any rumors or infos about a new elise mk3 ?!?

[elise7]

are there any rumors or infos about a new elise mk3?
maybe some of your insiders know more?

[aromaT]

nah.

They'll continue with the US version and the Toyota powered 111R for now - then I would guess phase out the K-powered version in a year or so when demand drops off.

New Esprit is being worked on as we speak and something akin to the M250 wouldn't surprise me.

[beechy]

What is the M250?
I've heard that mentioned on hear before.

[rfoster]

The M250 was show at the London motor show a few years back as a 'mid range' model to slot between the elise and esprit, with an estimated price of £40-£45k. Sadly cancelled so that Lotus's fund could be better utilised to federalise the Elise for the US market. Shame, it was a real stunner. For pictures, go to www.lotusespritworld.co.uk, click on other stuff and then lotus models. It's the first on the page.

[beechy]

My COmpany have tightened up our internet access so I cant open that link. any chance you could paste a pic in hear?

CHeers



It's ok I just found a pic....

>> Edited by beechy on Wednesday 26th May 11:37

[rfoster]

nice innit! I was about to stump up a deposit for one when they pulled the plug. Ho hum.

[Bonce]

Beechy, if you can read the forums you should be able to see this:

www.pistonheads.com/lotus/m250/m250-dead.htm

[beechy]

Cheers for the link.

I like it but it looks almost a bit corvette - ish. Not that thats necessarily a bad thing.

How likely are they really to bring out a new modle of any kind in the near future?

[Nightmare]

new Esprit is allegely on way - seen a few pics around of design sketches, but mosly of the 'Autocar has made them up again' variety.

M250...grrr....sat on waiting list for 2 years before they pulled plug.....think a version of that will appear after the Esprit been done.

but who knows - maybe they'll decide to do a 4 x 4 and copy porsche!

[Bonce]

Nightmare said:

maybe they'll decide to do a 4 x 4 and copy porsche!

Never!

Chapman would turn in his tax haven.

[B19GRR]

Call me a cynic but I think the M250 was a bit of a mish-mash design. It's clear to see how the S2 and VX220 were derived from it but the M250 looks like the offspring of an S2 and VX, far too many clashing curves and planes.

Right, time to go find a suitable nuclear bunker and await the fall out

Cheers,
Rob

[rfoster]

I was lucky enough to have a very close up look at it on the Lotus stand at the motor show, and also at Brands Hatch. I thought it was absolutely stunning. Personally I don't think there's room in the Lotus range for both the M250 and Esprit models though.

[tupolev]

rfoster said:

I was lucky enough to have a very close up look at it on the Lotus stand at the motor show, and also at Brands Hatch. I thought it was absolutely stunning. Personally I don't think there's room in the Lotus range for both the M250 and Esprit models though.

the autocar article suggested that lotus intend to develop a model between the elise and new esprit but that it would be a 2+2. Also some interesting stuff on 'modular design' concepts that they will take from the elise to other models.

cheers
tup


>> Edited by tupolev on Wednesday 26th May 19:20