Lotus Excel

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Lotus Excel

Manufacturer	Lotus Cars
Production	1982-1992
Predecessor	Lotus Eclat
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-door coupe
Engine	2.2 L Lotus 912 Slant Four
Transmission	5-speed Toyota W58 manual
Related	Lotus Eclat

The Type 89 Lotus Excel, built from 1982 to 1992, was a front-engined, rear-wheel drive car based on the earlier Lotus Eclat, which itself was based on the earlier Lotus Elite II.

Toyota engaged Lotus to assist with 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 and Toyota included the use of many Toyota components in Lotus' cars. The original Excel (aka the Eclat Excel) used the W58 manual transmission, driveshafts, rear differential, 14x7 in alloy wheels, and door handles with the Supra Mk II, which was made from 1982 to 1986. The engine was the familiar all-aluminium, DOHC 2.2 L Lotus 912 Slant Four (which was used in the Lotus Esprit S3). During its lifetime, the Excel received two major upgrades with the introduction of the Excel SE (a 180 bhp/134 kW engine vs the standard 160 bhp/119 kW engined car) and another facelift in 1989 with the appearance of Citroen-derived mirrors, as featured on the Esprit, and 15 in OZ alloy wheels to a similar pattern as the Esprit's.

To this day, many Toyota engines under two litres bear many characteristics of Lotus engines.

According to Lotus records, only 1 Excel was manufactured to USA specification.

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