Another Lotus starts with an 'E'....

[Doshy]

Could someone out there please answer a question that came up in the pub last night. Why do all Lotus models start with the letter E.
Thanks in advance

Phil.

[Sam_68]

I'm not sure you'll get a definitive answer, but the usual mythology goes something like this:

• The first 'E' car was the Eleven, because Chapman had decided that the Roman numerals were becoming too complicated and to swap to Arabic numerals would confuse cause confusion between 11 (eleven) and II (two).
• Once they'd named the Eleven, Chapman just decided that words beginning with 'E' alliterated (if that's the correct word - just naturally flowed on from) the word 'Lotus'.

[Forbes82]

Yeah i head that Chapman decided that lotus eleven flowed well and that all future lotus should follow the same pattern. Not sure if it was ever asked in an interview or could be confirmed though?

[anonymous-user]

the Eleven source is quoted in every book/article I've read on the subject so assume it is right.

[Doshy]

Thanks everyone, I shall report back to the lounge bar on my findings.