Lotus Excel: the Toyota-assisted Lotus

The Lotus Excel, Type 89, is a sports car built by Lotus from 1982 to 1992. It is based on the earlier Lotus Éclat, which was itself based on the Type 75 Elite.

Lotus Excel at a glance

Based on one source (English Wikipedia).

History of the Lotus Excel

Toyota engaged Lotus to help with the engineering of the Supra and during that period became a major shareholder, later selling its holding when General Motors bought Lotus. Part of the deal allowed Lotus to use many Toyota components: the original Excel, called the Éclat Excel, used the W58 manual gearbox, driveshafts, rear differential, 14×7 inch alloy wheels and door handles from the A60 Supra. The engine was the all-aluminium double-overhead-cam 2.2-litre Lotus 912 slant-four also used in the Esprit S3, producing 160 hp.

The Excel was launched in October 1982 and received two major upgrades in its ten-year run. The Excel SE of October 1985 brought new bumpers, wing and interior including a new dashboard; in October 1986 came the Excel SA with an automatic gearbox. Later facelifts in 1989 added Citroën CX mirrors, as used on the Esprit, and 15-inch OZ alloy wheels.

The body was made from vacuum-injected resin in upper and lower halves joined together, with a piece of black trim visible around the car, and was mounted on a galvanised steel backbone chassis. The process gave good structural rigidity, and the Excel became known for its cornering thanks to a 50:50 weight distribution. At the front the suspension used a single transverse lower arm with an anti-roll bar and a wishbone above it; at the rear the wishbone sat below the transverse links, with coil springs and dampers all round.

The Excel was never formally imported into the United States, though one SE was brought in for evaluation in 1987 and returned to Hethel six months later under the terms of its carnet. The decision was put down to strict US emission regulations, which would have hurt performance, and poor European sales. By 1991 Lotus was planning to replace the Excel with a coupé version of the Elan roadster, but the plans were shelved when falling sales cancelled the whole Elan project, leaving the Excel without a direct replacement when it was discontinued in 1992. As of 2024, 413 were reportedly still registered in the United Kingdom, 304 of them declared off the road.

Model-year changes came steadily: 1984 brought the shorter Excel name, body-coloured bumpers, a louvred bonnet, a boot spoiler, optional eight-spoke wheels and a black-badged Lotus logo; 1985 flared front arches, a larger boot opening, fog lamps and a VDO instrument cluster; 1986 the SE with the high-compression engine of 180 hp, red cam covers, a 10.9:1 compression ratio, higher-lift inlet cams, larger valves, two 45 mm Dellorto carburettors and a revised fascia; 1987 the SA automatic with a ZF four-speed, cruise control and central locking; 1988 a lighter cross-drilled crankshaft and other under-the-skin changes; and 1989 another restyle. Forty Hethel 25th Anniversary cars were built, 35 in Celebration Green and 5 in Calypso Red.

Design and features

• Toyota components: Supra gearbox, driveshafts, differential, wheels and door handles.
• Lotus 912 engine: 2.2 litres, 160 hp, or 180 hp in the SE.
• Galvanised chassis: a steel backbone under the two-part resin body.
• 50:50 weight distribution: the source of its handling reputation.
• SE, SA and anniversary editions: higher power, automatic and a 40-car celebration model.

Lotus Excel versions

• Excel (1982–1992): the standard car.
• Excel SE (1985–1992): 180 hp high-compression engine and revised body and interior.
• Excel SA (1986–1992): ZF four-speed automatic.
• Hethel 25th Anniversary Celebration edition: 40 cars in Celebration Green or Calypso Red.

The Excel was developed from the Lotus Éclat and shared its engine with the Lotus Esprit. More cars are in the Lotus collection.

Sources

• Lotus Excel, English Wikipedia: Toyota deal, design, model years, production