The Lotus Excel evolved from the Lotus Eclat, originally this 2+2 was called the Eclat Excel and was unveiled in October 1982 and given a new type number of Type 89. By the time the 1984 model year car arrived the Éclat name was dropped, and it became the Excel. The Excel adopted a more aerodynamic evolution of the Éclat bodywork where every panel was re-designed and used a new gearbox and drivetrain attached to the 2.2-litre 4-cylinder Lotus engine.

The chassis received some modifications, including galvanising, but the essential layout remained as before. New brakes — ventilated discs all round — with the rear discs now mounted outboard.

The early 1982 and 1983 model year cars (still called Éclat Excel) could be identified by Gunmetal coloured bumpers and sills, however, by the arrival of the 1984 model year car the Lotus Excel featured body coloured bumpers, a louvered bonnet, a boot spoiler and optional 8-spoke alloy wheels.

The most important feature of the new exterior, however, was the difference these tweaks made to its aerodynamic profile. The Eclat had a drag coefficient figure of 0.34; for the new car the figure was said to be down to 0.32 – a seven percent improvement – which when added to the six percent increase in the power transmitted to the road via the new gearbox, meant that both the car’s performance and economy received a useful boost.

The Excel was well received by the media who complimented Lotus on the cars speed, acceleration (faster than any previous front-engined Lotus), It handled brilliantly too, beating the German equivalent front engined 2+2 in a magazine’s comparison.

Launched in October 1985, the Excel SE featured distinctive and more aerodynamic re-styled new body shape that included blisters over the front and rear wheel arches, new bonnet vents and a slightly larger rear spoiler as well as new nine-spoke 15×7-inch forged alloy wheels and was later offered in an automatic edition, the Excel SA.

BODYWORK
BODY TYPE 2+2 seater fixed-head coupé
NUMBER OF DOORS 2
DESIGNER
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
WHEELBASE 2482 mm 97.7 inches
TRACK/TREAD (FRONT) 1461 mm 57.5 inches
TRACK/TREAD (REAR) 1461 mm 57.5 inches
LENGTH 4376 mm 172.3 inches
WIDTH 1816 mm 71.5 inches
HEIGHT 1016 mm 40 inches
GROUND CLEARANCE
LENGTH:WHEELBASE RATIO 1.76
KERB WEIGHT 1135 kg 2502 lb
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION 53% front
FUEL TANK CAPACITY
AERODYNAMICS
DRAG COEFFICIENT 0.32
FRONTAL AREA
CDA
POWERTRAIN
ENGINE TYPE naturally aspirated petrol
ENGINE MANUFACTURER Lotus
ENGINE CODE 912

CYLINDERS Straight 4
CAPACITY 2.2 litre
2174 cc
(132.666 cu in)
BORE × STROKE
95.3 × 76.2 mm
3.75 × 3 in
BORE/STROKE RATIO 1.25

VALVE GEAR double overhead camshaft (DOHC)
4 valves per cylinder
16 valves in total
MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT 162 PS (160 bhp) (119 kW)
at 6500 rpm
MAXIMUM TORQUE 217 Nm (160 ft·lb) (22.1 kgm)
at 5250 rpm
SPECIFIC OUTPUT 54.9 kW/litre
74.6 ps/litre
73.6 bhp/litre
1.21 bhp/cu in
SPECIFIC TORQUE 99.82 Nm/litre
1.21 ft·lb/cu3
ENGINE CONSTRUCTION
SUMP
COMPRESSION RATIO 9.5:1
FUEL SYSTEM 2 De carbs
BMEP (BRAKE MEAN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE) 1254.3 kPa (181.9 psi)
MAXIMUM RPM
CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS 5
ENGINE COOLANT Water
UNITARY CAPACITY 543.5 cc
ASPIRATION Normal
COMPRESSOR N/A
INTERCOOLER None
CATALYTIC CONVERTER N
PERFORMANCE
ACCELERATION 0-80KM/H (50MPH)
ACCELERATION 0-60MPH 7.4 s
ACCELERATION 0-100KM/H
ACCELERATION 0-160KM/H (100MPH)
STANDING QUARTER-MILE
STANDING KILOMETRE
MAXIMUM SPEED 206 km/h (128 mph)
POWER-TO-WEIGHT RATIO Higher is better
142.93 PS/tonne (1000 kg)
0.14 PS/kg
105.12 kW/tonne (1000 kg)
0.11 kW/kg
140.97 bhp/tonne (1000 kg)
0.14 bhp/kg
0.06 bhp/lb
WEIGHT-TO-POWER RATIO Lower is better
9.51 kg/kW
15.89 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
TURNING CIRCLE
FRONT SUSPENSION
REAR SUSPENSION
WHEEL SIZE FRONT
WHEEL SIZE REAR
TYRES FRONT
TYRES REAR
BRAKES F/R
FRONT BRAKE DIAMETER
REAR BRAKE DIAMETER
BRAKED AREA
GEARBOX 5 speed manual