History Lesson: Why The Lotus Elan M100 Was NOT Killed By The Mazda MX-5

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Today I am driving the oft-forgotten Lotus Elan M100. Manufactured from 1989-1992, the Elan was supposed to be the rebirth of the modern Lotus entry-level sports car, but a prolonged and difficult development as well as the arrival of a Japanese rival meant it flopped. But how should we see it today?

#Lotus #Elan #mazdamx5

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[JayEmmOnCars]

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[jooppoojk]

A roadster body + a hot hatch turbo engine with an superb handling chassis = A Lotus Elan

[fatkev]

I had a University lecturer who owned one about 20 years ago. I surprised him by being able to rattle off a bunch of facts about it. He said most people had no idea it was a Lotus, let alone a decent one. He took me out for drive and really demonstrated what it could do. I came from driving classic Minis and this thing blew my mind. Very under appreciated Lotus. Loved the video.

[MVD]

Would have been fun to have heard a bit more about the almost unknown Kia Elan

[heikkiremes]

I don't care that it's front wheel drive, I've always loved these things! Small, light, peppy, and simply beautiful.

[gflo]

Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 was my first intro to this car as a kid, have always loved it since, despite the critique!

[johncarlo]

I just bought one about 3 weeks ago in Mustard Yellow. I can honestly say, I'm having more smiles per dollar than any car I've ever owned. Excellent review Jay

[DwarFStrider]

I wrapped mine around a tree last year, at low speeds. Had it for 3 days, still don’t understand how the back wheels could have lost traction… Truly a dark day in my motoring history and still grieving about it to this day.

[raydelamare]

I own an M100 (same year and colour) and a Series 1 Elise and completely agree with everything you say!

[canto_v]

I’ve always had a guilty pleasure in the Elan since the 90s. Always wondered about the paradox of it being a commercial failure, yet on the road it looks borderline exotic with the enormous rear hips.
Great to hear that it was, in fact, an excellent car and even a decent value.

[Blackhawk]

I had a red 1990 SE. Such a great car, huge fun and one of the best handling cars of its time.

[raygreen]

I had a blue 91 SE for about 6 years in the late 90s it was a great car and super reliable. I took it on loads of UK holidays and never had to repair/replace anything other than brakes and tyres. The best angle was from the front with the lights up ❤

[TimWells]

I've been subbed to this channel for five years, waiting for you to review an M100. I was 16 when it came out, and I've loved it ever since.

[XXXXXXXXXX]

This is my favourite unpopular car! Perhaps the best roadster - if only I could find a good example in Germany.

[Apodalont]

I'll never forget getting the opportunity to "ferry" a lotus exige for a dealership I worked for and I can absolutely attest no one designs a car that handles or feels as crisp as lotus. Great video as always my friend.

[KathrynKirkby-qd]

In the Peter Stevens conversation (with Messrs Cropley & Gompertz), didn't he say that Lotus intended to make it front-wheel drive as a showcase for what their engineering consultancy division was capable of (rather than it being necessary due to the engine choice)? They'd been contracted by other manufacturers improve the handling of their front-wheel drive models and it seemed a logical step. Great video that does the car justice - I've a 1990 model and love it!

[davehines]

Hi Jay, I enjoyed this report. I have a M100 in white (non turbo version). It was a barn find that had not moved in 15 years. It has been an amazing experience and journey restoring this potential classic. I find each time I take it out it is a magnet for attention and well wishers. A real lovely car to drive and is completely a different drive to my Audi V8 convertible.

[jonfrank]

I had an original Elan 130 +2 back in the day when this came out. Which obviously meant I was very familiar with my local Lotus Elan specialist mechanics - North London Lotus or something. They bought one of the first ones to come out - really rated it highly...

[thomascoughlan]

Damn, thanks for the blast from the past. I really coveted this car when I was in my mid teens. I thought it was so cool! I remember Car magazine had a letter from someone who described it as - and I can't believe I still remember this - "a pudgy horror not fit to wear the esteemed Lotus badge" and I got inexplicably angry!

[deaks]

I'm a military kid born in the 80's, so in the 90's was when I first started forming opinions on cars. And every military man and his dog had a Eunos Roadster, aka Mk 1 MX-5 and then Mk 2's, and it was very cool and the Mk 2 is a car I have a deep soft-spot for. But once place I lived there was someone who had a red Elan M100, and to me, it was literally the coolest car I'd ever seen, partly because it's a very distinctive car (Personally I think it looks great from every angle) but also because it was so rare.
And when the model was sold to Kia, it became even cooler, because at that time the phrase "Korean Car" was still a complete joke, but any time I saw I knew, I felt like a proper 'expert' because I knew what it really was...