Lotus Excel

The Excel was a careful evolution of the Eclat, with cleaner bodywork, a stronger chassis and a larger slant-four engine. It was the most conventional car in the Lotus range, a proper grand tourer with a separate boot lid and enough space for luggage. The wedge-shaped body developed from Oliver Winterbottom's Eclat design still looked modern, and the chassis retained the ride and handling balance that Lotus understood better than most.