Lotus Elite 1974 User Manual

I

THE

NEÏ FOUR

SDAT

ELITE

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Pres

FROM

IOTUS

loleÍoon

053/12323

engchede

82

enschede

bv

Lotus
rnodel
and
Tt.e

transition
one of
cars.

Today,
at a cost of
the most

moving

Starting
his
that which other
towardr an
cuffent

and
be revealed
European
was subjected

Not only
terms
renain fresh
the ELITE conbines a rnodern

proportions.

today

-

succeèsful

original

the largest

the ELfTE,

the Conpany

Èearn of designers

those expected

of styling, but

unveiled

THE

ELITE.

Ínodel

model

frorn a successful

developed

threê

luxurious

with

Aneri

specification

does the

a clean sheet

motor manufacturers

entirely

can

and European

that the ELITE

to, by a very

ELITE

throughout rnany

thêir

The ELITE

of

the

proved

British manufacturers

quarters
and expensive
upmarket,

and engineers,

road

new

in the foreseeable

but

look sleek

the overall

enÈirely

is

named

same

name

be

to

over a period
of

of

car

not only
exceeded

considerable

so-called

sportlng

milestone

a

racing

a million pounds

Lotus

in no

design

uncertain

paper,

that

met

each

and very

design

new

luxury

after

introduced

car

manufacturer

of

of

road

Colin

set

out

are still

will

and safety

flair

conply

future.

every

and

margin.

concept

changes

with

Íou.r

the famoua

in

in

the Lotus

superior

three

car

narmer.

ChaFnan

and achieved

American/

every

modern

years

becomes

r

ever built,

with

striving

with

regulations

Iv

can

one

in

will

in fashíon.

el€gant

sear

1959.

to
road

all

now,

it

The

body is

on

centre line

a

is mounted

noulded

on a

in two

around the carrs

steel

halves

backbone

frorn

waistline.

chassis

G.R.p.

that

and
Il.e

carrieE

joined

is

bodyshell

the

1-

LOTUS ELITE PRESS

entire

Structural.
attachêd at the forvard
at
h'hich in turn is fixed
runs

framework

door beaÍn also
motor.

The height of

This necessitated

body shell is made

penetration. The radiator

provides

sÍnall

cooling

tênperatures
Iift capabilities
suspension
ducted

gear

to
constructed of
radiator

powertrain

steel

rearward end on

the

across

portion

box and

lie in the correct

the

is

very efficient air flow through Lhe radiator.

a

air flow into the

and

down through the

has been used

RELEA

and

box

inside of the

referred to as the

carries the

the nose

of the

that area.

in

brake areas.

differential unit.

bonded alurninium,

SE

suspension.

sections

end to a reinforced bulkhead. and
to
to the steel interior roll cage

is as low as is legally

pop-up head lamps. The

as narrow

duct is left open to

to allow cool

and

backbone

plain

in a road

are

built into

burst-proof door lock mechanism

the

roof

of the

Ring of Steel.

window

duct

engine bay

for

frame

as

The

practicable

is

exiting on top of

spoiler is

The remainder

chassis passing

The radiator

maximun air

the first time such a

car.

air

ELITE. This

and window lift

width of the front

provide

which

maintains acceptable

over the

doors

the

The steel

permissable.

assist

to

the

for a

dêsigned

front

of air flow is

over the

developed

is

and is

flow

and

that

for

are

steel

bonnet

A

anti-

wing line runs

The

interior
intake

of a

road

of
also

developed single
of the car
air flow
The b'indscreen

rather

blade version

ttlt'

channel

care taken
wind noise.

top

possible

as

guttering is flush

to obtain

heater/optional

in a near neutral

is

constant

speed.

benefit from

than

posts are styled to bê unobstructive to air flow and

excess

lower

and

heater output

to ensure

over

twin blade arrangement;

in

r.'indscreen finishers

to

adequate

upward to the

air

pressure

The

this netrtral

windscreen wiper is

the wiÍrdscreen,

was

found

did

not

water down thê inside of its section. The
designing the
The same

provide the same

with the
water drainage.

washer nozzles

twin

that the

to

in fact

attention to detail was

scuttle area

conditioning air intake. The

zone

into the car interior regardless

zone. The large specially

pivoted
blade is kept
thus reducing high

bê best

pass

riArr

roof

wiped

an

Federal

posts

lack

resulted

which were

of

surface

experimental

wind

which

giving

located

from

parallel

with a single

specifications.

made as slim

noise.

incorporating a slot

contains

the advantages

in this area

the centre

to the

speed lift.

tuin

in rninimun

taken

with the

The roof

I.OTUS

Doors

ELITE PRDSS

RELEASE

The doors are

of entry,/exit.

ease
possible

sight) thereby
seals allow
behind the
point

steel tube

Windscreen

The

laminated

but

safety benefit of

layer and

Solbit
body structure.
sanê
of

the inside

dynamic down force

broken

fueling

over the

being

windscreen

having more

hot wire system

method.

