Lotus has reached another production landmark since the unveiling of the Elise in 1995. 40,000 examples have now been produced off the Elise’s “small car platform”, which has maintained high standards in low weight and efficiency, while producing a benchmark in handling.
The “small car platform” and its production flexibility is defined by the various models based on it, which have included the Lotus Elise, Exige, Europa, 2-Eleven, 340R and racing variants. The platform underpins the current Elise and Exige models, with the same aluminium extruded and bonded technology used in the new Lotus Evora 400.
In being the first carmaker to use extruded and bonded aluminium, Lotus revolutionised the industry and it has become a method that is being widely adopted amongst the rest of the motor industry. In the meantime, Lotus continues to refine and develop its own lightweight structure currently weighing just 68 kg.
“The small car platform was a landmark development in 1995 and developed at the right time in the company’s history. Yet, in an environment of continuous improvement, while a correlation exists between today’s platform and the first of the lightweight, bonded and extruded aluminium structures, it has altered radically. It remains a benchmark in light weight and efficiency and is as advanced and market-leading today as it was 20 years ago,” said Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus.
“Looking to the future, the platform will continue to be developed, improved upon and form a solid and dependable base for future new models demonstrating the production flexibility of the technology and its importance to Lotus,” he added.
The 40,000th car to ride on the platform is, appropriately, an Elise 20th Anniversary special edition. The Malaysian-owned brand recently reported a 55% rise in sales in its 2014/15 financial year, the best result achieved since FY 2008/09.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Why buy this proton crap? buy Nissan FairladyZ better.. good RV
all the best to Lotus! luv if can owned 1.. but.. crazy price.
Cheap Protong cars jual mahal…ptui.
DRB, when are you guys gonna CKD the Elise? It has been long overdue! Rebadge it as Proton Elisa for what I care, you will pump some profit to Lotus.
The issue might be Proton is just reluctant to invest in Malaysian production facilities as well as the specialized training, they are just too busy with the Proton model. The sales volume in ASEAN also does’nt justify.
Nah, it’s easier for them to rebadge Proton and call it Lotus like what they did in China. Lots of supporters will buy
B4 DRB took over Protong,LOtus is the real culprit causing Protong to beg annual grants from gomen.This shambolic car caused billions of Ringgit in bailout grants,and yet we can have so many admirers who like lotus,for the socalled ” prestige ” syiok sendiri feeling.
No point boasting increased sales when the bleeding is still causing protong to lose rm 821 juta last year.
Lotus is not like Mercedez benz where increase sales also bring increase in profits.
Shambolic Lotus.
To lotus team and designers…. With same ol chassis and tech… You guys are delusional. Time to wake up guys.
Well done Lotus…too bad, so many jelousy abound
Those ppl criticized Lotus only reflect theit shability