By 1966, the UK car industry was hitting a new peak, with Lotus among the leaders in innovation.
At the end
of the year, Colin Chapman announced the launch of a new road car, the Europa aimed mainly at the European market.
The
Lotus Europa had a particular claim to fame as the first road-going mid-engined British coupe to go into production.
Developed in association with Regie Renault in France, who had produced engine/transmission units as used in their R16 saloon - a five main bearing four-cylinder water-cooled engine mainly in light alloy.
The Europa's engine and transmission package was mounted behind the cockpit but ahead of the rear axle line in a similar steel backbone chassis to that used in the Elan.
At the Europa’s rear, a typically Chapman independent system of long radius arms and lower links forming ultra-wide based wishbones, with fixed-length Hooke-jointed drive shafts completing the wheel location, was fitted.
Telescopic coil spring/damper units were used all round, and the brake system included Girling 9i-inch front discs with 8-inch rear drums.
The whole concoction was clothed in a streamlined but, in the eyes of many, not particularly attractive glass-fibre two-door shell.
The Europa came with a Ford Anglia front bumper and a Cortina rear one and, with an Elan-like front-end merging into a high-sided tail with a small spoiler lip, making for a most distinctive appearance.
Europa owners and their passengers had to be reasonably agile people as entry to this low-built coupe could be somthing of a physical challenge.
On the other hand, once safely seated, the Europa’s Elan-like seating position and control disposition could hardly be faulted, although the slit rear window did have its disadvantages, particularly when attempting to reverse or sight oncoming traffic at difficult-angled road junctions.
