After 50 Years, The Lotus Type 66 Returns!
by AutoExpert | 21 August, 2023
The Lotus Type 66 traces its origins back to the heyday of Formula 1 in the 1970s. This rare Lotus sports car has recently made a comeback, and the company is quick to point out that it is just as capable as ever.
At its core, the modern Type 66 boasts a V8 push-rod engine that's a true representation of its era. Placed right in the middle for exceptional handling, this powerhouse aims for an output exceeding 830 horsepower at 8,800 rpm and a hearty 550 lb-ft of torque at 7,400 rpm.
According to Simon Lane, Executive Director of Lotus Advanced Performance, the Type 66 masterfully bridges the past and present, taking drivers on a journey back to the golden era of motorsport over half a century ago, while seamlessly incorporating 21st-century performance and safety advancements.
Bringing in modern elements that were a distant dream back in the day, such as electric power steering, ABS braking, a sequential racing transmission, and an anti-stall multi-plate clutch, the model also treats drivers to a modernized cockpit and a steadfast rollover bar.
Under the guidance of Lotus design director Russell Carr, the design team transformed Clive Chapman's ¼ and 1/10th scale sketches into 3D visualizations. After more than 1,000 hours of computational fluid dynamics work, the new Type 66 emerges as a blend of classic design cues and contemporary aerodynamic features.
The result is a full carbon fiber bodyshell designed to allow air to flow through rather than around it—a principle shared by modern Lotus models like the Emira, the brand's farewell to combustion engines. Lotus claims that the Type 66 generates over 1,764 lbs of downforce at a brisk 150 mph.
Russell Carr puts it this way, "We are incredibly proud to have completed such a unique project, and one that Colin Chapman was personally involved in. There is a real delicacy in remastering the past. This is not a re-edition or a restomod, but a completely new breed of Lotus - a commitment that our past glories will continue to be reflected in our future."
The Lotus Type 66 will be present at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 20. Just ten units will be created, each commanding a price tag of over £1 million.
