Lotus Excel SA Automatic 80's exotic prestige sports car as later seen on Top Gear! It was designed & built by British automobile manufacturer Lotus Cars from 1982 to 1992. It is based on the design of the earlier Lotus Eclat, which itself was based on the earlier Lotus Type 75 Elite. The Excel is known for its cornering & handling due to 50:50 weight distribution.
Toyota engaged Lotus to assist with the engineering work on the Supra. During this period, Toyota became a major shareholder in Lotus, later giving up their holding when General Motors bought Lotus. Part of the deal between Lotus & Toyota included the use of many Toyota mechanical components in Lotus' cars. The original Excel (aka the Eclat Excel) used the W58 manual transmission, driveshafts, rear differential, 14x7 inch alloy wheels, & door handles from the A60 Supra. The engine was the familiar all-aluminium, DOHC 2.2 L Lotus 912 slant-four engine also used in the Lotus Esprit S3.
Launched in October 1982, the Excel received two major upgrades during its 10-year production run. With the introduction of the Excel SE in October 1985, the bumpers, wing & interior were changed, including a new dashboard. In October 1986 the Excel SA with an automatic gearbox was introduced. Further facelifts in 1989 saw Citroën CX-derived mirrors, as also featured on the Esprit, & 15 inch OZ alloy wheels to a similar pattern as the Esprit's.
The body was made from vacuum injected resin & was made in upper & lower halves which were joined together, evident from a piece of black trim around the car. Body was mounted onto a galvanised steel backbone chassis. This process gave the car a good level of structural rigidity. Suspension system consisted of a single transverse lower arm coupled with an anti-roll bar & a wishbone above the lower arm at the front while at the rear the wishbone was mounted below the transverse links. Coil springs & dampers were used throughout.
The Excel was never formally imported or made available in the USA, but one was imported for evaluation in 1987. According to the importer "In early 1987 we imported one Excel (an SE, LHD, white with a blue half leather interior), on a carnet for evaluation & public review. It was returned to LCL, Hethel 6 months later as required by the carnet & US regulations."
The decision not to release the model in the USA was due to that country's stringent emission regulations (which would hinder the car's performance), & poor sales of the car in Europe.
By 1991, Lotus was planning to replace the Excel with a coupé version of the Elan roadster, but these plans were shelved as a result of falling sales which saw the whole Elan project cancelled & no direct replacement for the Excel when it was discontinued in 1992
In 2012, Top Gear produced a show called "50 Years of Bond Cars" hosted by Richard Hammond. Hammond tried to recreate the Lotus Esprit submarine car from the movie The Spy Who Loved Me. For cost reasons, an Excel was used instead of an Esprit. It appeared to be successful!
415 Excel cars were registered in the United Kingdom as of 2011, but 240 of them at that time were listed as no longer on the road.
Model Year changes:
1984
From 1984 the Eclat Excel was referred to as the Excel. Body-coloured bumpers were introduced. It received a louvered bonnet, boot spoiler, & new eight-spoke alloy wheels were an option. The Lotus badge was all black background to mark the death of founder Colin Chapman
1985
Front wheel arch profile was flared, but became no wider overall. Boot opening made larger, front fog lamps and a VDO instrument cluster were installed. 15-inch wheels optional
1986
In October 1985, for the 1986 model year, the S.E. option arrived along with more powerful H.C. (High Compression) engine. Engine power increased to 180 hp (134 kW; 182 PS) & had red cam covers to distinguish it from standard engine. Also a higher compression ratio of 10.9:1, higher lift inlet cams and larger portion to inlet and exhaust valves. Torque marginally increased to 165 lb⋅ft (224 N⋅m) & engine fed by two 45 mm twin-choke Dellorto carburettors. Fascia & switchgears modified on all Excel models along with upgraded air conditioning system (optional) & standard adjustable steering column
1987
S.A. automatic model became available, equipped with ZF four-speed unit. It also offered cruise control & central door locking
1988
Lighter, cross-drilled crankshaft, new engine mounting legs and bell housing, altered rear body mounts, a boot floor brace & revised body shell undertray, & revised fuel system
1989
Restyled bonnet, new front & rear spoilers, updated wheels & interior trim. Wing mirrors changed to aerodynamic ones from Citroën CX. Engine got air intake temperature control system for increased lifespan. Excel continued to be built in small numbers until plug was pulled in 1992
40 of the "Hethel 25th Anniversary Celebration edition" were produced, 35 in Celebration Green Metallic & 5 in Calypso Red