Car Lust--Lotus Carlton
We're now nearly three weeks into the inadequately named Our Cars Week, and I still have a few more reader submissions to go. I'm completely out of my own cars, though, so my posts will revert back to traditional Car Lust mode. I have to say, I've been loving all of the submissions--lots of really interesting cars, lovingly described, with some fantastic anecdotes. Great stuff.
Anyway, I'm sure not everybody has enjoyed this romp through the typical and mundane, so for those people today's Car Lust is a rare performance jewel--the Lotus Carlton.
The Carlton was a sports sedan in the AMG Hammer vein in that it allowed four adults and a trunk full of luggage to cruise in sumptuous comfort at 170 mph on the autobahn--a rarity when the Carlton debuted in 1990. Unlike the Hammer, which evolved from a blue-blooded Mercedes-Benz, the Carlton started as a lowly General Motors family sedan--namely, the Vauxhall Carlton.
Despite the humble GM origins, anybody assuming the Carlton was a lightly-massaged civilian like the "Handling by Lotus" Isuzus would be tragically mistaken. the Carlton was and is a true world-class sports sedan. Smooth, muscular, and understated, the Lotus looked the part of a deadly serious super sedan. Under the skin, though, things got even more lethal.
Besides the inevitable handling tweaks, Lotus married the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1's six-speed manual transmission with a twin-turbocharged 24-valve DOHC inline six pumping out 377 horsepower and 419 pound-feed of torque. That's stunning output today, and 18 years ago that was more than all but the top supercars could produce. The result was a comfortable sedan that still ranks as one of the fastest Loti ever made.
The Carlton could accelerate from 0-60 in 5 seconds flat and top out at 176 mph. It could accelerate to 60 and brake to a stop again in only 8.5 seconds--faster than most cars at the time could even finish their acceleration.
Just for perspective, take a moment and ponder the 2008 Audi S4 and 2008 BMW M3. They're fantastic cars, super sedans in every sense of the word, blending jaw-dropping power with a sophisticated chassis and no compromises and usability. But consider this--the 1990 Carlton could run stride for stride with both cars, just as it did with the Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Countach, and Porsche 911 Turbo back in its day. Among its sports sedan peers, the Carlton's performance was unparalleled.
The Carlton was only offered across the pond, and even then in very limited quantities. It's a shame Americans never had a crack at it, but then again I suppose forbidden fruit tastes all the sweeter.
I believe the top photo is a manufacturer press photo; the bottom two photos are of a Carlton that was recently owned by Davey at ToyotaOwnersClub.com. I think we can all agree that Davey was very fortunate indeed.
--Chris H.
Rob the SVX guy on April 02, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Chris: YES! Thank you! Automobiles are pretty much an obsession for me, and it's a very rare day indeed where I find out about something completely new and foreign to me. Today is one of those days, as I had NEVER heard of this car, or had any inkling it existed. Awesome. I now want one. :D
Steaming Pile on April 03, 2008 at 07:41 AM
I seem to recall the Shelby Cobra was reputed to be capable of 0-60-0 in ten seconds, and that was supposed to be the most badass vehicle on the planet for a long time.
Cookie the Dog's Owner on April 04, 2008 at 06:26 AM
The 427 Cobra went 0-60 in 4.8 seconds; the 289 in 5.5 seconds. Those are pretty badass numbers even by modern standards.
Chris Hafner on April 04, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Rob the SVX Guy: "I had NEVER heard of this car, or had any inkling it existed. Awesome. I now want one."
I forget how I found out about the Carlton - probably a copy of CAR, the UK magazine - but I've deeply lusted for one ever since. It's great not just because it's an incredibly capable sports sedan, but because it's just kinda quirky. It's got that early '90s Opel/Vauxhall styling, combined with massive power and a Lotus badge. That's a pretty compelling combination.
Cookie the Dog's Owner: "The 427 Cobra went 0-60 in 4.8 seconds; the 289 in 5.5 seconds. Those are pretty badass numbers even by modern standards."
No doubt - that just goes to show what's possible with a big engine in a little car. If you have 427 cubic inches of V-8 in an English roadster body, you don't need much technology to make it fast!
Chris Hafner on April 04, 2008 at 12:39 PM
I've found a few more interesting links on the Carlton for anybody that's interested.
An owner's guide, featuring an FAQ and common misconceptions:
http://www.lotus-carlton.fsnet.co.uk/Main.htm
Another owner's guide:
http://www.lotuscarlton.co.uk/
Video of a Tiff Needell Carlton test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0NFqQ5ubz8
Franklyn Sigler on November 11, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Oh My God... THANK YOU!! I never new about this car and is now MY favorite car of all TIME.
I can't thank you enough for showing this to me.
Franklyn Sigler on November 11, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Damn typos... now I just look stupid. Knew... not new.