Excel
The Lotus Excel 2+2 (Type 89) started production in 1982, running for 10 years with 3 revisions and is the last front-engined, rwd, 4-seater GT produced by Lotus (at the time of writing). The last few cars were produced in 1992 with the final car being given to Hazel Chapman.
Styling was by Olver Winterbottom who went on to produce many more wedges for TVR, often with remarkably similar front-end treatments.
Initially, the car used the 160 bhp 907 engine, but later SE & SA (Automatic) specification models used a revised 180 bhp 912 engine. Air-conditioning and Power Steering were options. The car is a little unusual as it has no "Ackermann" effect on the front wheels. This results in noticeable judder/dragging during low speed cornering, often exhibiting itself as a tendency to jump on gravel surfaces. Apparently this a design feature and improves high-speed handling.
As the successor to the Eclat (derived itself from the 1970s wedge Elite), the Excel used many components from the Toyota Celica Supra, including transmission (5-speed W58 gearbox) and brakes, which improve reliability over the earlier model. Because of the way Lotus introduced the model it has never officially been recognised by DVLA as a separate model and all Excels are registered as "Eclat Excel".
There is some confusion over exact production figures, but numbers between 1485 and 2500 are reported. As far as can be ascertained, approx. 260 cars are still on the road in the UK, a further 250 seem to be SORNED and it is thought that there may be as many as another 250 in various states of usability around the world. The car was never officially exported to the USA, although reports of 1 car built to USA specification have been seen.
There is a thriving online owners' register at http://www.lotusexcel.net/ with members throughout Europe, and in Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
Mike Kimberley is reported to consider the Excel his favourite Lotus of all time.