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Lotus Elise celebrates 75 years of Lotus Cars at the Stelvio Pass
The breathtaking scenery of the Stelvio Pass served as the backdrop for the gathering that celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Lotus Cars automotive company. On the historic street where the Lotus Elise was tested, a tour took place featuring numerous enthusiasts from around the world. In Trafoi, the STELVIO-Hotels owned by the Thöni family hosted the participants in the meeting organized by Elisa Artioli, the granddaughter of former Bugatti and Lotus owner Romano Artioli, who in 1995 named the famous Lotus Elise after her.
Trafoi (BZ), September 2023 – From a carriage and horse shelter to the starting point of the “Highest Automobile Race in the World Trafoi-Stelvio,” the history of the Bella Vista hotel is closely intertwined with that of the Stelvio Pass road and the cars that have traversed its hairpin turns. This is why Elisa Artioli chose the Thöni family’s family hotel, located on the 46th hairpin turn of the pass, as the base for the Stelvio 2023 Lotus Tour, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the British automotive company founded in 1948 by Colin Chapman.
Lotus wanted to mark this significant anniversary with a series of events worldwide, including the unveiling of the brand-new electric Hyper-GT, the Lotus Emeya, officially introduced to the public on Friday, September 7.
Among the numerous events there was also the gathering at the Stelvio Pass, of which Lotus Italia is the official partner, marking a grand return to this marvelous region. In fact, the Stelvio Pass, connecting the Valtellina to the Val Venosta, was chosen in the ’90s as the testing ground for the then-innovative MMC brakes of the Lotus Elise under extreme road conditions.
“Elise” like Elisa Artioli, whose grandfather, Romano Artioli, the CEO of Lotus Cars from 1993 to 1996 and in 1995 chose to name the brand-new supercar after his youngest granddaughter. Memorable are the images of the car’s official unveiling in Frankfurt, with young Elisa sitting in the vehicle wearing a shirt that read “I am Elise.”
“The first Lotus rally on the Stelvio took place in 1999 to celebrate the anniversary of the presentation of the Lotus Elise,” explains Stephan Gander of Stelvio Hotels. “This year, in honor of Lotus’s anniversary, Elisa Artioli of Delightful Driving decided to revive that event at the STELVIO Hotels owned by the Thöni family, inviting Lotus owners from around the world to once again drive the thrilling hairpin turns of the Stelvio.”
During the automotive meeting on the Stelvio, Lotus Italia also presented the Eletre electric Hyper-SUV, which was launched on the market a few months ago. “For us, it was truly an honor to host Elisa Artioli of Delightful Driving, Lotus Italy, and over 90 participants in this event at the Stelvio Hotels here in Trafoi, with the hope of celebrating many more such important occasions together,” the Thöni family expressed.
Words and Photos by Delightful Driving
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