RE: Lotus launches 'ulimate' roadgoing Exige
Discussion
Having owned and enjoyed a Sport 160 and a 111 S back in the early 2000s which, apart from the engine and a few other oily bits and bobs, are substantially the same as their current £80 - £100 K + offerings.
Fortunately Lotus don't have any direct competition for them and can get away with their optimistic pricing for the tiny numbers they sell.
It has nothing to do with Italian leather interiors or sonorous V8 engines .... Lotus needs massive investment from the new owners if it is ever going to climb out of its current niche / rut.
Fortunately Lotus don't have any direct competition for them and can get away with their optimistic pricing for the tiny numbers they sell.
It has nothing to do with Italian leather interiors or sonorous V8 engines .... Lotus needs massive investment from the new owners if it is ever going to climb out of its current niche / rut.
otolith said:
saaby93 said:
Its time they sorted that
For whats supposed to be a light weight car, cruising mpg should be closer to 50mpg these days
What are they doing wrong?
Using a 400bhp supercharged 3.5 litre V6 instead of a small turbocharged petrol or a diesel? I mean, really, what are you comparing it to?For whats supposed to be a light weight car, cruising mpg should be closer to 50mpg these days
What are they doing wrong?
Theres no need to have the mpg associated with 400bhp when the car is in cruise mode.
Where is the engine managament to shut down cylinders or whatever it takes?
saaby93 said:
otolith said:
saaby93 said:
Its time they sorted that
For whats supposed to be a light weight car, cruising mpg should be closer to 50mpg these days
What are they doing wrong?
Using a 400bhp supercharged 3.5 litre V6 instead of a small turbocharged petrol or a diesel? I mean, really, what are you comparing it to?For whats supposed to be a light weight car, cruising mpg should be closer to 50mpg these days
What are they doing wrong?
Theres no need to have the mpg associated with 400bhp when the car is in cruise mode.
Where is the engine managament to shut down cylinders or whatever it takes?
Lotus have so much potential.
With their history and heritage they could be another Lamborghini, Porsche or Ferrari, yet seem to limp from one crisis to another. While the likes of Aston have moved on, Lotus haven't.
Just look at their overall sales this century
http://carsalesbase.com/european-car-sales-data/Lo...
No reason why they can't continue to make lightweight track inspired cars, but where are the models with broader appeal that will pay for the development of the exotic models? Without these, Lotus will ultimately become another TVR. Majestic cars, but sold into too small a market.
Edited by Helicopter123 on Saturday 5th May 10:19
Helicopter123 said:
With their history and heritage they could be another Lamborghini, Porsche or Ferrari, yet seem to limp from one crisis to another.
those business models are successful but don't provide us with more simple driver's cars. (because that market is dying...)Yes, you get sexy cars that are great at over 100mph and cost a fortune. I can't buy a sports car from Porsche as i'm not on the list, and the std offerings are more daily/GT now.
The thing about Lotus, TVR, the old Alfa, the old Porsche and many more is that engineers built great driving machines. And they had too little business sense. There's a lot to knock at Lotus. The problem for a keen driver is that the Europeans don't make driver's cars anymore. The Japanese are still offering some.
GranCab said:
Having owned and enjoyed a Sport 160 and a 111 S back in the early 2000s which, apart from the engine and a few other oily bits and bobs, are substantially the same as their current £80 - £100 K + offerings.
Fortunately Lotus don't have any direct competition for them and can get away with their optimistic pricing for the tiny numbers they sell.
It has nothing to do with Italian leather interiors or sonorous V8 engines .... Lotus needs massive investment from the new owners if it is ever going to climb out of its current niche / rut.
I think DD is undertaken as part of most takeovers...;)Fortunately Lotus don't have any direct competition for them and can get away with their optimistic pricing for the tiny numbers they sell.
It has nothing to do with Italian leather interiors or sonorous V8 engines .... Lotus needs massive investment from the new owners if it is ever going to climb out of its current niche / rut.
