That was the verdict of many Lotus traditionalists when the covers were pulled off an all-new Elan in 1989 – one propelled by a Japanese engine that fed power to the wrong set of tyres.

evo's editorial director Harry Metcalfe introduces us to his sweet little Lotus Elan on video. The 1960s soft-top ranked as our sixth favourite driver's car ever back in 2009 (though Harry was on ...

That was the verdict of many Lotus traditionalists when the covers were pulled off an all-new Elan in 1989 – one propelled by a Japanese engine that fed power to the wrong set of tyres.