The Lotus Carlton, a sleeper supercar of the late 1980s, belied its unassuming exterior with a heart-stopping performance.
Based on the Vauxhall Carlton (or Opel Omega in some markets), this four-door sedan was transformed by Lotus into a high-performance machine capable of rivaling supercars.
Engine and Performance
Under the hood featured a heavily modified 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine.
This powerplant, mated to a six-speed manual transmission sourced from the Corvette ZR1, produced an impressive 377 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque. The result was a blistering 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 176 mph, making it one of the fastest production sedans of its time.
Handling and Chassis
Lotus engineers completely overhauled the Carlton’s suspension, brakes, and steering to match the car’s increased performance. Larger brakes, uprated suspension components, and a revised aerodynamic package ensured that the Carlton handled as well as it went.
Lotus Carlton Design and Styling
While the exterior of the Lotus Carlton retained the understated appearance of the standard Vauxhall Carlton, subtle modifications, such as a larger front bumper, side skirts, and a rear spoiler, hinted at the car’s performance potential.
