Classic Team Lotus is reigniting its YouTube channel, and one of the first videos of the new era was some rare footage of the Lotus Mark VIII. The recently unearthed footage has been unseen for decades, and shows the Mark VIII behind the scenes undergoing testing and racing in 1954. When it was first revealed, the Mark VIII was unlike any other racing car. The … Continue reading Video: Lotus Mark VIII testing in 1954

If you’ve read Issue 39 of Absolute Lotus (in the shops at the time of posting this), you’ll have seen the Shapecraft Elan that’s bedecked in 1970s modifications. Far from being in the usual race trim, it’s instead sporting a vinyl roof and Revolution four-spokes. It reminded us of another Lotus that had been hidden away since the most garish decade – a Seven S2 that … Continue reading Psychedelic Lotus Seven barn find at rest since 1972

It was MG’s year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Chinese-owned British marque celebrating its centenary the Duke of Richmond’s annual automotive garden party. But it’s the other Chinese-owned British marque that we were focusing on, with Lotus represented on the hill by a plethora of machines, from Grand Prix racers to the latest electrified offerings. Perhaps the biggest talking point was when the … Continue reading Lotus at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

In Issue 36 of Absolute Lotus, the innovative Lotus Exige 270E was featured as a tri-fuel car running on petrol, ethonoal, and methanol. Developed as an environmentally friendly alternative to mass electrification, it represented a significant step forward in the “e-fuel” concept. Consequently, it demonstrated promising potential for addressing carbon emissions in the transport sector. Continue reading The case for internal combustion

One of the greatest spectacles provided by historic motorsport is the little versus large battles, Whether it’s Minis going up against V8 saloons or nimbles Lotuses battling big-banger GT cars. Throwing together grid of cars that approach the business of going fast in completely different ways always provides spectacular, close racing. This on-board video from the Lotus Elan of Nigel Greensall provides exactly that. This … Continue reading Video: Plucky Lotus Elan battles AC Cobra

Club Lotus’s annual trackday at Castle Combe is one of the largest regular gatherings of Lotuses and for 2024’s event the sun shone on the Wiltshire circuit. The gates are open to all enthusiasts of the marque, but track access is exclusive to members of Club Lotus. Not everyone takes to the track, but for those who don’t want to drive at full pace the … Continue reading Gallery: Wedges on track at Castle Combe

Meet the Lotus Evija X, a Nürburgring specialist version of Hethel’s electric hypercar. On Friday 13 October 2023, it set the third fastest ever lap of the Green Hell, and Lotus has just released the on-board footage of its 6min 24.044sec run. That compares to the Volkswagen ID.R’s time of 6min 05.336sec and the Porsche 919 Evo’s 5min 19.545sec. The difference here, though, is that … Continue reading Video: Lotus sets third fastest ever Nürburgring lap