Monday 26th November 2007
Elise Limited Edition
40th anniversary Elise won't be available in UK
The future of Lotus may be bright but it certainly is orange, if this new Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition is anything to go by.
The limited edition model has been created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of production at the Lotus factory in Hethel.
Oddly the cars will be going out to just a few European countries but won’t be available officially in the UK, and Lotus today said there will not be a similar product for the home market.
Anyone hoping that this landmark would be celebrated with something lighter and faster will be disappointed.
The special edition has a hardtop and lots of extra paint by the looks of things, with everything from the rear diffuser to the brake callipers getting an extra coat.
The car itself comes in ‘Burnt Orange’ paint and there is leather trim with orange stitching.
There is a build plate, country specific stickers and a 40 th commemorative letter signed by Mike Kimberley, CEO of Lotus Cars Ltd.
Production numbers will be strictly limited to 40, celebrating both the birthday and fact it is the fourth consecutive year of sales growth in Europe, says Lotus.
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TOENHEEL
Original Poster
4,398 posts
97 months
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Seems odd that a british car manufacturer releases a british made anniversary car everywhere but the country its built in??? anyone have any idea why??
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Strawman
5,175 posts
77 months
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Maybe they are happy with the level of sales in the UK and want to increase sales in Europe, which are on the up according to the article but no doubt still lag behind UK sales in comparison to other marques in their sector. The UK has always been a bit of a Banker for Lotus and they've done well in the US in the past, but with the direction the dollar is heading getting more established in the EU looks like a good move.
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hahithestevieboy
795 posts
84 months
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Dirty Monkey
53 posts
106 months
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Run out of bits to make it right hand drive? 
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Insight
582 posts
68 months
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hahithestevieboy said: Pointless. ditto
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Dr G
9,397 posts
112 months
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Is it possible to buy an Elise that isn't some kind of jumped up special edition with an extra nought on the price tag?
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bencollins
1,366 posts
75 months
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Dr G said: Is it possible to buy an Elise that isn't some kind of jumped up special edition with an extra nought on the price tag? Yes it is called an S, is brilliant and costs @£25k. Quit whining.
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horton
804 posts
122 months
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bencollins said: Dr G said: Is it possible to buy an Elise that isn't some kind of jumped up special edition with an extra nought on the price tag? Yes it is called an S, is brilliant and costs @£25k. Quit whining. It's a fair enough comment, seeing the amount of silly limited editions that Lotus make. A limited edition should be something special and desirable, ie better/different than the standard models.
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rhinochopig
16,139 posts
68 months
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The limited edition is the standard model. There are fewer of these about than the numerous special edition ones ;-)
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motormania
1,143 posts
123 months
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It does not matter which car manufacturer you mention, any Limited Edition is not that at all.
Limited Edition simply means - roll roll all you gullible individuals and spend £1000's on a pointless marketing exercise. These cars are not special, they do not hold onto their value in years to come and anyone who thinks they are buying something special really are living in cloud cookoo land!
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10 Pence Short
27,920 posts
87 months
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Are they in the process of designing a replacement for the Elise yet?
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davislove
1,367 posts
116 months
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tricky 100
954 posts
112 months
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Maybe they feel the UK market has had enough Lotus ltd edtions lately .
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Bada Bing!
755 posts
97 months
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Dirty Monkey said: Run out of bits to make it right hand drive? Touché. 
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bikemonster
1,188 posts
111 months
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Fortieth anniversary of what, though?
The 7 had its 50th anniversary this year, so unless the odo was running backwards for the first 10+ years of the co.'s life, Lotus has to be older than 50.
(I know, remarkable deduction!)
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Strawman
5,175 posts
77 months
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bikemonster said: Fortieth anniversary of what, though?
The 7 had its 50th anniversary this year, so unless the odo was running backwards for the first 10+ years of the co.'s life, Lotus has to be older than 50.
(I know, remarkable deduction!) article above said: The limited edition model has been created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of production at the Lotus factory in Hethel. HTH
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Hendry
1,945 posts
152 months
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motormania said: It does not matter which car manufacturer you mention, any Limited Edition is not that at all.
Limited Edition simply means - roll roll all you gullible individuals and spend £1000's on a pointless marketing exercise. These cars are not special, they do not hold onto their value in years to come and anyone who thinks they are buying something special really are living in cloud cookoo land! They are limited though. That is, there is a pre-determined production run size. And most LEs are not so much about exclusivity, though you get an element of that by definition, but about offering stuff for free for a while to give sales a boost. Why you'd buy an Limited Edition is bacause, typically, you are getting some things you don't have to pay for - all helps to tilt the indecisive towards a decision.
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Stu_00
1,521 posts
89 months
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Not that bothered - It does not look as nice in that colour or with the coloured vents & allows pretty average.
The brighter Orange (Sorry name unknown) looks better.
I am happy it is going somewhere else.
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flattotheboards
6,653 posts
76 months
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so why dont we get anything over here to celebrate as it is a british manufacture.
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flattotheboards
6,653 posts
76 months
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so why dont we get anything over here to celebrate as it is a british manufacture.
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