The Lotus Elan S4, introduced in 1968, represented the fourth iteration of Lotus’s groundbreaking sports car, showcasing further refinements in design, performance, and usability. With its lightweight fiberglass body and steel backbone chassis, the S4 retained the agile handling and spirited performance that had become synonymous with the Elan name. Key updates included wider wheels for improved grip, revised suspension for better ride comfort, and a refreshed body design with flared wheel arches and updated lighting. Powered by the reliable 1.6-liter twin-cam engine, the S4 offered enhanced performance while remaining an accessible and engaging sports car. These updates made the Elan S4 a versatile choice for both spirited driving and everyday use, solidifying its place in the Lotus legacy.

BODYWORK
BODY TYPE 2 seater convertible/cabriolet
NUMBER OF DOORS 2
DESIGNER
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
WHEELBASE 2134 mm 84 inches
TRACK/TREAD (FRONT) 1194 mm 47 inches
TRACK/TREAD (REAR) 1232 mm 48.5 inches
LENGTH 3690 mm 145.3 inches
WIDTH 1422 mm 56 inches
HEIGHT 1168 mm 46 inches
GROUND CLEARANCE 152 mm 6 inches
LENGTH:WHEELBASE RATIO 1.73
KERB WEIGHT 688 kg 1517 lb
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
FUEL TANK CAPACITY 45.5 litres 10 [12] UK [US] gal.
AERODYNAMICS
DRAG COEFFICIENT
FRONTAL AREA
CDA
POWERTRAIN
ENGINE TYPE naturally aspirated petrol
ENGINE MANUFACTURER
ENGINE CODE
CYLINDERS Straight 4
CAPACITY 1.6 litre
1558 cc
(95.075 cu in)
BORE × STROKE
82.57 × 72.75 mm
3.25 × 2.86 in
BORE/STROKE RATIO 1.13

VALVE GEAR double overhead camshaft (DOHC)
2 valves per cylinder
8 valves in total
MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT
(DIN) 117 PS (115 bhp) (86 kW)
at 6000 rpm
MAXIMUM TORQUE
(DIN) 147 Nm (108 ft·lb) (15 kgm)
at 4000 rpm
SPECIFIC OUTPUT
(DIN) 55 kW/litre
74.8 ps/litre
73.8 bhp/litre
1.21 bhp/cu in
SPECIFIC TORQUE
(DIN) 94.35 Nm/litre
1.14 ft·lb/cu3
ENGINE CONSTRUCTION
SUMP wet sumped
COMPRESSION RATIO 9.5:1
FUEL SYSTEM 2 St carbs
BMEP (BRAKE MEAN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE) 1185.7 kPa (172 psi)
MAXIMUM RPM
CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS
ENGINE COOLANT Water
UNITARY CAPACITY 389.5 cc
ASPIRATION Normal
COMPRESSOR N/A
INTERCOOLER None
CATALYTIC CONVERTER N
PERFORMANCE
ACCELERATION 0-80KM/H (50MPH)
ACCELERATION 0-60MPH
ACCELERATION 0-100KM/H
ACCELERATION 0-160KM/H (100MPH)
STANDING QUARTER-MILE
STANDING KILOMETRE
MAXIMUM SPEED
POWER-TO-WEIGHT RATIO Higher is better
169.47 PS/tonne (1000 kg)
0.17 PS/kg
124.64 kW/tonne (1000 kg)
0.12 kW/kg
167.15 bhp/tonne (1000 kg)
0.17 bhp/kg
0.07 bhp/lb
WEIGHT-TO-POWER RATIO Lower is better
8.02 kg/kW
13.4 lb/bhp
FUEL CONSUMPTION
FUEL CONSUMPTION
UNIVERSAL FUEL CONSUMPTION (CALCULATED FROM THE ABOVE)
LITRES/100KM
KM/LITRE
UK MPG
US MPG
CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

CARFOLIO CALCULATED CO2 ?

VED BAND (UK)
CO2 EFFIZIENZ (DE)
CHASSIS
ENGINE POSITION front
ENGINE LAYOUT longitudinal
DRIVE WHEELS rear wheel drive
TORQUE SPLIT N/A
STEERING
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.500
TURNING CIRCLE 9.40 m
FRONT SUSPENSION I.W.CS.ARB.
REAR SUSPENSION I.LW.ChmnS.
WHEEL SIZE FRONT
WHEEL SIZE REAR
TYRES FRONT
TYRES REAR
BRAKES F/R Di/Di
FRONT BRAKE DIAMETER
REAR BRAKE DIAMETER
BRAKED AREA 1923 cm2
GEARBOX 4 speed manual