RE: Geneva 2012: Lotus Exige Roadster

[Ozzie Osmond]

I WISH said:

I'll stick with my Elise thanks. Much purer handling ....

Oh yes? You've driven the new Exige have you?

[JS100]

Ordered this on a dark blustery night in the Maldives in 2010. There was no question - it was a calling :-) At the time was the owner of a factory converted 240 Cup Exige, having previously owned a Sport 160, and an original S1 Elise - all of which I loved. Feel no compulsion to change given the current offering, to the contrary makes me delighted with what I own. Granted front three quarters it looks quite nice, but as pointed out by others on this thread, the rear is hideous. IMO, stylistically, the car has regressed in all departments - don't get me started on the interior!!! Sure dynamically it is fantastic, but for my taste, the Exige / Elise concept was perfectly mated to the Toyota four pot. Clearly I am a Lotus fan but the fact that I do not feel at all compelled to open my walletI believe should concern. I hope all those on here who claim to like this thing, for Lotus' sake, back up their words with their wallets. Personally, I doubt they will? p.s. you can be a very successful niche manufacturer without trying to conquer the world 'Bahar' style. RIP Swiss Beatz!....and sadly probably Lotus with it :-(

[TOENHEEL]

Well ball's to what anyone else thinks im very much looking forward to having a drive of the V6 Exige and im expecting big things. My old cars were fab so expecting this to be a big step up.

[CooperS]

Now thats a nice !!!



Not so much........

[kambites]

That rear window surround does look very odd. I've never really been keen on the rear window treatment of any of the Exiges, but it's definitely got worse with each successive generation.

[Raja]

Bit bling. Would look better black and/or colour co-ordinated

[marcng]

I think some lotus owners need to stop living in the past and realise that every single car they make might not be exactly what they want it to be. Lotus needs to make cars that sell to not end up the way tvr or saab have. Personly i think it looks great, i wouldn't pick that exact interior though.

[Some Gump]

Captain Muppet said:

Point 2 - insightful industry analysis is more believable if you spell the names of the company correctly.

Point 3 - insightful industry analysis is more believable if you refer to actual history, rather than just trying to sound superior.

356
914 924 944 968 boxster / cayman
928
959 GT1 Carrera GT
911


The only car in the above list to have been the only car on sale at the time was the 356.
It is generally accepted tat if they only had the 911, Porsche would not have survived at all.
Oh, and VAG own Porsche, not the other way round. Porsche tried to pull it off, might have even managed, but failed. As far as I recall, they're not fully in the clear or the short selling stunt, either.

[Carnnoisseur]

kambites said:

You can buy after-market brushed aluminium ones for a few quid, if it worries you.

Definitely the way forward

[justin220]

I think its good that Lotus are offering a few different options, giving people more choice.

The biggest problem I see for it is the price. The Exige Roadster (which to me is more like a fast Elise) is going to be what, £50k+? Thats an awful lot of money for something as basic as an Elise/Exige.

People complained that the Evora being expensive, looks like a bargain now!

[CooperS]

justin220 said:

I think its good that Lotus are offering a few different options, giving people more choice.

The biggest problem I see for it is the price. The Exige Roadster (which to me is more like a fast Elise) is going to be what, £50k+? Thats an awful lot of money for something as basic as an Elise/Exige.

People complained that the Evora being expensive, looks like a bargain now!

Good point

+1

[Beefmeister]

justin220 said:

I think its good that Lotus are offering a few different options, giving people more choice.

The biggest problem I see for it is the price. The Exige Roadster (which to me is more like a fast Elise) is going to be what, £50k+? Thats an awful lot of money for something as basic as an Elise/Exige.

People complained that the Evora being expensive, looks like a bargain now!

But if you look at the interior pictures, it's not that basic. Okay it doesn't have the fancy intergrated Satnav touchscreen panels of the Boxster, but i for one prefer a more simple layout and it looks very leathery...

[JS100]

marcng said:

I think some lotus owners need to stop living in the past and realise that every single car they make might not be exactly what they want it to be. Lotus needs to make cars that sell to not end up the way tvr or saab have. Personly i think it looks great, i wouldn't pick that exact interior though.

Are you going to buy one though? Delighted to hear if the answer is yes....

[Rawwr]

Beefmeister said:

But if you look at the interior pictures, it's not that basic. Okay it doesn't have the fancy intergrated Satnav touchscreen panels of the Boxster, but i for one prefer a more simple layout and it looks very leathery...

Certain parts of it do look like it was crafted out of old prosthetic limbs.

[justin220]

Beefmeister said:

justin220 said:

I think its good that Lotus are offering a few different options, giving people more choice.

The biggest problem I see for it is the price. The Exige Roadster (which to me is more like a fast Elise) is going to be what, £50k+? Thats an awful lot of money for something as basic as an Elise/Exige.

People complained that the Evora being expensive, looks like a bargain now!

But if you look at the interior pictures, it's not that basic. Okay it doesn't have the fancy intergrated Satnav touchscreen panels of the Boxster, but i for one prefer a more simple layout and it looks very leathery...

Maybe, and I understand the Elise is more about the basic layout, stripped out etc (used to own an Exige), I just think that for Lotus to steal some of the Boxster customers, it needs to improve the interior. The Evora interior, even just the seats would be a good start (dont think they fit though?)

[Itsallicanafford]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Errm, have you actually spotted what this thread is about?

• Bahar grandiose dream next Elise announced and shown in 2010.
• Evora not selling. Wrong packaging, wrong styling, wrong price.
• Bahar's grandiose dream cars still years away at best.
• Lotus need a "best, most affordable sports car possible to get some revenue in with meaningful sales".
• Tadaaa! Exige convertible at Geneva.

As you might have guessed, I think from the initial information and pictures this looks like the right car in the right place at the right time.

But, correct me if i'm wrong, they want £50K for it...its not going to sell in any number at all at this price point...It needs to undercut the boxster range, not compete with the Higest Spec model.

[braddo]

justin220 said:

I think its good that Lotus are offering a few different options, giving people more choice.

The biggest problem I see for it is the price. The Exige Roadster (which to me is more like a fast Elise) is going to be what, £50k+? Thats an awful lot of money for something as basic as an Elise/Exige.

People complained that the Evora being expensive, looks like a bargain now!

£50k for 0-100mph in 8.5 seconds doesn't strike me as bad at all.

This car is simply the Exige S in a more toned down aesthetic package (and a little more luxury inside). I'm not sure why some people can't see that some other people will prefer the Exige S in 'roadster' spec.

It is still going to be extremely fast but this version will be, for some, easier to live with day-to-day.

[justin220]

I agree about the performance, but if performance was the only concern, we'd all be driving Caterhams, or motorbikes. Its about the price. £50k+ is a lot of money, for not a lot of car IMO. (Or I think that is how the general motoring public will see it).

Personally I am very interested but won't buy without trying first.

I think offering the roadster is a great idea, in fact if I was to buy one of the Exige V6, I think I'd opt for the roadster.

EDIT - Just seen these pics, think it'd be the coupe for me!

Edited by justin220 on Friday 9th March 10:22

[braddo]

Fair enough but I think these cars look very useable (as long as buyers can deal with the big sills).

[Ozzie Osmond]

justin220 said:

The biggest problem I see for it is the price. The Exige Roadster (which to me is more like a fast Elise) is going to be what, £50k+? Thats an awful lot of money for something as basic as an Elise/Exige.

Oh for goodness sake, that's barely more than a RR Evoque with a 4-pot diesel....

"Inside, the car is a lesson in stylish minimalism and functionality. The customer can specify a comfort enhanced plush interior or go for a more stripped down, sporty option."