Lotus Elite 1974 User Manual

I

THE

NEÏ FOUR

SDAT

ELITE

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FROM

IOTUS

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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