Discussion
I think it's been gone into quite a few times on here that it will be very unlikely to materialise before the Eagle/Ethos and new Esprit are out there and a few years old themselves. Lotus simply don't have the R&D budget for an S3 (and as there's nothing wrong with the S2, why bother?).
I wouldn't be at all surprised if one day soon they surprise us all and an S3 pops up. S2 is getting on a bit now, it's not like their are monumental development costs like there were for the original S1 - because the chassis basics are there, in the form of VVA, paid for by the Eagle and Lotus Engineering. I'd expect one before the end of 2010, if not 2009.
I would say that you see both the Elise and Exige becoming more fun and track based losing the Super Touring options etc
I'd think they will be pitching both the Elise/Exige at the 30 & 35k mark but that's just a guess? The days of people spending 40 – 55k on a toy are fast approaching over, & not for just Lotus, everyone needs to wake up and smell the coffee, they've got to get car's under 35k otherwise they will go out of business, have you seen the market’s and interest rates worldwide not just here
Sure there’s always going to be a need for supercar's but people just aren’t buying expensive car's like they used to
Boggy
I'd think they will be pitching both the Elise/Exige at the 30 & 35k mark but that's just a guess? The days of people spending 40 – 55k on a toy are fast approaching over, & not for just Lotus, everyone needs to wake up and smell the coffee, they've got to get car's under 35k otherwise they will go out of business, have you seen the market’s and interest rates worldwide not just here
Sure there’s always going to be a need for supercar's but people just aren’t buying expensive car's like they used to
Boggy
Boggy said:
I would say that you see both the Elise and Exige becoming more fun and track based losing the Super Touring options etc
I'd think they will be pitching both the Elise/Exige at the 30 & 35k mark but that's just a guess? The days of people spending 40 – 55k on a toy are fast approaching over, & not for just Lotus, everyone needs to wake up and smell the coffee, they've got to get car's under 35k otherwise they will go out of business, have you seen the market’s and interest rates worldwide not just here
Sure there’s always going to be a need for supercar's but people just aren’t buying expensive car's like they used to
Boggy
I agree with you in sentiment but just struggle to see how low volume manufacturers are going to be able to do it. I'd think they will be pitching both the Elise/Exige at the 30 & 35k mark but that's just a guess? The days of people spending 40 – 55k on a toy are fast approaching over, & not for just Lotus, everyone needs to wake up and smell the coffee, they've got to get car's under 35k otherwise they will go out of business, have you seen the market’s and interest rates worldwide not just here
Sure there’s always going to be a need for supercar's but people just aren’t buying expensive car's like they used to
Boggy
Now I will be interested to see if Porsche start unofficially reducing the price of Boxsters and Caymans though. They make HUGE mark ups on those but are losing sales this year. If that starts to happen then the likes of Lotus will have to rethink their product line pricing. I mean track day specials for 40k+ that are based upon borrowed mechanicals and old chassis was always a bit steep. (and before anyone has a go yes I know there's nothing wrong with any of it)
kambites said:
If they're positioning it as a toy again, I think they need to get the basic versions of the S3 Elise down well under 30 grand - closer to 25 than 30. There's no reason for them to cost more (inflation adjusted) than the original S1 if they're going back to similar comfort levels.
you mean apart from more expensive manufacturing costs, the fact the original cheap Rover engines are no longer available and advancements in road safety and emission requirements involve a much higher cost overall?Fidgits said:
kambites said:
If they're positioning it as a toy again, I think they need to get the basic versions of the S3 Elise down well under 30 grand - closer to 25 than 30. There's no reason for them to cost more (inflation adjusted) than the original S1 if they're going back to similar comfort levels.
you mean apart from more expensive manufacturing costs, the fact the original cheap Rover engines are no longer available and advancements in road safety and emission requirements involve a much higher cost overall?I suppose I'm proposing that they produce an S1 with S2 suspension really.
Edited by kambites on Friday 11th July 10:09
kambites said:
Fidgits said:
kambites said:
If they're positioning it as a toy again, I think they need to get the basic versions of the S3 Elise down well under 30 grand - closer to 25 than 30. There's no reason for them to cost more (inflation adjusted) than the original S1 if they're going back to similar comfort levels.
you mean apart from more expensive manufacturing costs, the fact the original cheap Rover engines are no longer available and advancements in road safety and emission requirements involve a much higher cost overall?I suppose I'm proposing that they produce an S1 with S2 suspension really.
Edited by kambites on Friday 11th July 10:09
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