Lotus completes the circle with its two-seater roadster.
The 35,124 Lotus Elise models were ever made, and the last one went to the person it was named for when it was launched.
In the middle of the 1990s, the Lotus Elise was created. Romano Artioli, the chairman and owner Lotus as well as Bugatti was at that time. Elisa Artioli was his grand-daughter and the mid-engined two-seat roadster was born.
Artioli has received the Lotus Elise last built for a customer. It was handed over in a ceremony at its headquarters, in Norfolk, England. Artioli receives the last Elise Sport240 in Championship Gold color.
Artioli sends her farewell to the Lotus Elise through an emotional letter. It is a thank you letter from her grandfather that expresses her deep love for the car.
When I was born in 1993, all you knew about existence was a piece of paper. But no one knew we were meant to be together.
The Elise’s birth was then described by her.
We were all waiting for the world to see us on September 12, 1995.
Your steering wheel was my only companion. I proudly wore my T-shirt that said “I am Elise”, and I couldn’t get off it. It was the same feeling I felt today. When I’m with you, I feel at home.
Artioli’s letter was ended with an even more personal note.
Dear Elise: I was there with you from beginning to end, just like you were with my life.
Lotus announced in December 2021 that the end to production of the Elise and Exige was coming. These three cars accounted for almost half of Lotus’ production over its 73-year history.
The Lotus Emira is the Geely-owned automaker. It will be leaving behind the internal combustion engine. The limited-run Lotus Evija hypercar welcomes electrification.