SidewaysSi said:
But, but, but...it isn't an Aston so it must be crap. And you mean you spent all that money and didn't think of all the Italian cow hide and fancy sat nav you could have had instead? More fool you...;)
Have a V12 Vantage S as well. The V12 is a hammer, the Evora is a scalpel. Actually find the Evora the slightly more comfortable car, the seats suit me a bit better. saaby93 said:
otolith said:
saaby93 said:
Its time they sorted that
For whats supposed to be a light weight car, cruising mpg should be closer to 50mpg these days
What are they doing wrong?
Using a 400bhp supercharged 3.5 litre V6 instead of a small turbocharged petrol or a diesel? I mean, really, what are you comparing it to?For whats supposed to be a light weight car, cruising mpg should be closer to 50mpg these days
What are they doing wrong?
Theres no need to have the mpg associated with 400bhp when the car is in cruise mode.
Where is the engine managament to shut down cylinders or whatever it takes?
lemmingjames said:
The car that will save Lotus will be its Volvo based SUV when it gets released.
Does Lotus need saving - it seems to be able to cary on doing what it doesWho needs a Lotus Panamera or similar word beginning with E
What happened to the Lotus Escape?
Something to put on the door of the dealership
saaby93 said:
lemmingjames said:
The car that will save Lotus will be its Volvo based SUV when it gets released.
Does Lotus need saving - it seems to be able to cary on doing what it doesWho needs a Lotus Panamera or similar word beginning with E
What happened to the Lotus Escape?
Something to put on the door of the dealership
If its not to go the way of TVR it needs to find a 'cash cow'.
SUV's selling like hot cakes, and everyone seems to be launching one now.
Not saying Lotus should, but they need something that generates funds to make is financially sustainable, and to let it fully develop a new range of sports cars.
SidewaysSi said:
Why does every single Lotus thread turn into PH 'business experts' giving their opinion on the firm?
Most of whom probably have f
k all experience in anything much at all.
+1 (from a Lotus fan whose only ever driven an Elise, not owned one).Most of whom probably have f
k all experience in anything much at all.BTW, Si, you have one of my favourite past and current garages on PH.... a great eclectic mix of characterful cars..
SidewaysSi said:
Why does every single Lotus thread turn into PH 'business experts' giving their opinion on the firm?
Most of whom probably have fk all experience in anything much at all.
indeed.Most of whom probably have f
k all experience in anything much at all.Porsche are successful and look what happened to their car line up.
Just think what those great engineers could do if they were let loose to build a real sports car. That's the loss to the few who appreciate driving a sports car.
The people have spoken. some people think the people are wrong. where have we heard that recently?
greenarrow said:
SidewaysSi said:
Why does every single Lotus thread turn into PH 'business experts' giving their opinion on the firm?
Most of whom probably have fk all experience in anything much at all.
+1 (from a Lotus fan whose only ever driven an Elise, not owned one).Most of whom probably have f
k all experience in anything much at all.BTW, Si, you have one of my favourite past and current garages on PH.... a great eclectic mix of characterful cars..
Saying that, the Alfa is going, to be replaced with a 2005ish Mazda 3 or Honda Civic auto for the wife
To balance that out, I have £4k's worth of bits at home ready to be put on the Elise - Quaife ultra close ratio gearset and LSD, lightweight flywheel and race clutch, harness and harness bar and some Corbeau race seats. Will chuck some AD08Rs on it too..can't wait, it will be a little cracker!!
98elise said:
Maldini35 said:
Porsche911R said:
The New Elise is out in 2020. fingers crossed it's a winner.
I can assure you that isn’t true.New car yes, but not an Elise.
A front engined, RWD GT car.
Helicopter123 said:
98elise said:
Maldini35 said:
Porsche911R said:
The New Elise is out in 2020. fingers crossed it's a winner.
I can assure you that isn’t true.New car yes, but not an Elise.
A front engined, RWD GT car.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Helicopter123 said:
Lotus has lurched from crisis to crises for decades now, with no funds to develop new models.
Not quite. They had a new car development budget and bet the whole lot on a mid-engine 2+2 styled by a blind man and expanded their factory to build it in record numbers. I mean, why? Had Lotus ever sold a car like that before? No. Were customers clamouring for that sort of car? No. Has any manufacturer ever sold a mid-engine 2+2 successfully? No. Hence we now have ancient Exige tubs at inflated prices with a Camry V6 in the back. Next special edition due later this week...
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