The notorious Lotus Carlton that once sparked outrage due to its speed is now in Jay Leno's hands
Published on Oct 15, 2025 at 5:37 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 15, 2025 at 5:37 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Jay Leno managed to get his hands on this incredibly rare 1992 Lotus Carlton.
Known as a ‘super saloon’ in the UK – so basically a high-performance sedan – the Lotus Carlton was never officially sold in the US.
It’s an interesting car, mostly because it combines various elements from GM as well as Lotus, and also because high-performance sedans that aren’t EVs or hybrids are rare these days.
And it was so fast that the British government actually tried to ban it.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
A rare beast that was almost ‘illegal’
In the latest video uploaded to Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel, Leno got behind the wheel of the Lotus Carlton.
Built by Lotus in partnership with GM, the Carlton incorporated several elements from other ex-GM brands, and it was initially designed to use a Chevy Corvette V8.
The problem was the V8 didn’t fit, and so Lotus and GM opted for a smaller six-cylinder unit with 377hp.
The engine may have been smaller, but it was still plenty fast.
When it first came out, this car was so powerful that the British government tried to ban it.
That’s because most cars were limited to 155mph back then, and this one wasn’t.
Fortunately, they didn’t actually ban it in the end.
Jay Leno often features cars he doesn’t own
Jay Leno often features cars he doesn’t actually own on this channel.
He’s often featured Ferraris that he doesn’t own, and he once made a video about ‘The Beast’, the Secret Service limo used by the US President.
Leno is arguably one of the most revered celebrity car collectors in the world.
His collection has a bit of everything, including fire trucks and one-off prototypes.
In total, it’s worth at least eight figures.
Also, fun fact, he has the most googled car collection in the world.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
