Lotus has announced they have produced their 40,000th model since the introduction of the 1995 Elise on the "small car platform".
The landmark model is the first Elise S 20th Anniversary Edition which features a supercharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 217 hp and 250 Nm of torque. This allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 237 km/h.
According to Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales, "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 aluminum 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.”
Gales went on to say the "small car 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.
