RE: The New Era Of Lotus - Revealed
Discussion
bakerjuk said:
I have put as much effort as the designers into each of my new Lotus models.
Love that design for your new Elan, and delighted to see someone prepared to get away from the clichéd angular design cues that everyone is using these days. I'll bet that basic design could run for 10 years or more if they build it 
Edited by RichB on Thursday 30th September 21:35
What a beautiful surprise!
I see what they're doing with their mid-engined models though - I bet the Elan will ultimately replace the Evora, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Elise, Elan and Esprit all evolved from the Evora and shared much of their internal structures, forming a three-tier range of sports and supercars that will probably be very cost-effective to build.
Nice to see them coming in with a worthy successor to the Lotus Carlton with the Eterne, but I do like the idea of Lotus-tuned mainstream models, as princes among hot hatches and saloons, to give some GTIs some bloody noses. I hope they won't abandon that line of engineering.
I see what they're doing with their mid-engined models though - I bet the Elan will ultimately replace the Evora, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Elise, Elan and Esprit all evolved from the Evora and shared much of their internal structures, forming a three-tier range of sports and supercars that will probably be very cost-effective to build.
Nice to see them coming in with a worthy successor to the Lotus Carlton with the Eterne, but I do like the idea of Lotus-tuned mainstream models, as princes among hot hatches and saloons, to give some GTIs some bloody noses. I hope they won't abandon that line of engineering.
Can someone explain to me how the Elan and the Evora are going to sit together in the range?
oh, I see - one is a mid-engined 2+2 sports car and the other is a .........er.........!? Oh, perhaps I don't see.
And just as the concept of low weight, low carbon footprint and relatively low speed driving thrills really comes in to vogue as a result of environmental concerns and the "age of austerity" where conspicuous consumption is frowned upon, Lotus decide to give the car that for much of its life (and the majority of its sales) has been powered by engines with 115bhp to 160-odd bhp a makeover with a 300bhp motor! It's like they are going to join the German marques bhp wars 10 years late.
New Esprit - fair enough, front engined GT again, I can see the point. The Elise should be a relatively low powered, tactile delight, why not put the effort in to making it the 50 or 60 mpg sports car?
The only saving grace is, this is Lotus, so if one of them actually ever goes on sale it will be a miracle!
oh, I see - one is a mid-engined 2+2 sports car and the other is a .........er.........!? Oh, perhaps I don't see.
And just as the concept of low weight, low carbon footprint and relatively low speed driving thrills really comes in to vogue as a result of environmental concerns and the "age of austerity" where conspicuous consumption is frowned upon, Lotus decide to give the car that for much of its life (and the majority of its sales) has been powered by engines with 115bhp to 160-odd bhp a makeover with a 300bhp motor! It's like they are going to join the German marques bhp wars 10 years late.
New Esprit - fair enough, front engined GT again, I can see the point. The Elise should be a relatively low powered, tactile delight, why not put the effort in to making it the 50 or 60 mpg sports car?
The only saving grace is, this is Lotus, so if one of them actually ever goes on sale it will be a miracle!
So in summary:
A British car company (admittedly foreign owned) secures the funding to develop a range of cars, all of which have the 'potential' to be excellent for guys like us. A little something for everyone.
What's not to like? Porsche et al have had this market to themselves for far too long (and have done virutally nothing to advance it other than pumping out endless variants of the same warmed-over product. Seen the speedster? Jesus wept).
I say 'best of British luck' to Lotus and look forward to seeing whether they fulfill the promise. If nothing else, it might just give Porsche the kick up the arse to finally develop something genuinely NEW.
Looks like my Exige residuals just got a bump?
A British car company (admittedly foreign owned) secures the funding to develop a range of cars, all of which have the 'potential' to be excellent for guys like us. A little something for everyone.
