Lotus Cars is one of the world's smallest and most misunderstood sports car manufacturers . Despite the ups and downs in its history, no one can deny its brilliant legacy. However, until the promised capital injection from Geely materializes, its lineup remains one of the most limited . The Elise stands out, a model launched in 2006 that captivates with its sporty character.
The problem is that, despite its exclusivity and image, Lotus's global sales are very low . To encourage its loyal customers, and those who are still unfamiliar with the brand, they've created a special edition. Those responsible for its development didn't have to rack their brains, as it was quite simple. Based on the Elise Sport 220, they drew on its sporting heritage to create the look of the Lotus Elise Classic Heritage.
The Lotus Elise Classic Heritage pays homage to the brand's racing history
With this idea in mind, they've designed four limited-edition versions, each with an exclusive and unique color palette. The available options are: black and gold; red, white, and gold; blue, red, and silver; and blue and white. Among them, two are special and emblematic. In both cases, they reference two iconic models driven by drivers who have left their mark on motorsport history.
The first is the black and gold livery of the Lotus Type 72D . Emerson Fittipaldi drove it to five victories in the 1972 Formula 1 season. The second is the blue and white livery that pays homage to the 1960 Lotus Type 18 , which won the Monaco Grand Prix with Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. But the Elise's changes also extend to the interior, with a more comprehensive equipment package and a correspondingly updated design.
Thus, features such as a DAB radio with four speakers , air conditioning, cruise control, and a commemorative plaque will be included . This plaque will identify which of the 100 units to be manufactured, priced at €47.848 each, the customer has purchased. According to Ema Forster, Lotus's product marketing director …
“Motorsport success has been at the heart of Lotus’s philosophy for over seven decades, and the Elise is our iconic roadster known worldwide for its exceptional driver performance. What better way to celebrate than by uniting these two pillars of our brand, launching four new Classic Heritage models that fans will instantly recognize?”
Source – Lotus Cars
