Distinctiveness
The corporate grille is a very dominant feature in the models that were produced in 1981 and 1982.
The door mirrors were new, the fuel tank larger. The headlamps were larger too. Torque and power had been increased. No wonder a larger tank had been installed to enable the engine meet these power needs.
A drop in sales and stocks was rather difficult to explain. By this time, the only available color was moonstone blue. Customers seemed to prefer the silver variety which had black stripes. The best strategy to turn things round was to make use of internal trimming and changing the color schemes used on the exterior. In total, 56 cars were converted. After missing out on the DDU number plate numbering system, the sporadic system involves numbers 1 to 50 was resorted to.
Delivery statistics reveal that Lotus must have manufactured a total of 2298 cars, 1150 of which were right-hand drive models. On the other hand 2308 were made by Talbot. The arising difference can be accounted for by considering the 10 rally cars which were made at the Department of Humber Road Competitions in the period of time between 1980 and 1982. These cars were made from the body shells provided to the Humber Road Competition's manufacturers.