Lotus is an elegant British automaker that specializes in rare, performance cars.
The prestigious brand is more than just a sports car manufacturer as they have made some impressive racing cars over the years. This includes a title-winning Formula One racing team that managed to clinch the championship seven times.
While Lotus has scaled down its racing division, the brand has consistently produced some of the most exotic cars on the market. A few of these rare sports cars have managed to fetch insane prices, making them some of the most expensive cars ever sold.
Interested in learning about the most expensive Lotus models? You’re in right place.
Here Are the Top 10 Most Expensive Lotus Cars in the World:
- Lotus Evija – $2.1 million
- 1968 Lotus 56 Indianapolis – $1.2 million
- 1964 Lotus Type 34 Single-Seater – $1.1 million
- 2010 Lotus Exos (Type 125) – $1 million
- 007 Lotus Esprit “Submarine Car” – $960,000
- 2013 Lotus T125 – $417,500
- Lotus 19 Monte Carlo – $270,000
- 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina MkI Competition Saloon – $252,500
- 1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans Sports Racer – $209,000
- 2023 Lotus Eletre – $120,000
10. 2023 Lotus Eletre – $120,000
Lotus has joined the SUV party with a modern new vehicle for 2023. This unique SUV comes with a modern design that takes inspiration from other impressive SUVs on the market today. However, the modern SUV is designed from the ground up for an electric powertrain.
The Lotus Eletre is not a massive SUV but is rather a compact, sporty design. This means that the new model competes directly with cars such as the BMW iX. However, the performance and style of the car promise to give even the Tesla Model X a run for its money.
Why It’s Expensive
Lotus is a prestigious brand within the automotive industry. This brand is still expanding, with new models from the brand indicating a few more electric cars in the near future. The Eletre is the premium SUV from Lotus and is designed with the craftsmanship and care that you can expect from a car at this price point.
9. 1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans Sports Racer – $209,000
Le Mans is one of the most famous racing events in the world. The competition still takes place today, with manufacturers from around the world developing endurance sports cars specifically for the event. The Lotus Eleven Le Mans Sports Racer was developed for Le Mans and included one of the most durable engines Lotus has ever made.
The engine in the Lotus Eleven Le Mans Sports Racer was incredibly powerful. Despite being just a 4-cylinder engine, the powertrain could produce around 75 HP at around 6,250 rpm. This was paired with a 4-speed manual transmission to give the driver more control over the entire car.
Why It’s Expensive
Lotus is one of the most successful racing teams in the history of motorsports. The Lotus Eleven Le Mans Sports Racer won its class in 1956 when it was driven by Reg Bicknell and Peter Jopp. This makes this model a piece of motorsports history.
8. 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina MkI Competition Saloon – $252,500
The 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina MKI Competition Saloon was developed back in the ’60s as a two-door sports saloon. This unique sports car was part of Ford’s racing competition program that saw the American company recruit several essential staff from Lotus.
This model was produced from 1963 to 1966, with only a handful of models surviving until today. The 2-door Cortina came with an impressive 105 HP engine and a close-ratio gearbox for added performance on the track. The popularity and success of this model helped Ford develop future models of the car for the general public.
Why It’s Expensive
The Ford Lotus Cortina MKI Competition Saloon was a rare sports car that was produced for only a few years. Ford managed to make a success of the partnership, with the sports car quickly becoming an icon both on and off the track.
7. Lotus 19 Monte Carlo – $270,000
The Lotus 19 Monte Carlo can be yours for around $270k. This incredibly rare sports car was introduced back in 1960 and became one of the most popular single-seat racing cars to hit the track that year.
This Lotus was built for racing, but a few models made their way to the United States for engine upgrades. These models were fitted with Buick or Oldsmobile V8 engines to add even more performance to the British sports car.
Why It’s Expensive
The Lotus 19 Monte Carlo is an incredibly rare Lotus. The car was initially launched in the 1960s, but only 17 examples of the Type 19 were ever built. These models were built between 1960 and 1962, with a few sent to the United States for American engines.
These models are even rarer and can command an even larger price tag.
6. 2013 Lotus T125 – $417,500
Lotus is one of the most successful Formula One teams in the history of the sport. While the team does not have a presence anymore, the Lotus Team managed to win the championship seven times during its time in the international competition. The 2013 Lotus T125 was designed as the ultimate track car, using the technology and design from the F1 team.
The T125 from Lotus features a powerful V8 engine that can produce around 640 HP with ease. This powerful engine is paired with a six-speed transmission that can make accelerating incredibly efficient. The car is made almost exclusively from carbon fiber, making it one of the lightest and most powerful cars Lotus has ever made.
Why It’s Expensive
As mentioned above, the T125 is made almost exclusively from carbon fiber. This is one of the most expensive materials you could possibly use to make a sports car. In addition to this, the T125 is a rare sports car that offers owners the ability to drive something incredibly close to a championship-winning Formula 1 car.
