Lotus is one of the great names of world motorsport. It was the brainchild of Colin Chapman, a man who never saw an engineering theory that he could not improve. There were two secrets to his approach - "Just add lightness" as he put it, plus an apparently magical ability to combine brilliant handling with a superb ride. Lotus's engineers today still embody that philosophy. Their ability to improve ride and handling means that they do more such consultancy work for other car manufacturers than anybody else in the world.

Lotus 2-Eleven

Lotus Elise

One of the all-time classic sports cars. The Elise goes right back to Colin Chapman's original concept of a small, affordable sports car with peerless handling, but updates it brilliantly for the 21st century. It was originally intended as a track-day special, but its level of sophistication and refinement meant that it became a mainstream production model and mainstay of the Lotus range. It is as strong today as ever and has recently been made available with a super low-emission engine with just 145 g/km of CO2 and a fuel consumption of 45 mpg.

Lotus Evora

There is nothing on the market quite like the Lotus Evora; Lotus says it is the only current production mid-engined 2+2 sports car in the world. The Lotus Evora was developed under the project name Project Eagle, the Lotus Evora was launched on 22 July 2008 at the British International Motor Show. The Evora shows clear links to other Lotus products but is thoroughly distinctive in its own right, with a visor-like windscreen and tapering cabin shape. For a Lotus, the interior is luxurious but not plush, its mix of leather and metal striking just the right aesthetic notes.

Lotus Exige

This really is a track-focused Lotus. Based on the Elise chassis (already the best handling small sports car), its hardtop bodywork and racing-oriented chassis make it a stunning drive. With over 200 bhp in a car weighing less than a tonne, 0-60 mpgh takes just 4.5 seconds.