LOTUS
51 entries
British sports car maker founded by Colin Chapman, known for lightweight cars and seven Formula One world titles.
- Founded
- 1952, as Lotus Engineering Ltd., by Colin Chapman
- Headquarters
- Hethel, Norfolk
- Owner
- Geely
- Formula One
- Team Lotus, seven world championships
Lotus was formed in 1952 as Lotus Engineering Ltd. by Colin Chapman, who had built his first trials car in 1948. Chapman owned the company until his death in 1982.
After a period of financial instability the marque passed to General Motors, then Romano Artioli and then Proton, which owned it from 1996 to 2017. It is now fully owned by Geely, and its racing arm, Team Lotus, won the Formula One World Championship seven times.
- 1952Lotus Engineering Ltd. formed by Colin Chapman
- 1966Factory and test track at Hethel established
- 1982Death of Colin Chapman
- 1996Proton takes over, holding Lotus until 2017
- 2017Geely becomes the owner
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LOTUS Lotus Seven: simplicity on wheels
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LOTUS Lotus Éclat: the fastback Elite
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LOTUS Lotus Excel: the Toyota-assisted Lotus
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LOTUS Lotus Carlton: the 176 mph four-door
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LOTUS Lotus Elan: the backbone-chassis roadster
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LOTUS Lotus Esprit: Giugiaro’s folded-paper wedge
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LOTUS Lotus Elise: the bonded aluminium sportster
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LOTUS Lotus Evora: the practical Lotus
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LOTUS Lotus Europa: the Renault-engined mid-engine GT
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LOTUS Lotus Exige: the hardtop Elise
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LOTUS Lotus Elite: the fibreglass monocoque coupé