RE: Auto 'box for Lotus Exige S
Discussion
Stick to what your good at lotus. Elise + Exige = Track focused fun to drive cars. Forget the daily driver market its not your seen. The Cayman's got that market sown up and has the prestige to boot.
Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
braddo said:
I find it incredible that this auto gearbox Lotus is using delivers both better economy and 0-60 performance than a manual. 
I'm not convinced it will in reality. I believe the Exige lacks "economy focused" change-up lights so it's forced into the default gears on the NDEC cycle which, with a relatively close-ratio gearbox, are usually too low for optimal economy. The auto can pick whatever gear it wants. I doubt many Exiges will cover enough miles for economy to be much of a concern, though.
Edited by kambites on Friday 24th October 10:59
Wkotuning said:
Stick to what your good at lotus. Elise + Exige = Track focused fun to drive cars. Forget the daily driver market its not your seen. The Cayman's got that market sown up and has the prestige to boot.
Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
No car company could survive with that approach in the modern market. To survive you need to try and cater for as many as possible whilst still attempting to stay true to your Brand. It is a difficult balancing act.Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
If anything Lotus need Evora more as it probably has higher margins but unit sold.
Regards,
MyCC.
otolith said:
It's not questioning someone's ability, it's just getting a bit of context for their opinion. Looking at the kind of cars a person likes enough to purchase, you can better understand where they are coming from with their comments on the design of other cars - the schools of design they like, whether they prefer modern or classic cars, whether they have a 1-series, white stick and a Labrador retriever, etc.
Well I have 2 cars, one has been voted the most beautiful car ever made, and the other, especially on here is often cited as one of the ugliest ever made.Not sure what that says about me :-) Design is a totally subjective thing.
Wkotuning said:
Stick to what your good at lotus. Elise + Exige = Track focused fun to drive cars. Forget the daily driver market its not your seen. The Cayman's got that market sown up and has the prestige to boot.
Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
Similar advice could have been given to Porsche with regard to their entry into the SUV market some years ago. JLR, BMW and Mercedes appeared to have that market sown up.Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
Die-hards would argue it has diluted Porsche's 'brand' but just look at the effect on their profitability and market presence. Hasn't hurt their sports car sales either.
Lotus need to be flexible enough to respond to a changing global market. As such, this is a good move if executed well.
Zoin said:
Wkotuning said:
Stick to what your good at lotus. Elise + Exige = Track focused fun to drive cars. Forget the daily driver market its not your seen. The Cayman's got that market sown up and has the prestige to boot.
Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
Similar advice could have been given to Porsche with regard to their entry into the SUV market some years ago. JLR, BMW and Mercedes appeared to have that market sown up.Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
Die-hards would argue it has diluted Porsche's 'brand' but just look at the effect on their profitability and market presence. Hasn't hurt their sports car sales either.
Lotus need to be flexible enough to respond to a changing global market. As such, this is a good move if executed well.
On the automatic thing, I think it is a good idea. Maybe not the best gearbox to use in the Exige, but if it brings in some more sales, then great. The 991 GT3 is auto (albeit a good one) and you don't see many people moaning about missing the manual. Same with the F-Type. The market seems to want auto these days
Wkotuning said:
Stick to what your good at lotus. Elise + Exige = Track focused fun to drive cars. Forget the daily driver market its not your seen. The Cayman's got that market sown up and has the prestige to boot.
Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
Errrmm, they stopped the Europa years ago.Drop the Evora/Europa and any others, your diluting the brand. Concentrate on the Elise / Exige, scale down production just to these two in all markets and you'll find profitability and stronger market presence from it.
I have no problems with Lotus sticking an "auto" into a Lotus as strangely enough there are probably quite a few people who would want a 2 peddled Exige (weird I know but then it takes all sorts).
However if you are going to make an Exige with two pedals, then at least do it properly. A nice modern paddle shift\dsg type box would have done wonders and actually suited the nature of this car to a tee, a torque converter will not, no matter how much PR noise you make about changing it's characteristic so it's a bit a of a half ar*ed job if you ask me.
