Any front-drive Elan is rare, let alone the Korean-made one...
The rise of Hyundai and Kia over the past decade has been genuinely extraordinary to witness. Not so long ago cars from either brand were recommendable for their low RRPs and very competitive warranties; now Hyundai and Kia are making some of the best EVs on the market, as well as the most entertaining hot hatches. It’s been quite some transformation - and they’re a long way from done yet.
The ambition in Korea to mix it with the elite had been there virtually from the beginning. Who could forget the Hyundai Accent WRC, back when rallying wasmotorsport to show off your wares to the world? Cars like the Hyundai XG30 and Kia Magentis showed a desire to create luxurious saloons, and the Veloster demonstrated a willingness to think a little differently about the sports car. But it wasn’t the first time…? Of course you do.
There was just one small issue - GM wouldn’t let Kia use any of its parts to build the Elan. The Korean government was keen for its workers to have more to do than put new badges on a Lotus, too. So out went the Isuzu turbo engine, to be replaced by Kia’s own 1.8-litre, naturally aspirated unit. There was 150hp on tap, compared to around 160hp for the smaller capacity turbo, plus some changes to the interior and rear lights.
To find one over here then is a proper turn-up. This is Britain, after all, home of the original Lotus Elan - it’s hardly like the Kia version sold in Asia was some forbidden fruit buyers were desperate for over here. Very few were made in the first instance and they were all assembled by the end of the 20th century. A long time ago, basically. Kia UK has one on its heritage fleet, and a rumour persisted of a second car in the country - guess this must be it.
Yes, it’s left-hand drive - but there never seems to be a problem for the cool classics everybody likes. And, yes, you’ll have to explain to everyone that it really is a Kia and not a Lotus. The MX-5 will be brought up by a wise guy at some point, too. But for just £7,995, it seems hard to argue with the Kia Elan as a rare, interesting, entertaining classic sports car. Must be your cheapest way into a Lotus nowadays, too.
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