Lotus cars with highest top speed

Top 31 fastest Lotus cars in the world. Updated August 2025.

Top speed is, probably, the first performance metric that comes to mind when comparing fast cars.

Top speed depends on balance between engine power and aerodynamic drag - the more power and less drag, the higher the top speed.

High speed stability also matters, since too low downforce can lead to loss of control at speed.

In recent years high performance cars have been tailored for track performance, which, unavoidably, reduces top speed. Therefore the overall top speed is used less in supercar comparisons.

Despite this shift to increased downforce, modern supercars are faster than their predecessors - all thanks to dramatic increase in engine power over the past few decades.

# make & model Speed (mph)▼ Image
1. 1967 Lotus Type 49 224 Photo of 1967 Lotus Type 49
2. 2019 Lotus Evija 217 Photo of 2019 Lotus Evija
3. 2015 Lotus E23 Hybrid 217 Photo of 2015 Lotus E23 Hybrid
4. 1998 Lotus Elise GT1 Type 115 199 Photo of 1998 Lotus Elise GT1 Type 115
5. 2019 Lotus Evora GT 188 Photo of 2019 Lotus Evora GT
6. 2016 Lotus Evora 400 186 Photo of 2016 Lotus Evora 400
7. 2016 Lotus Evora Sport 410 185 Photo of 2016 Lotus Evora Sport 410
8. 2025 Lotus Emira Turbo SE 181 Photo of 2025 Lotus Emira Turbo SE
9. 2016 Lotus 3-Eleven Race 180 Photo of 2016 Lotus 3-Eleven Race
10. 2018 Lotus Exige 410 Sport 180 Photo of 2018 Lotus Exige 410 Sport
11. 2021 Lotus Emira 3.5 180 Photo of 2021 Lotus Emira 3.5
12. 2017 Lotus Exige Cup 430 180 Photo of 2017 Lotus Exige Cup 430
13. 1996 Lotus Esprit V8 179 Photo of 1996 Lotus Esprit V8
14. 2011 Lotus Evora S 178 Photo of 2011 Lotus Evora S
15. 2021 Lotus Exige Sport 420 178 Photo of 2021 Lotus Exige Sport 420
16. 1976 Lotus Type 77 177 Photo of 1976 Lotus Type 77
17. 1999 Lotus Esprit Sport 350 175 Photo of 1999 Lotus Esprit Sport 350
18. 2017 Lotus Exige Cup 380 174 Photo of 2017 Lotus Exige Cup 380
19. Lotus Exige S 173 Photo of Lotus Exige S
20. 2013 Lotus Exige V6 Cup 170 Photo of 2013 Lotus Exige V6 Cup
21. 1995 Lotus Esprit S4s 169 Photo of 1995 Lotus Esprit S4s
22. 1993 Lotus Esprit S4 169 Photo of 1993 Lotus Esprit S4
23. 1993 Lotus Esprit Sport 300 169 Photo of 1993 Lotus Esprit Sport 300
24. 1990 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE 168 Photo of 1990 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE
25. 2023 Lotus Eletre R 165 Photo of 2023 Lotus Eletre R
26. 2023 Lotus Emira Turbo 165 Photo of 2023 Lotus Emira Turbo
27. 1996 Lotus Esprit GT3 164 Photo of 1996 Lotus Esprit GT3
28. 1990 Lotus Esprit X180R 163 Photo of 1990 Lotus Esprit X180R
29. 2010 Lotus Evora 163 Photo of 2010 Lotus Evora
30. 1995 Lotus Esprit S4s 162 Photo of 1995 Lotus Esprit S4s
31. 2023 Lotus Eletre 600 160 Photo of 2023 Lotus Eletre 600

Sources

FastestLaps.com (1, 3, 4, 6, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 28), SupercarLists.com estimate* (2), Car & Driver (5, 8), Sport Auto France (7), Sport Auto (9, 14, 18, 21, 22, 29), Auto Bild Sportscars (10, 11), Motortrend (13), Echappement (15), Autocar (23, 25), Auto Plus (24), AutoTopNL (26), Car Magazine (27), Automobil Revue (30, 31)

List authored by Christian Zelcs. Last updated on 08/20/2025, last addition - Lotus Esprit S4s.

*Estimates are based on factual test results from reputable sources.