What's not to like? Porsche et al have had this market to themselves for far too long (and have done virutally nothing to advance it other than pumping out endless variants of the same warmed-over product. Seen the speedster? Jesus wept).
I say 'best of British luck' to Lotus and look forward to seeing whether they fulfill the promise. If nothing else, it might just give Porsche the kick up the arse to finally develop something genuinely NEW.
Looks like my Exige residuals just got a bump?
Some nice ideas and nice design language, however all look very similar - how are you going to differentiate the look of your £100k Esprit from your cheaper Elan etc.?!? 4 MR cars from one platform doesn't strike me as the best way to appeal to a breadth of punters...
Also, this has to be one of the best first posts in PH history:-
(I also think plundering the 'Elan' name the way they have is a little off...to me the Elan was always a beautiful small, light, lithe FR machine...)
Also, this has to be one of the best first posts in PH history:-
mverboom said:
So where is that light weight, easy to maintain car, with a light and small, maybe eco friendly engine?
1095kg for an Elise??
Not what I expected from Lotus..
Mark
Agree 100% - 1,100kg is f'n awful, even if it has got 300bhp. It'll cost c.£35-40k basic and will cost more to run and insure than even a 111R does now. Given the original Elise was <750kg soaking wet, this is a real disappointment, and shouldn't bear the Elise name.1095kg for an Elise??
Not what I expected from Lotus..
Mark
(I also think plundering the 'Elan' name the way they have is a little off...to me the Elan was always a beautiful small, light, lithe FR machine...)
d, you should be locked up you sicko scum
havoc said:
Some nice ideas and nice design language, however all look very similar - how are you going to differentiate the look of your £100k Esprit from your cheaper Elan etc.?!? 4 MR cars from one platform doesn't strike me as the best way to appeal to a breadth of punters...
Also, this has to be one of the best first posts in PH history:-
(I also think plundering the 'Elan' name the way they have is a little off...to me the Elan was always a beautiful small, light, lithe FR machine...)
If you're that bothered, won't you just buy a second hand Elise\Exige? Just because new cars are coming out doesn't mean the old ones are going out of circulation. Also, this has to be one of the best first posts in PH history:-
mverboom said:
So where is that light weight, easy to maintain car, with a light and small, maybe eco friendly engine?
1095kg for an Elise??
Not what I expected from Lotus..
Mark
Agree 100% - 1,100kg is f'n awful, even if it has got 300bhp. It'll cost c.£35-40k basic and will cost more to run and insure than even a 111R does now. Given the original Elise was <750kg soaking wet, this is a real disappointment, and shouldn't bear the Elise name.1095kg for an Elise??
Not what I expected from Lotus..
Mark
(I also think plundering the 'Elan' name the way they have is a little off...to me the Elan was always a beautiful small, light, lithe FR machine...)
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Lotus have been making multiple iterations of the car you describe for ages and are not making any money. Time for something new.
I'm in love.So the Evora coupe gets a shelf life of 5 yrs? Im sure the Evora drop top will continue alongside the Elan when it comes in.
Evolution of Evora chassis or new?
The Eterne/Elite chassis will have to be a new chassis design.
Given their range extender engines, Im not sure why we need 600pony+ V8s? Surely if you take the Toyota 6 out to 4ltr and 440ponies or so, keep that for the smaller stuff and with the high end stuff introduce your battery tech and then the range extender. Gives them range and performance for the social class with the dosh to buy and the social conscience.
Still Danny Bahar, let nobody say he aint a man with a plan!
Evolution of Evora chassis or new?
The Eterne/Elite chassis will have to be a new chassis design.
Given their range extender engines, Im not sure why we need 600pony+ V8s? Surely if you take the Toyota 6 out to 4ltr and 440ponies or so, keep that for the smaller stuff and with the high end stuff introduce your battery tech and then the range extender. Gives them range and performance for the social class with the dosh to buy and the social conscience.
Still Danny Bahar, let nobody say he aint a man with a plan!
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