Editing Lotus Elite (section)

==Types 75 and 83 (1974–1982)==
{{Infobox automobile |sp=uk
| image = 1975 Lotus Elite 2.0.jpg
| caption = Lotus Elite Type 75
| name = Lotus Elite Types 75 and 83
| manufacturer = [[Lotus Cars]]
| production = 1974–1982<br>2,535 produced
| assembly = England: [[Hethel]], [[Norfolk]]
| designer = [[Oliver Winterbottom]]
| class = [[Sports car]] ([[S-Segment|S]])
| body_style = 2-door [[2+2 (car body style)|2+2]] [[shooting brake]]
| layout = [[Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout|Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive]]
| engine = {{unbulleted list
|2.0&nbsp;L ''[[Lotus 907]]'' [[Straight-four engine|I4]]
|2.2&nbsp;L ''[[Lotus 900 series|Lotus 912]]'' I4 (from 1980)
}}
| transmission = {{unbulleted list
|4-speed manual
|5-speed manual
|3-speed [[automatic transmission|automatic]]
}}
| length = {{convert|4470|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| wheelbase = {{convert|2490|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1820|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1210|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|1112 to 1168|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref>Lotus Cars Workshop Manual</ref>
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| related = [[Lotus Eclat]]
}}

From 1974 to 1982, Lotus produced the considerably larger four-seat ''Type 75'' and later ''Type 83'' Elite. With this design Lotus sought to position itself upmarket and move away from its kit-car past.<ref>{{citation | last = Robson | first = Graham | title = Lotus since the 70's Vol. 1: Elite, Eclat, Excel, Elan Collector's Guide | date = September 6, 1993 | publisher = Motor Racing Publications | isbn = 978-0947981709
 }}</ref> The Elite was announced in May 1974.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Four-seat Elite from Lotus costs £6,000 | journal = The Times | date = 15 May 1974 | page = 4 | issue = 59089 }}</ref> It replaced the ageing [[Lotus Elan#Elan .2B2|Lotus Elan Plus 2]].

The Elite has a [[shooting brake]] body style, with a glass rear hatch opening into the luggage compartment. The Elite's fibreglass bodyshell was mounted on a steel [[backbone chassis]] evolved from the [[Lotus Elan|Elan]] and [[Lotus Europa|Europa]]. It had 4-wheel [[independent suspension]] using coil springs. The Elite was the first Lotus automobile to use the aluminium-[[engine block|block]] [[multi-valve|4-valve]], [[Double overhead cam|DOHC]], four-cylinder [[Lotus 907|Type 907]] engine that displaced {{convert|1973|cc|cuin|1|abbr=on}} and was rated at {{convert|155|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. With this engine the car does {{cvt|0|-|60|mph|km/h|0}} in 8.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of {{cvt|125|mph|km/h|0}}. (The 907 engine had previously been used in [[Jensen-Healey]]s.) The 907 engine ultimately became the foundation for the 2.0 L and 2.2 L [[Lotus Esprit|Esprit]] power-plants, the naturally aspirated [[Lotus 900 series#Type 912|912]] and the turbocharged [[Lotus 900 series#910|910]]. The Elite was fitted with a 4 or 5-speed manual transmission depending on the customer specifications. Beginning in January 1976, an automatic transmission was optional.

The Elite had a claimed drag co-efficient of 0.30 and at the time of launch, it was the world's most expensive four-cylinder car. The Elite's striking shape was designed by [[Oliver Winterbottom]]. He is quoted as saying that the basic chassis and suspension layout were designed by [[Colin Chapman]], making the Elite and its sister design the [[Lotus Eclat|Eclat]] the last Lotus road cars to have significant design input from Chapman himself.<ref>Octane Magazine "Lotus Legends" (2010)</ref>

The Elite was available in four main variations, set apart by equipment levels: 501, 502, 503, and later on 504.  

* 501 - "Base" version.
* 502 - Added air-conditioning to the base model.
* 503 - Added air-conditioning and power-steering.
* 504 - Added air-conditioning, power-steering and automatic transmission.

The Elite was the basis for the [[Lotus Eclat|Eclat]], and the later [[Lotus Excel|Excel]] 2+2 coupés.

Although larger and more luxurious than previous Lotus road cars, the Elite and Éclat are relatively light, with kerb weights not much over {{convert|2300|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.

In 1980 the Type 75 was replaced by the Type 83, also called the Elite Mark 2.<ref name=sportscar2>[http://www.sportscar2.com/sports-car-lotus-elite-mark-2-type-83.html The Lotus Elite Mark 2 Type 83 Sports Car, www.sportscar2.com] Retrieved 19 February 2017</ref> This version received a larger {{convert|2174|cc|cuin|1|abbr=on}} Lotus 912 engine.<ref name=sportscar2/> The chassis was now galvanised steel and the five speed BMC gearbox was replaced by a Getrag Type 265 unit.<ref name=sportscar2/> The vacuum-operated headlights of the earlier model were replaced with electrically operated units and the Elite was now fitted with a front spoiler, a new rear bumper and brake lights from the [[Rover SD1]].<ref name=sportscar2/> 
 
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:Lotus-elite S2 002.jpg|1978 Lotus Elite S2 (Type 75)
File:Lotus-elite S2.2 002.jpg|1981 Lotus Elite S2.2 (Type 83) 
</gallery>

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