A quarter of a century is a long time in the world of motoring, the past 25 years seeing more technological developments with a switch towards electrification. Just ask Lotus – it knows exactly how far the industry has moved on, given that it’s working furtively on development of its 1,973bhp, £2million-plus all-electric hypercar, the Evija. And – shock horror – an SUV.
But the manufacturer owes all that it is now to a car that’s celebrating its 25th birthday in 2020, a model that saved the British brand’s finances when it was close to extinction: the Elise.
Lotus has arguably – and successfully – navigated more troubled waters recently when it comes to its financial health and its custodians, but in the mid-nineties it still wasn’t exactly flush, so the arrival of a small, lightweight two-seat roadster that stayed true to founder Colin Chapman’s principles was just what the brand needed.