Next generation Elise 2012 / 2013: any ideas ?

[newelise]

According to Dany Bahar, the next generation Elise will follow in 2012/2013. The new Elise will get a new chassis with better entrance (smaler doorstep), a modern rooftop and many comfort gadgets. Are there other ideas or rumors what will be new?

Edited by newelise on Tuesday 18th May 09:46

Edited by newelise on Tuesday 18th May 09:46

[Boggy]

Don't hold your breath, I think the Elise S3 should do for a good while yet

I don't believe for one minute that they will change the Elise before 2015

Boggy

[newelise]

look at this from road&track...

http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-cars/sports-car...

[braddo]

Boggy said:

Don't hold your breath, I think the Elise S3 should do for a good while yet

I don't believe for one minute that they will change the Elise before 2015

Boggy

You think a lightly facelifted S2 won't be replaced for another 5 years?! Can't see that happening, personally.

[Bombjack]

braddo said:

You think a lightly facelifted S2 won't be replaced for another 5 years?! Can't see that happening, personally.

Especially as we have here someone from Lotus' marketing department helpfully pointing us to what's going to happen.

[Boggy]

braddo said:

Boggy said:

Don't hold your breath, I think the Elise S3 should do for a good while yet

I don't believe for one minute that they will change the Elise before 2015

Boggy

You think a lightly facelifted S2 won't be replaced for another 5 years?! Can't see that happening, personally.

Once Evora sales pick up which they will once they add more power and change the price (Late this year early next) they will concentrate on the Esprit replacement, I'll put money on it

I know what's being reported but it will be 2015 before anything's in the showrooms

Boggy

[Scuffers]

Boggy said:

Once Evora sales pick up which they will once they add more power and change the price

going to have to do that radically and fast if they actually plan on selling any....

[doggydave]

Boggy said:

Don't hold your breath, I think the Elise S3 should do for a good while yet

I don't believe for one minute that they will change the Elise before 2015

Boggy

I agree with you Boggy. As long as it sells.

[chieflief]

newelise said:

look at this from road&track...

http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-cars/sports-car...

I saw this photo awhile ago... looks positively gi-normous.

[thegobetween]

Boggy said:

braddo said:

Boggy said:

Don't hold your breath, I think the Elise S3 should do for a good while yet

I don't believe for one minute that they will change the Elise before 2015

Boggy

You think a lightly facelifted S2 won't be replaced for another 5 years?! Can't see that happening, personally.

Once Evora sales pick up which they will once they add more power and change the price (Late this year early next) they will concentrate on the Esprit replacement, I'll put money on it

I know what's being reported but it will be 2015 before anything's in the showrooms

Boggy

I don't like to say it, but Lotus have really lost the market impetus with the Evora, reducing the price by removing the toys (only justifiable way - they can hardly produce a slower version) will not lead to a massive sales upturn. Adding power will present a car many craved in the first place, but it would need to be at the current cars price.

Lotus need to get a superbly executed Esprit in the showroom ASAP to save the Evora.

[braddo]

Boggy said:

braddo said:

Boggy said:

Don't hold your breath, I think the Elise S3 should do for a good while yet

I don't believe for one minute that they will change the Elise before 2015

Boggy

You think a lightly facelifted S2 won't be replaced for another 5 years?! Can't see that happening, personally.

Once Evora sales pick up which they will once they add more power and change the price (Late this year early next) they will concentrate on the Esprit replacement, I'll put money on it

I know what's being reported but it will be 2015 before anything's in the showrooms

Boggy

I'm thinking the Elise would be the cash cow which they need to keep selling to allow the development of new models - surely they cannot afford for it go stale over the next 5 years.

I've love to hear an update from Lotus on how the Evoras are selling. With the low volumes they are aiming for, the car is going to be a rare sight on UK roads for some time so I don't think that is any kind of gauge of the car's success. With the pound having devalued so much it wouldn't surprise me if there is quite a bit of foreign demand for the Evora and Lotus are quietly getting on with filling those orders (and achieving sales forecasts) while people here complain the Evora is a sales flop .

[newelise]

Very interesting discussion. Does anybody know the 2009 and 2010 (first quarter of the year) production numbers of the Elise and Evora?

[Scuffers]

braddo said:

With the pound having devalued so much it wouldn't surprise me if there is quite a bit of foreign demand for the Evora and Lotus are quietly getting on with filling those orders (and achieving sales forecasts) while people here complain the Evora is a sales flop .

I am sure if that were the case Lotus would hardly be shy about coming forward and shouting about what a great sales success it is.

realistically, Lotus spent their money on the Evora, they really need it to sell in numbers to pay for the next car, a few hundred Evora's is not going to cut it, they need to shift several thousand a year, and at the current price, that's just not going to happen.

[bordseye]

Can't see the Italians who came over from Ferrari being interested in producing a basic cheap sports car like the Elise. I reckon all development effort will be focussed on turning Lotus into some sort of British Ferrari with an interim up powered Evora costing even more. Potentially a challenger to the 911.

Meantime the Elise will continue with facelifts

Trouble is I don't see that approach being any more successful than the Esprit family really were.

[Boggy]

Scuffers said:

braddo said:

With the pound having devalued so much it wouldn't surprise me if there is quite a bit of foreign demand for the Evora and Lotus are quietly getting on with filling those orders (and achieving sales forecasts) while people here complain the Evora is a sales flop .

I am sure if that were the case Lotus would hardly be shy about coming forward and shouting about what a great sales success it is.

realistically, Lotus spent their money on the Evora, they really need it to sell in numbers to pay for the next car, a few hundred Evora's is not going to cut it, they need to shift several thousand a year, and at the current price, that's just not going to happen.

Crumbs I'm agreeing with you Simon, LOL!

100% Correct, Lotus should have wiped the floor with the Evora, it could and should have blown everything into the weed's it's got the great stopping power, handling but it's far too expensive and Lotus know this, no more than 50k with all the Toys!

They should have produced an entry level Car for around 40k

It should also have around 320 - 350 bhp not 280bhp

It's not rocket science

Boggy

[braddo]

Scuffers said:

braddo said:

With the pound having devalued so much it wouldn't surprise me if there is quite a bit of foreign demand for the Evora and Lotus are quietly getting on with filling those orders (and achieving sales forecasts) while people here complain the Evora is a sales flop .

I am sure if that were the case Lotus would hardly be shy about coming forward and shouting about what a great sales success it is.

True dat.

/watching The Wire too much

[PaulHogan]

Lotus could (and obviously would like to) build around 35 Evoras per week. They are currently building around 25 per week.

[justin220]

Not sure on the current number of sales, but I've just ordered an Evora. I've been told 6 weeks build time which was quicker than expected.

I went to test drive a demo, but was sold by the time I got at the garage, so drove a brand new one (9 miles). People seem to expect them to be selling the same amount as the Elise, which isn't going to happen.

The salesman I dealt with seemed pretty happy with the amount he/Lotus have sold.

[saaby93]

There's one just appeared around here. There's no doubt it has 'wow what's that' presence.

[live ade]

they need to keep the Elise at the 'basic' end of the range. Get the price down to around £20k. It'll keep selling.