Thanks largely to its founder Colin Chapman, the name Lotus is synonymous with innovation. From humble beginnings in North London, Chapman and his cars went on to international acclaim via a succession of stunning road going vehicles and genius on the racing circuits of the world.

In this superb programme wonderful footage of the Seven, the Elite and the Elan; the Europa, Eclat and Exige deliver a heady mix of style and performance whilst the saloon 'specials' - Cortina, Sunbeam and Carlton evoke memories of motoring thrills both on and off the track.

Thanks to unprecedented access to the Lotus factory and its test track, you can also enjoy an exclusive look at the building of the new Lotus Elise II and testing with the awesome Esprit V8 and the new Elise 111S. On-board and track cams record the action. The GP era is not forgotten with Classic Team Lotus giving you a unique glimpse behind the scenes.

This is the story behind the famous green and yellow ACBC badge. High quality archive and modern footage, spanning 1952 to the present day, blend with an authoritative commentary to take you through fifty years of automotive adventure and innovation. It's a worthy salute to Lotus, truly the Best of British!