1992 Lotus Elan: Front-Drive Surprise From a Rear-Drive Brand

In August 1991, Car and Driver tested the 1992 Lotus Elan. It was a break from tradition. Lotus had always made rear-drive cars. The new Elan used front-wheel drive. That upset some purists. But Lotus engineers said it gave the best mix of all-weather traction, secure handling, and powertrain flexibility.

The engine came from Isuzu. It was a turbocharged and intercooled 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 162 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Car and Driver noted that the engine was stout and not finicky, and that a little Japanese reliability under the hood couldn't hurt.

The car weighed 2,452 pounds. It hit 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and topped out at 131 mph. The engine revved freely to its 7,000-rpm redline. Power delivery felt like a naturally aspirated unit, not a turbo.

The Elan's handling was the real story. Despite carrying 66.7 percent of its weight up front, it felt neutral. On the skidpad it pulled 0.86 g. Torque steer was nearly absent. Goodyear developed special 205/45ZR-16 tires for the U.S. market. Car and Driver called it one of the best-handling front-drive cars in the world.

The cabin was roomy for a Lotus. Leg room, elbow room, and head room were generous. The controls were well placed. But the steering wheel blocked the top of the speedometer and tachometer for some drivers. And you could not see the bodywork from the driver's seat, making it hard to place the car's corners.

The test car had a couple of troubles. A faulty switch prevented the high beams from working. And the soft top leaked during a heavy spring storm. Car and Driver hoped those issues were due to early production.

Car and Driver compared the Elan to the Chevrolet Corvette convertible and the Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet. The Elan won in primary controls and panache. The Corvette took acceleration, handling, and value. The Porsche led in interior quality and structural rigidity. But the Elan was the only true exotic of the three.

Base price was $40,989. Lotus planned to import only about 1,000 cars to the U.S. that year. Car and Driver called it the finest car Lotus had ever built. For a front-drive, Isuzu-powered Lotus, that was high praise.

• 1992
• Car and Driver
• convertible
• Elan
• Isuzu
• Lotus