1984 Lotus Etna Concept

The Lotus Etna concept car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign and introduced in 1984 at the British International Motor Show. It was a true concept in that it tested a new and low drag coefficient design, a new engine, and was packed with technology.

The rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle was powered by a 4.0-liter Lotus (Type 909) V8 engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission. It had a wedge-shaped hatchback design that was a familiar family resemblance to the Lotus Excel (but built on a slightly longer wheelbase platform of 99 inches compared to the Excel's 97.7 inches; the Esprit had a 96-inch wheelbase). The Excel had a slightly longer length at 173.15 inches compared to the Etna's size of 168 inches (the Esprit measured 167.7 inches).

The Lotus Etna supercar was based on the Lotus Esprit, had a sleek design with a drag coefficient of 0.29, and a Perspex upper body. Lotus claimed the Etna was installed with a computer-controlled active ride, with anti-dive, anti-roll, and anti-squat. It had a self-leveling system, an adjustable height setting, anti-lock brakes, traction control, active noise canceling, and engine management.

The Type 909 engine was formed by pairing two slant-four Type 907 engines, giving them a new block and new double overhead camshaft heads (albeit the DOHC heads were similar to the fours). Engine output was reported as 335 horsepower at 6,500 RPM with 295 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 RPM.

Rather than entering production as a new model, the Etna was designed as a test-bed for the technology, engine, and design. It was intended to promote the company's other models and stir interest in the company. The project's fate was ultimately dictated by the company's finances and was soon relegated to the back burner, soon fading away completely when General Motors bought out Lotus in 1986. The economy at the time was another factor in the project's demise, as the market favored fuel-sipping engines compared to larger and more potent units. In the end, what was needed was an inexpensive sports car rather than an exotic sports car. Lotus responded appropriately with the introduction of the front-wheel drive Elan of 1989.

Although many concept cars are destroyed, the Etna was relegated to storage, where it would remain until 2001, when it was brought to the Coys auction and acquired by Olav Glasius. After many years of neglect, the Etna needed a refreshening. Glasius enlisted ex-Lotus engineer and restoration specialist Ken Myers to resurrect the concept car, restoring it to its 1984 condition.

Beyond its significance of being a concept car, the Lotus Etna retains one of only two Type 909 engines ever produced. This realization was pivotal during the restoration process, as the Etna had been built using a combination of clay, wood, and fiberglass. Although it was not a functioning prototype, had finances allowed, perhaps that was the goal.

The Type 909 engine and the appeal of making the Etna road-worthy convinced Glasius to make the Etna diveable. This daunting task, assigned to Myers, meant making the engine runnable, sourcing suspension components from an Esprit, removing any remaining clay or wood, creating a new Perspex canopy, and ensuring it was safe to be driven.

Upon completion, the car was driven on parade laps at Goodwood.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2023