1988–1990 Lotus Excel Specs & Performance

The 1988–1990 Lotus Excel brought Lotus engineering into a more practical grand-touring format without abandoning the lightweight, rear-wheel-drive character of the marque. Its sports coupe body provides a 2+2 seating arrangement, giving it greater everyday versatility than Lotus models focused purely on two-seat performance. A front-mounted engine, five-speed manual gearbox, and carefully balanced chassis make the Excel an interesting blend of sporting intent and usable road-car practicality, while its compact proportions retain a distinctly Lotus character.

Power comes from a naturally aspirated 2.2-liter inline-four producing 160 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. With a curb weight of 2,502 lb, the Excel reaches 134 mph and accelerates from 0–60 mph in 6.8 seconds. MacPherson strut suspension is used at both ends, with vented disc brakes front and rear. The combination gives the Excel respectable performance while its 368-liter luggage capacity and four-seat layout make it more accommodating than many contemporary lightweight sports cars.