roof

the

evenly

from

designed to

(while

creating

freedom

door also

well

interior

is constructed

glass

'irnpact'

The wing

which assists

whilst the

by twin

either side

rear

axle for

be as

The waistline

still

(GlaverbeMR glass)

strength than

allol'ing side

a bright

draught and

from

functions

away

from exhaust

roll-over

reduced

qualities. The

Side

and Ftability.

occupant

making
glass

line rises

the

'blockr

petrol

of the

safety.

low as

interior. Large tubular

an interior air

as

bar.

fron

convential

the screen

is also

whole structure

on the outside

filler

car to a single fuel tank

practicable

is styled to be a low as

glass

water. The

funes

very High Resistance treated

lmrn

iniury due to its safety

glass

attached to the body

to form a

The rear side

caps

drop down out of

to

and also

thick'

laninate with the added

is bonded in with the

an integral

lip

by

assists in aero-

Iying

flush and

ensure

to

ItBCrr

post

extraction
conceals

saving

across the
being

panels

weight

part

boxed on

are

allowing

door

the 2rl

inter-

of the
by

rear

located

the

The

exterior

made

Rear hrindow

The inset

finished
hinged
The

compartment.

head rests

an effective

as

incorporates

glass

Wheel

Pressure

they
from

lightweight

of

in

and counter

gate

tail

and body

s

diecast

spin theÍnselves

brakes.

the

the car

of

opening

aluminium

is there for

tail

balancedr

is secured

A interior

sound

cam-fol

r.,ork

alwninium

has few extrusions

high impact

gate

of toughened

to conceal

by self

by a

practical

barrier.

lol,er system

when

clean.

remote

rear window behind

parked.

styled

!

Slots

and the body work is

resistant non corrosive naterials.

glass

rubber sealings, and is top

raising
release lock

aspects of

The

rear

to lift the blade clear off

to be easily cleaned

provided

are

has its edges

pneumatic struts.

in the

for

passenger

and

in

air

the rear
safêty and also acts

window wiper

passenger

rr,ash

the

that

fIoL'

I,OTUS ELITE PRESS

RELEASE

The entire
alloy vheel nuts

wheels

four

Tyres

Dunlop Specials.

Dunlop, with

by
optirnurn

Interior

design of

The
Guigaro.

Interior room

roon

buiLt

Four individual,

rest
On
firmly

driving
hand.
and is easy to

is

giving

hard cornering

wheel

are

handling

exceptional.

into the

ample support to

place.

in

posture is relaxedr

Luxurious seat trim

is coated

anodised, thus

are

spiggoted to

special

steel

with

2o5/6ovRL4

breakers,

characteristics

interior

the

is very spacious,

interior of

anatonically

the
The front

clean.

is by the talented Italian

Á

very

the car.

lateral. support from the seats hold

all controls falling comfortably to
Eaterial

an

ePoxY,/acrylic coating.

ensure

preventing
concentric location.

corrosion.

tyresr designed for

a new nix and

under aLI

headroom,

high standard

designed seats,

the shouldersr backt

seats are fully adjustable and the

is

confortable in all climates

pattern

to

conditions.

designer

shoulder room and

luxury has

of

with a head-

each

thighs

The

All

Lotus

achieve

leg

been

and head.

you

Major controls
wheel and
Minor

locate.

to

lÍindows

the doors

in
arn-resting.
pillars

hand finished

are

is fabricated

l,otus

The
applies to

car.
are Ílanufactured

50,OOO

Four
programme of

nileage
5O'OOO.

progranme

have been ergonomically

controls

are electrically

and body

added neatness

for

policy

the

frames

Seat

mile

development

Durability Progranme

durability

one thousand

of

The overall

was

and instntments

are

Seat

from

interior

found

an illuminaÈed centre

on

operated

sides - the

belts recoil

the ultimate

for

fire-retardant

manufacturing as

of

as much as it

and mouldings,

and finished

ELITES

were subiected to a

testing

niles.

fuel

be a

to

grouped

are

designed

and armrests trave

central

into hidden

convenience. All

and

luxury. The

materials.

much

dashboard and

l,otus.

at

that denanded a daily

AII

four cars have

consumption

very creditable 26.7 n..p.g.

around the steering

for ease of operation.

panel

tunnel

of the car as

does

to the remainder of the

very

per

car during this

and are easy

provides

pockets

trim and carpets

interior trin

all trim cappings

successful

been

ineorporated

additional

in

(24

norÍ exceeded

door

the

possible

hour)

LOTUS ELITE PRESS RELF.ASD

Parts and Service

To

ensure that

quality
control has been introduced and a

envisaged.

of the

future

ELITE, a

service and

new tine method

parts

gO{

coverage
of computerised

spares

matches

availability

the

stock

is

=