Quick answer
The 1982 Lotus Elite, the latest model year on record, is 179.5″ long, 71.7″ wide and 47.2″ tall on a 97.6″ wheelbase. At 15 ft it fits a standard garage and leaves 3 ft spare in an 18-foot street space.
Every Lotus Elite generation, measured
| Generation | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 179.5″ | 71.7″ | 47.6″ | 97.6″ | 2,161 lb |
| 1981–1982 | 179.5″ | 71.7″ | 47.2″ | 97.6″ | — |
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada
Elite year by year
| Model year | Length | Width | Wheelbase | Curb weight | Body styles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 179.5″ | 71.7″ | 97.6″ | 1 | |
| 1981 | 179.5″ | 71.7″ | 97.6″ | 1 | |
| 1978 | 179.5″ | 71.7″ | 97.6″ | 1 |
ROWS 3·SOURCE Transport Canada vehicle specifications
Will a Elite fit
| Space | Typical size | This car | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single garage | 20 ft deep | 15 ft | Fits, with room to open the door |
| Street parking space | 18 ft | 15 ft | Fits comfortably |
| Standard parking bay width | 8.5 ft wide | 6 ft | Room to open doors both sides |
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar, computed from vehicle dimensions
Against cars of the same length
Among the 1,013 cars within 10″ of its length, the Elite has a shorter wheelbase than 92%.
| Measure | This car | Typical of 1,013 cars within 10″ of its length | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 71.7″ | 71.3″ | +0.4″ |
| Wheelbase | 97.6″ | 105.5″ | −7.9″ |
ROWS 2·SOURCE ForCar, computed across vehicles of similar length
Elite against its rivals
| Model | Model year | Length | Width | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Elite (this car) | 1982 | 179.5″ | 71.7″ | — |
| Renault Fuego | 1982 | 176.8″ | 66.5″ | 2,385 lb |
| Ford E-100 | 1982 | 187″ | 79.9″ | — |
| Volkswagen Dasher | 1981 | 173.2″ | 63.8″ | — |
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada; rivals: same EPA class and body, most searched
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 1982 Elite bigger than the 1981?
No. The 1982 and 1981 Elite are the same size.
Which is bigger, the Elite or the Renault Fuego?
The 1982 Renault Fuego is 2.7″ shorter than the 1982 Elite.
Dimensions from NHTSA vPIC and Transport Canada vehicle records, manufacturer-declared for 3 Elite model years, 1978 to 1982. Metric values converted to inches and pounds; generation boundaries are estimated from changes in size (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.
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