Lotus recalls elise sports cars in U.S. For oil-line leaks

Group Lotus Plc, the British sports- car maker, is recalling 5,037 Elise cars in the U.S. because oil-cooler lines may detach, causing oil to spray and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.

Group Lotus, a unit of Proton Holdings Bhd., announced the recall of the model year 2005 and 2006 cars today on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. Proton is Malaysia’s state-controlled carmaker.

New Lotus Elise cars sell for as much as $54,990, according to Motor Trend magazine. The recalled cars may have oil spray from detached lines onto tires or into the engine compartment, the auto-safety regulator said.

Lotus’s communications staff didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment.