Lotus: the next 5 years?
Discussion
What variants and new models are going to be released over the coming 5 years?
For example. how further can the current Elise/Exige platform be developed? Will a new S3 chassis be released in the not so distant future or is it more likely we will see the current platform be tweaked for years to come?
Is the Esprit still pencilled in or has that been put on a back burner to concentrate on developing the Evora into a variety of different variants?
Anything else?
For example. how further can the current Elise/Exige platform be developed? Will a new S3 chassis be released in the not so distant future or is it more likely we will see the current platform be tweaked for years to come?
Is the Esprit still pencilled in or has that been put on a back burner to concentrate on developing the Evora into a variety of different variants?
Anything else?
chieflief said:
I heard (directly from an employee at Hethel) that there will be a new Elise in the new year for the public to see. Of course there were no details, but has anyone else heard this?
Haven't heard anything but I would guess there will have to be....the Elise and not least its competitive price pretty much saved Lotus and introduced them to a new generation.Seems to me they then fed off this success to get a bit (traditionally) silly with prices...the Europa and not least the Evora beginning to cut off a potential customer base due to excessive prices.
Sure, the Evora is selling but I would argue that is on the back of the Elise....once these enthusiast customers (many probably former Elise/Exige owners) have bought, who will be next in line?
Lotus need the Elise.....a new one for £20k....that will do nicely!!!
An F1 car. (Well, sort of Lotus)
An easy upgrade to the Evora (S/C and/or a topless version).
Then depending on the the sales of that;
The S3 Elise, back towards the S1 in terms of cost, weight and purety, retaining build quality and flexibility of S2 - the answers all in the chassis...?
Then depending on the sale of this, stick one in the back of the net with a McLaren rivaling Esprit.
(not sure - maybe Esprit first and a little 'Liz S3 after...?)
An easy upgrade to the Evora (S/C and/or a topless version).
Then depending on the the sales of that;
The S3 Elise, back towards the S1 in terms of cost, weight and purety, retaining build quality and flexibility of S2 - the answers all in the chassis...?
Then depending on the sale of this, stick one in the back of the net with a McLaren rivaling Esprit.
(not sure - maybe Esprit first and a little 'Liz S3 after...?)
Edited by andy_s on Sunday 20th September 17:37
The Evora platform will take Lotus over the next 10 years.
Short tearm you do have the Evora customers cars just going out.
Next year a 320BHp NA one and the year after a S/C Evora.
But with prices already at 60k the next two could be 65k and 75k.
I think Lotus missed the market by 3 years with the standard Evora which is a shame, 276BHp is a non starter in this range now with Cayman at 320BHp, base 911 at 345BHp and the new TTRS at 335BHp.
But the 320BHp NA one looks like it might be nice and should have been the lauch model, they might have sold some then :-)
Short tearm you do have the Evora customers cars just going out.
Next year a 320BHp NA one and the year after a S/C Evora.
But with prices already at 60k the next two could be 65k and 75k.
I think Lotus missed the market by 3 years with the standard Evora which is a shame, 276BHp is a non starter in this range now with Cayman at 320BHp, base 911 at 345BHp and the new TTRS at 335BHp.
But the 320BHp NA one looks like it might be nice and should have been the lauch model, they might have sold some then :-)
VVA has been designed to do all manner of things.
I'm sure the Evora will sell, but I think prices at the top end will remain somewhat stable. I don't see that as ever being a £70k car, supercharged or otherwise.
I'm sure we'll see a new Elise and variants based on VVA within 18 months, Evora's as mentioned in the same time, and if enough sales of the latter are generated, then it'd be sensible to think that the long-await Esprit will break cover before the end of 2011.
I'm sure the Evora will sell, but I think prices at the top end will remain somewhat stable. I don't see that as ever being a £70k car, supercharged or otherwise.
I'm sure we'll see a new Elise and variants based on VVA within 18 months, Evora's as mentioned in the same time, and if enough sales of the latter are generated, then it'd be sensible to think that the long-await Esprit will break cover before the end of 2011.
Lots of info about it on the grouplotus.com website:
http://www.grouplotus.com/engineering/research.htm...
http://www.grouplotus.com/engineering/research.htm...
andy_s said:
The S3 Elise, back towards the S1 in terms of cost, weight and purety, retaining build quality and flexibility of S2 - the answers all in the chassis...?
