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Preparing the 3D model
A new vocabulary for the decade
Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe replaced the conventional cigar shape with a sharp wedge. Radiators moved from the nose into the sidepods, reducing frontal area, while inboard front brakes lowered unsprung mass. Torsion-bar suspension and carefully managed weight distribution completed a package that remained competitive for years.
Fittipaldi's first world title
The 72D won five races with Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972. He became the youngest World Champion at the time, and Lotus secured the Constructors' Championship. The design's longevity was exceptional: successive 72 variants competed from 1970 through 1975.
This non-official visualization uses Dave Love SketchFab's model under CC BY 4.0. It is not an official Lotus scan. Hero photograph: Pop1, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Lotus, Ford, Cosworth, John Player Special and the displayed marks belong to their respective owners.