Lotus Exige V6 SC (Exige (S3?) - New Elise SC
Discussion
chevronb37 said:
Just back from its very brief appearance at JCT600 this evening. Looks well in the flesh - imagine a late V8 Esprit crossed with a Noble M12 with a good chunk of S2 Exige and you're most of the way there. I'm sure it's wonderful but still not sure I'd want to trade my S1 plus £30k for it. Looking forward to a test drive next year anyway. Judging by its departure it is a very, very quick car...
too add to this ... was first time I saw the car rolling, deeply impressed by the styling and proportions - frankly its a leap forward. i now really think that this thing just isn't comparable to a s1 or s2 exige at all.
it looks and sounds like a far far more serious prospect. basically it appears to be a different league/category car..... which is reflected in the price and running costs.
really looking forward to taking delivery... go lotus ... about time !
You can't compare it to an old Exige I don't think; especially not a rattly, smelly old shed like mine anyway. It's more of a Noble/Esprit V8/Porsche GT3 kind of machine. It sounds good with some reasonable pops and bangs and the way it went up the road left no doubt about how quick it is - proper little rocketship. If it changes direction like an old Exige with the composure of an Evora S at speed and the firepower of a Noble M12 GTO3-R then it will be amazing. Only downside is the interior is almost identical to the current Elise. I could live with that...
GTRene said:
it looks cool but de S does not need it and only causes drag then, the rally car uses it for another mather, cabin air I believe?
I know the cd would be fractionally worse but it makes it more of an exige somehow. I bet it's the easiest thing to have fitted should anyone be as daft as me. Though in reality I doubt I'd bother.Personally I love the fact that it's still a tiny car. The interior is all but identical to the existing car which is snug to say the least. Plenty of bigger heavier cars out there, not enough like this. The definitive pocket rocket.
Love the fact that it doesn't have power steering. I hope there isn't a compromise to pay for by using the elise tub which isn't half rigid (literally) as the Evora's. But that would have pushed the weight north of 1200kgs and probably required power steering to be developed. I just wonder if it will share the Evora's mighty composure? Matt Becker said it was blindingly fast on the track but very physical to drive, the steering loads up significantly in the corners, but that they were working on reducing steering effort.
I'm positively itching to drive one. I have every faith that it will be a missile and be very well recieved in the press. But I have a sneaking feeling that it will also make people, finally, appreciate the Evora a bit more too.
not sure, i think it probably should have PS.
its the real world with real world parking ect we live in not just on a track
and i intend to drive the thing most days of the week. lotus did a damn fine job on the power steering on the evora so it can be done absolutely no problem.
its probably more of an attempt to keep all weight and costs down in reality, no more than that.
its the real world with real world parking ect we live in not just on a track
and i intend to drive the thing most days of the week. lotus did a damn fine job on the power steering on the evora so it can be done absolutely no problem. its probably more of an attempt to keep all weight and costs down in reality, no more than that.
The Pits said:
Love the fact that it doesn't have power steering............. but that they were working on reducing steering effort.
Edited by bobo on Friday 18th November 13:16
Edited by bobo on Friday 18th November 13:17
I haven't driven an Evora, but I must say I've never driven a car with power steering as good as the Elise's unassisted set up, and it's not something you can only appreciate on track. I'd have thought that if what one wants is something better optimised for commuting, there is always the Evora or plenty of choice from Porsche?
i would suggest you go drive an evora .... that was the benchmark reason why i made the point.
you are also comparing apples and pears - whilst the s1 is fine without ps, the exige v6 uses more substantial rubber, has a far wider front track and is far more heavy, I haven't driven the v6 but I did also hear the comments by the chap from lotus.
you are also comparing apples and pears - whilst the s1 is fine without ps, the exige v6 uses more substantial rubber, has a far wider front track and is far more heavy, I haven't driven the v6 but I did also hear the comments by the chap from lotus.
otolith said:
I haven't driven an Evora, but I must say I've never driven a car with power steering as good as the Elise's unassisted set up, and it's not something you can only appreciate on track. I'd have thought that if what one wants is something better optimised for commuting, there is always the Evora or plenty of choice from Porsche?