I know they are a bit strapped for cash but do it properly or don't do it at all.
However if you are going to make an Exige with two pedals, then at least do it properly. A nice modern paddle shift\dsg type box would have done wonders and actually suited the nature of this car to a tee, a torque converter will not, no matter how much PR noise you make about changing it's characteristic so it's a bit a of a half ar*ed job if you ask me.
I know they are a bit strapped for cash but do it properly or don't do it at all.
kbf1981 said:
dapearson said:
That looks hideous for a start, and with a torque converter auto??!! I'm out.
You're blind. One of the best looking cars on sale imho, even with granted bias.I'd love one but not with a slushbox though, however well 'calibrated' it is.
A proper sequential shift would be interesting though.
I really do want Lotus to survive and go onto bigger and better things. However the company cannot survive building 7 Exiges and 10 Evoras per week (especially when their sales targets are 35 and 70 respectively). As I've said before, they have the orders but not the cash-flow to fulfil them. They may have serious problems if the Zenos E10 takes off.
Happy days. I'm an amputee and have to use hand controls, as much as I wanted a new Exige I didn't think I'd ever be able to get one as they are manual only. The more cars that have an auto option the happier I am.
I don't see how anyone could think this is anything other than a good thing. It will hopefully mean Lotus sell more cars, make more money and those that want a manual can still buy one.
I don't see how anyone could think this is anything other than a good thing. It will hopefully mean Lotus sell more cars, make more money and those that want a manual can still buy one.
like it or not, Lotus need new models, new customers, and new markets and this is an economic way of doing that.
personally, i'd stick with my simple standard old elise s2 but, if i lived in a city, was a bit older, or could not drive a 3-pedal car, and had the money, this would be right up there near the top of the list.
Lotus can't afford to develop a fancy dual-clutch system, and this opens up part of that market. day-to day I barely use 50% of the elise's ability, let alone using a much more capable car. so in real terms, and auto exige is going to be a very usable car. and Lotus need usable cars to survive.
personally, i'd stick with my simple standard old elise s2 but, if i lived in a city, was a bit older, or could not drive a 3-pedal car, and had the money, this would be right up there near the top of the list.
Lotus can't afford to develop a fancy dual-clutch system, and this opens up part of that market. day-to day I barely use 50% of the elise's ability, let alone using a much more capable car. so in real terms, and auto exige is going to be a very usable car. and Lotus need usable cars to survive.
Europa1 said:
kambites said:
dapearson said:
That looks hideous for a start, and with a torque converter auto??!! I'm out.
Is it just me, or is that faintly ironic coming from someone with a 1-series? 
Sorry, I hate it when people question other people's ability to comment on a car because of what they own. I just found it faintly amusing.
Edited by kambites on Friday 24th October 09:43
Horses for courses. I prefer the s1 and s2.
I think this is really good! I had an Excige S for the summer in 2011 and have got to say it was one of the most fun cars I've owned. Adding a good auto box with a quick change that does what you want when you need it to will be excellent (presuming that's what they are fitting). Last year me and a few mates went to Donnington I was in my DCT M3 on a 2012 and my friend had the same car but with manual on a 2011. My friend bought his car as a manual as he has done a lot of racing driving so believed auto to be the devil box but after doing 2 laps in my car he said he wished he had bought the DCT as he couldn't even nearly change gear as quick as it could in manual mode. I think a lot of people come up with the old "drivers car" thing but id question many people if they have actually driven a car with one of these new gearboxes as most people I test drive all say they would buy the auto in fast cars nowadays due to auto blip and the quick changes.... I just hope they have got this right as Lotus make a great car in my opinion.
j90gta said:
I really do want Lotus to survive and go onto bigger and better things. However the company cannot survive building 7 Exiges and 10 Evoras per week (especially when their sales targets are 35 and 70 respectively). As I've said before, they have the orders but not the cash-flow to fulfil them. They may have serious problems if the Zenos E10 takes off.
To be fair.... if they can't put a roof on the zenos it has a pretty tiny market. I'd never ever buy a car with no roof as when could you actually drive it in the UK? You need a working roof.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff