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​   By 1966 Colin "Chubby" Chapman had seen the writing on the wall. So Lotus created the type 50, or Elan +2, or the Lotus +2 or simply the +2.
   Evidently the internal mandate was ""must be capable of transporting two adults and two children 1,000 miles in comfort with their luggage".
   Which also implied a new dimension for Lotus road cars, luxury.

   ​   To expand interior space the Elan's backbone chassis was extended and widened.
  Wheelbase went from 84" to 96".
  Width from 56" to 66"
  Height from 45" to 47"
  Weight went from 1500 to 1950lbs.
  While all this may seem to imply a 'less than' Elan, the road tests of the time and the classic articles since speak to the Lotus tuned suspension and engine as being quite capable in  the Lotus tradition, i.e. Startling.