It's what we all want but I doubt it very much. A new Elise is a very refined and comfy machine (relatively speaking), nothing like the 'hardcore' S1. It needs to be even more so so that Lotus can get 'normal' people to buy it. I think that's the right thing to do but there needs to be something like an S1 for all the enthusiasts out there too.Frimley111R said:
andy_s said:
The S3 Elise, back towards the S1 in terms of cost, weight and purety, retaining build quality and flexibility of S2 - the answers all in the chassis...?
It's what we all want but I doubt it very much. A new Elise is a very refined and comfy machine (relatively speaking), nothing like the 'hardcore' S1. It needs to be even more so so that Lotus can get 'normal' people to buy it. I think that's the right thing to do but there needs to be something like an S1 for all the enthusiasts out there too.Frimley111R said:
andy_s said:
The S3 Elise, back towards the S1 in terms of cost, weight and purety, retaining build quality and flexibility of S2 - the answers all in the chassis...?
It's what we all want but I doubt it very much. A new Elise is a very refined and comfy machine (relatively speaking), nothing like the 'hardcore' S1. It needs to be even more so so that Lotus can get 'normal' people to buy it. I think that's the right thing to do but there needs to be something like an S1 for all the enthusiasts out there too.
Frimley111R said:
andy_s said:
The S3 Elise, back towards the S1 in terms of cost, weight and purety, retaining build quality and flexibility of S2 - the answers all in the chassis...?
It's what we all want but I doubt it very much. A new Elise is a very refined and comfy machine (relatively speaking), nothing like the 'hardcore' S1. It needs to be even more so so that Lotus can get 'normal' people to buy it. I think that's the right thing to do but there needs to be something like an S1 for all the enthusiasts out there too.jerrytlr said:
Frimley111R said:
andy_s said:
The S3 Elise, back towards the S1 in terms of cost, weight and purety, retaining build quality and flexibility of S2 - the answers all in the chassis...?
It's what we all want but I doubt it very much. A new Elise is a very refined and comfy machine (relatively speaking), nothing like the 'hardcore' S1. It needs to be even more so so that Lotus can get 'normal' people to buy it. I think that's the right thing to do but there needs to be something like an S1 for all the enthusiasts out there too.Everyone raves about the "hardcore" S1 - but the majority spec a touring pack for their 111R/SC....
(Current Elise S surely cheaper than the original Elise allowing for inflation. And how many Ford Mondeos does it take to buy an Elise S now compared to 1996...)
Edited by dom180 on Sunday 27th September 12:02
The Evora has an 8 year product life cycle. The launch versions are all 2+2 and fully loaded. The 2+0 is available to order now then early next year there is a 400bhp supercharged version. There will also be a full auto/flappy paddle next year aimed at the US market, followed by a convertable in 2011. Alongside will be various race versions of course....
The Esprit programme is apparently signed off and whilst additional funding may be sought, its timing does depend on the sales success of the Evora and the revenue that generates. According to the mags the Lexus IF-A V8 has been pencilled in for the Esprit (assuming that's what it will be called) with the possibility of a later V10 version (aimed no doubt at the new McClaren) and hybrid versions. This will all be based on the VVA which has common hard points but allows stretching in all directions - they've even shown a 4 seat SUV, the APX, based on VVA.
And some time next year the S3 Elise.
With the return to F1 and Engineering doing well even in the recession (they've just recruited 150 staff) I'd say the future looks pretty damn good. Check out their recent press release - http://www.lotus-central.com/index.php/en/news/283...
The Esprit programme is apparently signed off and whilst additional funding may be sought, its timing does depend on the sales success of the Evora and the revenue that generates. According to the mags the Lexus IF-A V8 has been pencilled in for the Esprit (assuming that's what it will be called) with the possibility of a later V10 version (aimed no doubt at the new McClaren) and hybrid versions. This will all be based on the VVA which has common hard points but allows stretching in all directions - they've even shown a 4 seat SUV, the APX, based on VVA.
And some time next year the S3 Elise.
With the return to F1 and Engineering doing well even in the recession (they've just recruited 150 staff) I'd say the future looks pretty damn good. Check out their recent press release - http://www.lotus-central.com/index.php/en/news/283...
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