Introduced in September 1972, the first 100 Big Valve cars were special. To honour Team Lotus’s victory in the 1972 and 1973 F1 World Championships, John Player Special (JPS) was released to commemorate the success. The cars were number-badged (numbered JPS dashboard badge) and painted black with gold pinstripes to honour that 1972 F1 World Championship title. 

All cars had five-speed gearbox , becoming the first ever John Player Special commemorative motor vehicles. The “Special” name and colour scheme was planned to be dropped after the first 200 cars, reverting to the Twin Cam name, but such was the positive reaction to the new car that the name and pin stripe scheme remained until the end of Europa production although colours other than black were made available.

In the end the numbered plaque distinguished the first, original, 100 JPS cars from other black Europa Specials. The JPS was one of the very last Europa models released before production ceased altogether.

engine Type 74 Inline-4
position Mid Longitudinal
valvetrain DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl
displacement 1558 cc / 95.1 in³
bore 82.6 mm / 3.25 in
stroke 72.6 mm / 2.86 in
compression 10.3:1
power 94.0 kw / 126 bhp
specific output 80.87 bhp per litre
bhp/weight 170.27 bhp per tonne
body / frame Fiberglass over Steel Tub
driven wheels RWD
f brake size mm / in
r brake size mm / in
curb weight 740 kg / 1631 lbs
transmission Type 352 Renault 4-Speed Manual
gear ratios :1
top speed ~197.9 kph / 123 mph
0 – 60 mph ~7.0 second
BODYWORK
BODY TYPE 2 seater fixed-head coupé
NUMBER OF DOORS 2
DESIGNER
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
WHEELBASE 2311 mm 91 inches
TRACK/TREAD (FRONT) 1359 mm 53.5 inches
TRACK/TREAD (REAR) 1359 mm 53.5 inches
LENGTH 3994 mm 157.2 inches
WIDTH 1638 mm 64.5 inches
HEIGHT 1067 mm 42 inches
GROUND CLEARANCE 152 mm 6 inches
LENGTH:WHEELBASE RATIO 1.73
KERB WEIGHT 711 kg 1567 lb
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
FUEL TANK CAPACITY 56.8 litres 12.5 [15] UK [US] gal.
AERODYNAMICS
DRAG COEFFICIENT 0.29
FRONTAL AREA
CDA
POWERTRAIN
ENGINE TYPE naturally aspirated petrol
ENGINE MANUFACTURER Lotus
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) 128 PS (126 bhp) (94 kW)
at 6500 rpm
MAXIMUM TORQUE
(DIN) 153 Nm (113 ft·lb) (15.6 kgm)
at 5500 rpm
SPECIFIC OUTPUT
(DIN) 60.3 kW/litre
82 ps/litre
80.9 bhp/litre
1.33 bhp/cu in
SPECIFIC TORQUE
(DIN) 98.2 Nm/litre
1.19 ft·lb/cu3
ENGINE CONSTRUCTION
SUMP
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.3:1
FUEL SYSTEM 2 De carbs
BMEP (BRAKE MEAN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE) 1234.1 kPa (179 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) 4.8 s
ACCELERATION 0-60MPH 6.6 s
ACCELERATION 0-100KM/H 7.2 s
ACCELERATION 0-160KM/H (100MPH)
STANDING QUARTER-MILE 14.9 s
STANDING KILOMETRE 28.3 s
MAXIMUM SPEED 204 km/h (127 mph)
POWER-TO-WEIGHT RATIO Higher is better
179.68 PS/tonne (1000 kg)
0.18 PS/kg
132.15 kW/tonne (1000 kg)
0.13 kW/kg
177.22 bhp/tonne (1000 kg)
0.18 bhp/kg
0.08 bhp/lb
WEIGHT-TO-POWER RATIO Lower is better
7.57 kg/kW
12.64 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 mid
ENGINE LAYOUT longitudinal
DRIVE WHEELS rear wheel drive
TORQUE SPLIT N/A
STEERING rack & pinion
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK
TURNING CIRCLE
FRONT SUSPENSION I.CS.
REAR SUSPENSION I.CS.
WHEEL SIZE FRONT
WHEEL SIZE REAR
TYRES FRONT
TYRES REAR
BRAKES F/R Di/Dr-S
FRONT BRAKE DIAMETER
REAR BRAKE DIAMETER
BRAKED AREA
GEARBOX 5 speed manual