Edited by bobo on Friday 18th November 15:49
Targarama said:
I like this. A lot.
How big is the boot?
Any more interior shots?
Is aircon an option?
Coming from a sissy TVR I need to know these things
- Boot is smaller than S2 Elise/Exige but properly formed unlike as S1 Exige.How big is the boot?
Any more interior shots?
Is aircon an option?
Coming from a sissy TVR I need to know these things
- Interior is identical to S2 revised interior. This one had a fire extinguisher and rotary dial for TC/throttle settings.
- No idea. I'd imagine so. I wouldn't worry, mine doesn't work and even allowing for the enormous build-up of cabin fumes, I've only nearly passed out once from the heat...
Apparently roof is identical to an S2 Exige so a roof scoop should be easy. The induction is from the N/S vent behind the passenger door so no justification there. Technician at JCT suggested the scoop on the R-GT might just be to feed cool air into the cabin. With a little hit/miss vent on there, that could be quite a cool track feature...
chevronb37 said:
Apparently roof is identical to an S2 Exige so a roof scoop should be easy.
I think you mean S2 Elise, which is partly right as the outer skin is identical. However, the inner panel is different to cope with its higher top speed. So, if someone plans to retro fit the old Exige hardtop (with scoop), best limit your top speed.Dainty Ankles said:
chevronb37 said:
Apparently roof is identical to an S2 Exige so a roof scoop should be easy.
I think you mean S2 Elise, which is partly right as the outer skin is identical. However, the inner panel is different to cope with its higher top speed. So, if someone plans to retro fit the old Exige hardtop (with scoop), best limit your top speed.Quite amusing then how it looked exactly like a standard hardtop..
Also why would the inner skin need to be strengthened, where as a cup 260 doesn't.
Curious dainty ankles, jim/jaws do you have insider info.??. Especially as the car is not currently in production, just undergoing development/testing etc.
Also why would the inner skin need to be strengthened, where as a cup 260 doesn't.
Curious dainty ankles, jim/jaws do you have insider info.??. Especially as the car is not currently in production, just undergoing development/testing etc.
Edited by Eat it up on Friday 18th November 23:20
chevronb37 said:
Dainty Ankles said:
chevronb37 said:
Apparently roof is identical to an S2 Exige so a roof scoop should be easy.
I think you mean S2 Elise, which is partly right as the outer skin is identical. However, the inner panel is different to cope with its higher top speed. So, if someone plans to retro fit the old Exige hardtop (with scoop), best limit your top speed.Having it on the S1 was a waste aswell IMO
Even the S2 scoop was pretty pointless and just a fasion fad to begin with, since it was already there lotus ended up making it marginally functional with the S2 cars, but ultimately the S2 would have been better in my mind if the scoop had never been there.
When lotus S/C the cars they would have likely put the cold air intercooler feed through the side scoops, rather then just unblocking the tiny scoop, giving better performance and aero, even when they finally added a proper sized scoop it still didn't seem to to the job right going from all the comments re intercoolers not getting enough air
I don't seriously want a roof scoop, heaven forbid one that had no function whatsoever.
but I do think it looked cool which unless your brain is made entirely out of silicon, is worth something.
What I'm trying to get at is there is more raw appeal in the spec and the way this car will perform and drive than in the way it looks for me. It's still an enormously cool looking car but its predecessor had otherworldly presence, especially for such a small car. I can't say they've topped the styling with the new car but in every other respect it's such a leap forward that it more than cancels it out.
I guess I'm more of a Russell Carr man than a Donato Coco man at the end of the day. Won't stop me from getting one of these cars though, not for a split second.
but I do think it looked cool which unless your brain is made entirely out of silicon, is worth something.
What I'm trying to get at is there is more raw appeal in the spec and the way this car will perform and drive than in the way it looks for me. It's still an enormously cool looking car but its predecessor had otherworldly presence, especially for such a small car. I can't say they've topped the styling with the new car but in every other respect it's such a leap forward that it more than cancels it out.
I guess I'm more of a Russell Carr man than a Donato Coco man at the end of the day. Won't stop me from getting one of these cars though, not for a split second.
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