Front Weee Drive: 1991 Lotus Elan M100
The Lotus Elan M100 is the answer to a trivia question that still makes purists twitch: What if Lotus built a front-wheel-drive car, would it be better than anyone else? Introduced in the early 1990s and engineered under GM ownership, the M100 wasn’t a compromise so much as a technical flex. Lotus threw its full suspension and chassis know-how at the problem and produced what is still widely regarded as the best-handling FWD car ever made, regardless of era. (Honda might have words with this…because the Type R Civics are known for corner carving…but ya know…Lotus). Find this 1991 Lotus Elan M100 offered for $9000 in Newport Beach, CA via facelan market100.
From the seller:
1991 Lotus elan m100
$9,000
Listed a week ago in Newport Beach, CA
About this vehicle
Driven 114,317 miles
Manual transmission
Exterior color: Red · Interior color: Black
Fuel type: Gasoline
This vehicle is paid off
Seller’s description
Own a piece of British engineering history. This 1991 Lotus Elan M100 is a true driver’s car, designed by Peter Stevens (the same designer behind the McLaren F1). It’s lightweight, nimble, and famously features the most advanced FWD handling ever engineered by Lotus.
Vehicle Highlights:
- Powertrain: 1.6L Turbocharged Inline-4 engine tuned by Lotus, paired with a smooth 5-speed manual “stick shift” transmission.
- Performance: Incredible power-to-weight ratio; handles corners like it’s on rails thanks to Lotus’s interactive wishbone suspension.
- Exterior/Interior: Classic Lotus Red paint with a sleek black leather interior. Includes the original pop-up headlights that work perfectly.
- Mileage: 114,317 miles (well-traveled but built with a reliable Isuzu-sourced block).
- Condition: Runs and drives great. Solid backbone chassis and lightweight fiberglass body—no rust to worry about on the exterior.
Specs:- Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
- Drive: FWD (Lotus-patented “Raft” suspension)
See a better way to drive something red? tips@dailyturismo.com
Always thought these were a cool shape/design, at least with the top down. Never drove one so no idea if they were good drivers? I would imagine parts sourcing especially body/interior bits are the source of nightmares now a days.
I rode in one once and it had the trademark Lotus suspension feel of incredible body control combined with the ability to not jar your teeth out of your head.
This is one of the cars on my list of potential suspension designs to copy on the back of my Fiero. Packaging wise the Fiero lends itself to a front wheel drive suspension moved to the back. This is seen as one of the best performing, but finding one and then finding additional parts make it impractical.
Widely acclaimed as one of the best, perhaps THE best, handling FWD cars of all time.
Lotus did some clever engineering in the front suspension for these, adding a cast-aluminum piece called a “compliance raft” to isolate bushing compliance in each axis from affecting the other axes, allowing for a supple ride and powertrain NVH isolation while virtually eliminating FWD’s main vices: torque steer, steering kickback, and driveline shunt.
SOLD!! (Not jealous at all…dang it)