles Lotus Excel, SE et SA.

• Les articles, parus à l'époque dans la presse automobile anglo-saxonne, sont une bonne source d'information sur l'histoire, l'évolution des modèles et la technique.
• Cet ouvrage contient aussi des conseils pour l'achat d'une Excel en occasion, des impressions de conduite, des tests routiers et comparatifs, des données techniques, etc.