The 2006 Europa was the Lotus interpretation of a GT car.
Unfortunately, its interpretation was not quite what a GT owner would expect from a long-journey vehicle.

Lotus Europa was a big name in the automotive industry. The first model was produced between 1966 and 1975. It was a nimble car with a small engine placed in the middle. In its top-spec model weighted just 710 kilos (1570 lbs). It was a true sports car and it was manufactured in 9230 units. But it wasn’t a GT and it didn’t have a sequel until 2006. The successor for the original Europa was the Esprit, which was closer to a GT vehicle.

The 2006 Europa was based on the light platform shared with the Elise. It was a closed coupe and it was claimed to be a GT. The car-maker stated that it lowered the side sills and installed a higher roof to allow better access inside the cabin. The unusual look of the headlights and the taillights were different than those on the Elise. The side air-intake for the engine compartment was similar to the one found on the Elise.

The interior was fitted with some sound-proofing materials, leather seats, and air-conditioning. That kind o amenities were not installed on the Elise, which was kept lighter. But still, the interior looked almost like a stripped-down premium-coupe. Unlike the Elise, it featured a bigger trunk, for long journeys.

The engine was a carry-over from Opel. It was a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit that produced 200 hp. It was mated to a standard 6-speed manual and there was no automatic gearbox on the options list.