Descripción
General info:
One of a kind! The first new (concept) model designed after the death of founder Colin Chapman. Lotus was looking for a new seasoning for the brand in the eighties. The Esprit from 1972 could use a successor, so Giorgetto Giugiaro - at the time still working at ItalDesign - was given the assignment to put a design for a fresh top model on paper. The work he delivered was seen by many as the first real supercar from Great Britain with a mid-engine.
Lotus called the car equipped with a typical eighties design 'Etna'. The basis was formed by the Esprit and under the hood was a further development of Lotus' famous V8, good for 335 hp at 6, 500 rpm. Etna was created at a time when Lotus was making waves in Formula 1 with Nigel Mansell behind the wheel of the John Player Team Lotus. Developments for the F1 cars were therefore immediately attributed to Etna. Think of a computerized system that actively adjusts ride height (anti-dive and anti-roll), traction control, and even something fancy like an ABS – something that supercars of the time often lacked. They even worked on active noise canceling, which was quite progressive for the time.
Buy it in 1988!”
With a theoretical top speed of 292 km/ h and a particularly low air resistance, the British media were convinced: this will be the new Lotus superstar. The magnificent Giugiaro-designed Lotus V8 sets out to show the world that Hethel can build a world-beater. Buy it in 1988!” wrote Car Magazine. It just went a little differently. When General Motors took over the ailing sports car brand in 1986, the helm was radically changed, the focus shifted to an affordable, front-wheel drive model: the Elan. There was no more room for the four-seat Etna, so the prototype had to spend its life in storage.
Specific info:
Years later, the car ended up in a detour in the immense Lotus collection of the Dutchman Olav Glasius, chairman of the Lotus Club Holland. In 2022 we, as Metropole Classics, came into possession of this unique example. So we are proud to present:
Lotus Etna V8 designed by Giugiaro. The first Lotus super car with a 400 hp strong V8 engine. It took three years to transform the concept cat into a driveable one . In short, developing and assembling the fuel injection system, suspension, brakes, gearbox, fuel tank, etc.
Etna is a Concours het Loo prize winner.
