RE: Geneva 2012: Lotus Exige Roadster
Discussion
Twincam16 said:
Lotus are focusing on the Esprit. The car will apparently be ready by this time next year.
Excellent news!Twincam16 said:
Only problem is, I'm pretty sure they said that last year.
Oh dear...I guess we should be grateful for Exige convertible. I certainly think it's the best thing they've done in years.
Twincam16 said:
Only problem is, I'm pretty sure they said that last year.
I don't think so. If you go back to the Paris announcement 2 years ago, DB was saying Geneva 2013 for the launch, to go on sale mid 2013. They have been consistent with that and all statements thus far have confirmed it remains on track (notwithstanding the current hiatus following the acquisition of Proton by DRB Hicom).This is much more worrying though -
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/279961/new_lotus...
Frimley111R said:
highway said:
£35k and that would likely sell in large numbers and not depreciate.
Lol! Everyone wants a new Lotus for £35k. If they could sell them at a profit for that they would. Getting in and out , cabin noise,quality, reliability, dealers, as well as price are all issues.
They talk of selling 5000+ cars per year. they need new product that is desirable and affordable to a much bigger market sector than at present, it is not going to be easy selling specialist sportscars in the foreseeable future.
They only registered 2 cars last month! If they want to do well surely the only option is to drop the prices and undercut the competition. I am Lotus through and through had 3 Exiges and love them but the new one at £56k is simply too much money. I really hope things work out I would personally be gutted to see them go under.
Driller said:
What about the supercharged engine? Any kind of lag or delay or "decoupled" sensation from this? The last sports car I owned was a Griff, never had anything with forced induction.
Looks very, very nice though and more than 4 cylinders changes everything
No lag off superchargers, if my old supercharged 4 pots were anything to go by they were great apart from heatsoak in summer months. Looks very, very nice though and more than 4 cylinders changes everything
DJRC said:
£52.9k
Not 55 or 56 or 57.
Lotus-West are quoting CHF 93k for the hardtop Exige S on their website. Looks like there could be quite a saving to be made by importing one. I reckon it could be done for CHF 70k (allowing for VAT differences). I'm very tempted... Shame I can't get down to Geneva to have a poke around, as I'm sure it will be a long time before there is a demonstrator over here.Not 55 or 56 or 57.
...I'm worried about Lotus, ever since I read an article about bahr missing an interview in london because his helicopter couldn't fly because of fog...IMO, Lotus, don't have that sort of money to waste. Get up an hour earlier and drive, it's not that far...turn up in an old Elan, people will love you..if it was my decision, I would have concentrated on making the next Elise the best, most affordable sports car possible and get some revenue in with some meaningful sales. Only then look at the Esprit market. Look, if porsche have taken 50+ years to put together a sustainable 5 car line-up, why does Louts think it can be done in 5 years. I'm guessing the Evora is not a great seller, isn't this sounding massive alarm bells for their viability in this segment. Look at McClaren, a name with triple A status in motorsport, and a profitable business...why are they not developing 5 cars? I am all for fortune favouring the brave but this is just foolhardy..this has all been said before and I hope they prove me wrong...
Itsallicanafford said:
..if it was my decision, I would have concentrated on making the next Elise the best, most affordable sports car possible and get some revenue in with some meaningful sales. Only then look at the Esprit market.
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.
I dont think this is exactly going to help sales - at least Lotus had the decency to rein back the number of 'new' models it was introducing this year.
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/279961/new_lotus...
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/279961/new_lotus...
As a long term Lotus fan I follow these threads here and on SELOC with some interest. Everytime someone mentions the Evora hasn't sold well people leap to its defence propping up all sorts of arguments as to why it's actually not overpriced at all. Fact remains if it had been priced better they would have sold more.
I think this car looks great. The Elise, and that's what this is, has demanded more power since day one. Hence the numerous engine upgrades offered by the aftermarket over the years. The purists will no doubt be along shortly to bang on about how the 118bhp was enough for,pure driving pleasure and how more power misses the point of the car. This was true to a limited point but I suspect that many Elise drivers bemoaned the fact that the standard cars simply have no meaningful performance at much after 60mph, to the point where motorway driving was something of a chore.
I think the styling of this is great. The sole element I have hated styling wise on the S2 since 2001 sadly remains though. The rank looking metro door mirrors with the equally offensive pseudo e36 M3 supports.
I remember spending literally every penny I had (bar £34 odd quid) to buy my first Elise in 1998. It was worth it. Awesome driving experience with (crucially) nothing else available new or used to offer similar driving excitement and performance at sub £24k.
That just isn't the case anymore. Only a complete numbnut doesn't consider the aftermarket when considering spending £30k plus on a performance car now and the choice is massive.
Sorry Lotus but the 'exige' is too dear. By far. It's not a £50k car. The stylings great, you have given it proper, relevant perfornance but in asking £50k you have hobbled it from the outset. I'm not sure I accept this couldn't have been priced considerably lower. Maybe that's not in keeping with what they want for the brand. I'm sure this hasn't been called Elise as they are hoping to use that name on another car.
I think it's a great shame that this good looking, quick and no doubt mildly sublime car will be marketed at such an inflated level, they should have learnt from the Evora debacle.
I think this car looks great. The Elise, and that's what this is, has demanded more power since day one. Hence the numerous engine upgrades offered by the aftermarket over the years. The purists will no doubt be along shortly to bang on about how the 118bhp was enough for,pure driving pleasure and how more power misses the point of the car. This was true to a limited point but I suspect that many Elise drivers bemoaned the fact that the standard cars simply have no meaningful performance at much after 60mph, to the point where motorway driving was something of a chore.
I think the styling of this is great. The sole element I have hated styling wise on the S2 since 2001 sadly remains though. The rank looking metro door mirrors with the equally offensive pseudo e36 M3 supports.
I remember spending literally every penny I had (bar £34 odd quid) to buy my first Elise in 1998. It was worth it. Awesome driving experience with (crucially) nothing else available new or used to offer similar driving excitement and performance at sub £24k.
That just isn't the case anymore. Only a complete numbnut doesn't consider the aftermarket when considering spending £30k plus on a performance car now and the choice is massive.
Sorry Lotus but the 'exige' is too dear. By far. It's not a £50k car. The stylings great, you have given it proper, relevant perfornance but in asking £50k you have hobbled it from the outset. I'm not sure I accept this couldn't have been priced considerably lower. Maybe that's not in keeping with what they want for the brand. I'm sure this hasn't been called Elise as they are hoping to use that name on another car.
I think it's a great shame that this good looking, quick and no doubt mildly sublime car will be marketed at such an inflated level, they should have learnt from the Evora debacle.
^^^^spot on, a lot of people who would of bought this new Exige arent going to be able to stretch to 50k+. Evora S is the car we should of had from the off instead of the base Evora it should of undercut Porsche etc in a considerable way.. it would of flew out. I can never understand manufacturers holding back on cars especially a company like Lotus who lets face it could of done with a lot of sales..its nice reading about the new MD's lovely office and the pictures on his walls blah blah in Evo last month but surely the main priority was sorting the company out first not living in a dream world.
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