2012 & 2013 Lotus Convertible Reviews & Ratings

Most who know the name Lotus will think of one of two things. The first is the Formula One racing circuit. The second is the sports car. Though Lotus has many variants of vehicle, it is the sports car and the racing car that have given it the recognition that it currently possesses. For those that want a true sports car, there is the Lotus convertible. While not every model of Lotus comes in a convertible variation, some of them do and have since the beginning.

One of the entries i... (full review continues below)

Most who know the name Lotus will think of one of two things. The first is the Formula One racing circuit. The second is the sports car. Though Lotus has many variants of vehicle, it is the sports car and the racing car that have given it the recognition that it currently possesses. For those that want a true sports car, there is the Lotus convertible. While not every model of Lotus comes in a convertible variation, some of them do and have since the beginning.

One of the entries into the Lotus Convertible market began in the 1960s. The Lotus Elan was a convertible sports car that was introduced in both street and racing versions in 1962. There was a hardtop version released in 1963, but it was the convertible that garnered the most attention and popularity. It was far more advanced under the hood than most cars of that time period. The end came thirteen years later in 1975 when the Elan was discontinued. However, it would make a comeback in convertible version in 1989. Those who refer to the Elan will often call then either the 60s Elan or the 1990s Elan.

Those who want a Lotus convertible will find their needs met easily by the Lotus Elise. Though there are hardtop variants of this vehicle, there is also a convertible or topless model that is quite popular among fans. This vehicle offers the mid-engine style that is common in European vehicles and offers only two seats. It boasts a design made from fiberglass. In fact it had more fiberglass than some of the more high-end sports cars on the market. The Elise hit the market with customers in 1998 and the third generation was revealed in 2010.

In 2000 there was a coupe version of the Elise released named the Exige and the Elise became the Lotus convertible edition. The Elise actually derived its name from then chairman, Romano Artioli's granddaughter. It could go as high as 150 mph even though thanks to its lightweight and powerful engine.

Lotus began its longstanding history in the 1950s and went through a series of ownerships before resting with its current parent company Proton. Several years of developing cars was under its wings before it truly impacted the North American market with a separate company geared towards sales in that area. Throughout the history of the company the reputation was built on both the Formula One racing circuit as it continued to build cars designed for racing, and the sports car market as the majority of its vehicles fit into that category. The Lotus convertible is among the many models of sports car that the company has offered. Each roadster has made its impact on the market with luxury, design and speed. From its humble beginnings in London, the company has managed to build a solid reputation even through the numerous change of hands that it has encountered.