Lotus Europa History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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The Europa (1966–1975) was Lotus's first mid-engined road car, bringing the layout of Chapman's Formula and sports-racing cars to the street. It used a fibreglass body on a backbone chassis and was strikingly low, with a distinctive high-sided 'breadvan' rear deck on early cars.
Series 1 and 2 cars used a 1.5-litre Renault engine mounted amidships; the later Europa Twin Cam and Special swapped in the Lotus-Ford Twin Cam for far stronger performance. Lotus revived the nameplate three decades later with the Elise-based Europa S (2006–2010), a turbocharged GT-flavoured coupe never sold in the United States.
Body styles
- Coupe (mid-engine)
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