The Lotus ELAN is a two-seater sports car that was produced by the British manufacturer Lotus Cars between 1962 and 1975. It was the first Lotus road car to use a steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass body. The ELAN was designed as a roadster, but it was also available as a coupe version from 1965. It was powered by a 1.6 litre twin-cam engine and featured independent suspension all round. The ELAN was praised for its handling and performance, and it was a popular choice among sports car enthusiasts.