Lotus Excel

Manufacturer	Lotus Cars
Production	1982 to1992
Produced	2,075
Designer	Oliver Winterbottom
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-door 2+2 coupe
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine	2.2 L Lotus 912 I4
Transmission	5-speed Toyota W58 manual,4-speed ZF automatic
Wheelbase	2,483 mm (97.8 in)
Length	4,398 mm (173.1 in)
Width	1,816 mm (71.5 in)
Height	1,207 mm (47.5 in)
Curb weight	1,168 kg (2,575 lb),1,135 kg (2,502 lb) (S.E)

The Excel is a sports car produced by Lotus Cars between 1982 and 1992 .

History

In the early 1980s, the British company decided to restyle the Eclat Launched in October 1982, the Excel received two major upgrades during its 10-year production run, itself an evolution with a more traditional fastback of the Sport Estate Elite. From the Eclat, the Excel retained the front part of the bodywork (which remained totally in fiberglass), the habitability 2 seats plus 2 and the entire mechanics, including the well-known 4- cylinder in-line DOHC 16-valve of 2174 cc fed by 2 Dell ‘Orto DHLA 45E horizontal twin barrel carburettors. The biggest changes concerned the front and rear end which was redesigned now with body-coloured bumpers louvered bonnet, and modern sports boot spoiler.

In the Lotus range, the Excel had the role of a 2+2 coupé with a classic appearance, even if, as on all models of the House, the internal habitability was penalized by the large imposing longitudinal tunnel between the seats by the central trellis frame. The interiors, designed with the advice of Giorgetto Giugiaro , were an evolution of those of the Eclat. The body was made from resin in two halves which were joined together mounted on the Famous Lotus galvanised steel backbone chassis. The Excel is also known for its cornering and handling due to a near 50:50 weight distribution with 53% to front and 47% at the rear.

The suspension system consisted of an independent, upper and lower wishbones single transverse lower arm coupled with an anti-roll bar while at the rear independent, arms, lower links, coil springs, telescopic damper struts. wishbone was mounted below the transverse links.

Naturally for Lotus, the traction was rear, while the engine was front longitudinal. As usual on small series British cars, most of the components came from other manufacturers, above all Toyota that became a major shareholder in Lotus at the time (which also supplied the 5-speed manual gearbox) and other British Leyland parts. Optional were power steering, air-conditioning and metallic spray paint.

Thanks to the 160 HP delivered by the 2.2-litre DOHC and the low weight body in relation to the external dimensions (1135 kg), the Excel came close to 210 km/h, maintaining markedly sporty road behaviour (thanks to the 4-wheel independent suspension) and safe thanks also to the 4 self-ventilated disc brakes. 

PERFORMANCE

• Max speeds:(Top) 134 mph, 216 km/h
• Max power (DIN): 160 hp (115 kW) at 6,500 rpm
• Max torque (DIN): 160 1b ft. 22.1 kg m (217 Nm) at 5,000 rpm
• Max engine rpm: 7,000; 73.6 hp/l (52.9 kW/l)
• Power-weight ratio: 15.4 lb/hp (21 lb/kW), 7 kg/hp (9.5 kg/kW)
• Acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 14.9 sec, 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 5 sec
• Fuel consumption: 24.4 m/imp gal, 20.3 m/US gal

In late 1985, on some markets, alongside the standard Excel came an SE version the bumpers, wing and interior were changed and was also offered with a sporty set-up and an uprated engine with red cam covers (thanks to an increase in the compression ratio from 9.4:1 to High Compression of 10.9:1) to 180hp along with changed dash and quality VDO instrument larger 15-inch OZ light alloy wheels over the standard 14-inch wheels. By 1986 an automatic Excel SA was also introduced with a ZF four-speed automatic with cruise control feature. 

In late 1988 the Excel underwent a slight restyling which involved some external elements (restyled bonnet, new front and rear spoilers’ bumpers, light clusters, rims, mirrors) internal elements (seats, dashboard) chassis improvements. Due to the emission and safety regulations in the USA The Excel was never formally imported or made available in the USA.

Models 

• Excel 1982–1992
• Excel S.E. 1985–1992
• Excel S.A. 1986–1992
• limited Editions Hethel 25th Anniversary (40 produced)
• Production ceased in 1992. 2,159 examples were assembled.