Named after Elisa, the granddaughter of Lotus's owner at the time, Romano Artioli of Bugatti fame, the Lotus Elise was launched at the Frankfurt Show in 1995. In the subsequent twenty-five years it has not only established itself as the embodiment of what Lotus stands for, it retains a unique place in the international sports car market. No other manufacturer came up with a car to seriously rival the Elise, nor the Exige, in terms of handling dexterity on both road and racetrack, and it aptly characterizes the definition of a sports car. Written in Johnny Tipler's inimitable style this book includes a detailed evolution of the Elise and Exige, including full specification tables; interviews with key individuals involved in their design and development, including Richard Rackham, Gavan Kershaw, Neil Thomas, Russell Carr, Barney Hatt and Andy Pleavin; Elisa Artioli on her namesake, its past and future; motor sport adaptions and successes and finally, driving experiences on road and track. The production of the Elise and Exige was sustained through four corporate upheavals. Now in Geely ownership, the future for Lotus looks bright.
Johnny Tipler is a freelance car journalist and historian who contributes to numerous motoring magazines and has written many books on the subject. His extensive background in the automotive sector includes spells in the John Player Motorsport Press Office and at the Motor Industry Research Unit. His interest spreads across many makes and models, but he is inevitably drawn towards sports and racing cars, historic events and motorcycles.
Press Reviews
For those of you who worship at the Lotus Elise and Exige altar - Hallelujah - your King Johnny Bible has arrived. From under his signature 'Pork Pie Hat' author Johnny Tipler takes the two cars apart in the first half of his book, detailing all aspects of design and development for each model and variant. Illustrated with over 250 illustrations, this book is a must for any owner/student of the Lotus Elise range. Johnny has used his 25 year involvement with and experience of the car to create as the sub-title says, the complete story.
With technical specs, a range of imagery and a variety of features along with the main story, Elise aficionados will lap it up.
What we really like is that there’s more to this title than a dry account of the production lifecycles. The human side of the two models’ design and development is covered with a number of interviews with many of the people who were instrumental in Elise and Exige.
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