5. 007 Lotus Esprit “Submarine Car” – $960,000
The James Bond franchise is deeply intertwined with the automotive industry. While most people jump straight to Aston Martin, the franchise did feature several other iconic cars. However, one of the most famous models was the 007 Lotus Esprit “Submarine Car” that was developed specifically for the film.
The “Submarine Car” model was based on the Lotus Esprit and came with a few modifications. This unique sports car is worth almost $1 million and is a must-have for any real James Bond fan.
This unique sports car was used in the film and was built as a customized submarine. The production costs of the car were around $100,000 at the time, but the car has skyrocketed over time to be worth around $1 million today.
Elon Musk purchased the car in 2013 and promises to try to turn it into a functional car submarine as depicted in the films. If successful, you could expect the Lotus Esprit “Submarine Car” to top this list in the near future.
Why It’s Expensive
The 007 Lotus Esprit “Submarine Car” was designed specifically for the James Bond film. This makes it one of the most popular and famous Bond cars in the history of the franchise. Due to its international popularity and incredible design, the car is an absolute bargain for $1 million.
4. 2010 Lotus Exos (Type 125) – $1 million
The Lotus Exos was designed as the ultimate consumer track car. The Exos Type 125 managed to bridge the gap between a sports car and a professional race car with a powerful 3.5-liter engine. This engine was able to produce 650 HP and had a redline of 10,300 rpm.
The design of the sports car took inspiration from Formula One as it was designed as a single-seater. This unique car was limited to only 25 units, making it one of the rarest Lotus models you can get your hands on.
The general look and feel of the Lotus Exos Type 125 were designed to give the driver the most authentic racing experience possible. This makes the sports car worth the price tag.
Why It’s Expensive
Every gearhead around the world wishes that they could have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a professional racing car. Whether you watch Formula One or NASCAR, the Lotus Exos Type 125 offers you the opportunity to feel what it’s like to drive an actual racing car. This is why the car is so rare, powerful, and expensive.
3. 1964 Lotus Type 34 Single-Seater – $1.1 million
Lotus has made some of the most powerful and unique race cars over the years. However, the Lotus Type 34 Single-Seater steals the show as one of the most expensive cars money can buy. This unique racing car comes with a V8 engine that can produce around 495 BHP at 7,800 rpm.
This model also came with a 2-speed manual transmission and 4-wheel independent suspension. This meant that each wheel could adapt to the track to give the driver the most amount of grip around every corner.
Why It’s Expensive
The power of the Lotus Type 34 is not what made it an icon in the motoring world. The Type 34 managed to turn heads due to its outrageous exterior design. This design made the Lotus look more like a rocket ship than a sports car and is the reason why this model is craved by every Lotus collector around the world.
2. 1968 Lotus 56 Indianapolis – $1.2 million
The 1968 Lotus 56 Indianapolis may not have sold yet, but experts around the world estimate the value of the car to be around $900k to $1.2 million. This rare sports car was designed to compete in various competitions on behalf of Team Lotus.
The Lotus 56 competed in the Indianapolis 500 but was also modified later on to compete in Formula One. The F1 model was developed by Colin Chapman as he attempted to build a unique sports car that could compete in both F1 and the Indianapolis 500.
Why It’s Expensive
The 1968 Lotus 56 Indianapolis is a rare sports car, with only four examples of the car ever making it on the road. This rare sports car was made by Team Lotus to compete in the 1968 Indianapolis 500 race and was driven by legends such as Graham Hill. This iconic car remains a work of art and is presented at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
1. Lotus Evija – $2.1 million
The most expensive Lotus car is the Lotus Evija. The Evija is a unique and rare Lotus that is designed from the ground up. This means that Lotus did not base the model on another platform but rather developed one specifically for this new supercar.
The Evija is a unique new supercar from Lotus and is also the first to feature an all-electric powertrain. Lotus developed a new 70 kWh battery pack with Williams Advanced Engineering for the powertrain. This means that the new supercar will have a combined output of 1,970 HP and 1,254 lb-ft of torque.
Why It’s Expensive
The Lotus Evija is a groundbreaking new supercar. While official production numbers have not been released, Lotus has noted that the electric supercar will be an extremely limited-edition supercar. The Evija is also expensive as it’s set to include a 1,970 HP powertrain that can accelerate the supercar from 0 to 62 in under 3 seconds.
What’s the Most Expensive Lotus?
Lotus cars are known to be elegant and classic sports cars. The brand has made some iconic cars over the last few decades, cementing its position as one of the most popular British automakers.
The most expensive Lotus is its brand-new electric supercar, the Lotus Evija. This unique supercar is a massive leap forward for the British brand and showcases what the future of the brand could potentially look like.
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