The Lotus Elan M100: A Front-Wheel-Drive First

Daily Car

·

10/11/2025

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In 1989, Lotus released a new car that surprised many people - the Elan M100. From the outside it had features that did not match what Lotus usually built at the time, like a single piece dashboard built in a modern style and a folding roof that did not leak. The most important change was hidden underneath. For the first time, a Lotus sports car sent its power to the front wheels.

The company chose front wheel drive for two main reasons - engineering theory plus practical needs. Lotus engineers stated that for a car of this size and power, a front drive layout could produce faster lap times and give better traction on the road. The engineering division had already designed front-wheel-drive systems for other large car makers - the knowledge was available. In practical terms, Lotus needed to buy an engine but also gearbox from another firm and by the late 1980s most suppliers concentrated on front-wheel-drive parts.

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General Motors bought Lotus while the car was still under development. The original plan to fit a 1.6-liter Toyota engine was dropped. Lotus had to pick a power unit from within the GM group and the result was a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine as well as five-speed gearbox supplied by Isuzu. The new owner brought one major advantage - GM put £35 million into the program. That money paid for a higher grade interior and a testing program that was far more thorough than Lotus would have managed with its own funds.

To keep the car's handling up to Lotus standards, engineers had to remove the usual weaknesses that appear with front wheel drive, like torque steer. They created a complex suspension layout with double wishbones at both the front or the rear. The front wishbones attached to special sub structures that Lotus named “rafts.” This arrangement let the team adjust the geometry precisely, remove unwanted steering feedback and deliver the sharp responses and supple ride the marque is known for. The Elan M100 is still the only Lotus production car that drives its front wheels, a unique entry in the company's history.

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