Lotus will unveil the Elise 72 at Geneva, in honour of the famous JPS
coloured Lotus Type 72. First raced in 1970 the Lotus Type 72 set the
architecture for all modern day Formula 1 cars, pioneering the use of side
mounted radiators and a front "wedge" nose cone which gave significant
aerodynamic advantages.
The Type 72 is arguably the most successful & recognised racing car in
the history of Formula 1, with twenty World Championship race wins, three
Formula 1 Constructors Championships (1970, '72 and 1973) and two Drivers World
Championships (the first being won by Jochen Rindt, posthumously, in 1970, and
the second by Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972). In 1972 the cars featured the famous
and easily recognisable Black and Gold Livery.
The Elise Type 72 shares many of the attributes that made the Type 72 so
successful, such as a lightweight aluminium chassis, GRP body and of course
Lotus ride and handling.
Harking
back to the golden days of its motoring history, Lotus will make the Elise in
black with gold livery. The two gold heritage "laurels", displayed on
either side of the metallic Starlight Black bodywork, mimic those placed on the
rear wing of the Type 72 commemorating every race victory, while the new gold
coloured wheels give the perfect finish to the exterior.
The Black and Gold livery does not stop with the exterior, but carries over
to the interior with use of golden Alcantara on the seat cushions, steering
wheel centre and door panels. The heritage theme is continued with gold heritage
"laurels" embroidered in the centre of each headrest and an exclusive
Heritage Identification Plate, based on the design of the chassis plates of the
Lotus Formula 1 cars, mounted on the dash board. No mention of an ashtray
though...