RE: Lotus gears up for new sports car launch

[hughcam]

SidewaysSi said:

Are you not going to change your current Lotus for a new one then?

Nah, my lotus is highly modified to my tastes

[shalmaneser]

article said said:

It'll also assist with sales in the US, Lotus's second-biggest market ahead of Germany (the UK is third).

Is anyone able to parse this sentance?

Excited to see what Lotus bring to the table, sounds like it's going to be a 718/alpine competitor at that price point which is excellent news. Hope it's available with a manual!

[hughcam]

Ryvita said:

Ah good, ok, that's decided then.

Glad we've got these chips nicely pre-pissed on, got any and all sparks of enthusiasm well damped down and firmly turned our back on what might well be the last petrol powered Lotus.

With that out of the way, what shall we do for the next six months while we wait to say, "I told you so, should be 20K cheaper, 100BHP more and come with a Porsche badge."? Maybe we can all take turns explaining our favourite examples of why things that aren't exactly to our liking are terrible and shouldn't be allowed.

I'll start. People on the internet disagree with me and that just can't be right.

Calm down dear.

I’ve owned 5 Lotus cars in the past 10 years. I want them to do well but if they’re still persisting with the same tub (as per the one in the second photo) which is definetley an s2/3 chassis (possibly with a lower sill) with a bog average 2.0 turbo 4pot I think the they aren’t going to sell many.

Imagine an Exige v6/Evora buyer going to a fart in a bean can. Or for that matter me moving on from my high revving 2zz ge.

I can forgive the engine as that’s pretty whitled down due to the parent company but to stick an average engine in an old chassis would be bad news IMO

[GrJa]

hughcam said:

Ryvita said:

Ah good, ok, that's decided then.

Glad we've got these chips nicely pre-pissed on, got any and all sparks of enthusiasm well damped down and firmly turned our back on what might well be the last petrol powered Lotus.

With that out of the way, what shall we do for the next six months while we wait to say, "I told you so, should be 20K cheaper, 100BHP more and come with a Porsche badge."? Maybe we can all take turns explaining our favourite examples of why things that aren't exactly to our liking are terrible and shouldn't be allowed.

I'll start. People on the internet disagree with me and that just can't be right.

Calm down dear.

I’ve owned 5 Lotus cars in the past 10 years. I want them to do well but if they’re still persisting with the same tub (as per the one in the second photo) which is definetley an s2/3 chassis (possibly with a lower sill) with a bog average 2.0 turbo 4pot I think the they aren’t going to sell many.

Imagine an Exige v6/Evora buyer going to a fart in a bean can. Or for that matter my high revving 2zz ge.

I can forgive the engine as that’s pretty whitled down due to the parent company but to stick an average engine in an old chassis would be bad news IMO

That chassis is an Elise, says so in the lotus article. It’s significance is it’s the first to be built at the new lotus factory. All other info I’ve seen points to the 131 being a brand new model from the ground up.

[castex]

I love lotus, have dreamed of owning one, and I pray (not literally) that this one is a major success.

[duncs]

Pumpsmynads said:

It will be the AMG unit from the A45.

I have 'heard' that this is what's going in the entry level versions, complete with DC box

I've also heard that the higher cost versions will come with a V6, with manual box. Don't know which V6 though?

Could be nonsense but it was from a reliable source.

Edited by duncs on Thursday 21st January 21:50

[Cold]

People are looking at a stock picture of a chassis and concluding that the new car is exactly the same as the old car?

Got to love PH!

[Venturist]

Cold said:

People are looking at a stock picture of a chassis and concluding that the new car is exactly the same as the old car?

Got to love PH!

It’s not really clear what the picture is presenting or in what context, so, yes.

[Lotusgav]

I’ve had 4 Elises and am currently in a 987 Boxster (which I think has plenty of feel and isn’t at all boring) but my heart lies with Lotus and as a last hurrah ICE and second car I’m very keen that it’s a good car! Cos I definitely want one...

[Cold]

Venturist said:

Cold said:

People are looking at a stock picture of a chassis and concluding that the new car is exactly the same as the old car?

Got to love PH!

It’s not really clear what the picture is presenting or in what context, so, yes.

Just to put this to bed once and for all and to save the blushes of PHers, the chassis pictured is a validation and quality control item to asses the manufacturing process of the new production site. That's it.
Read no more into it.

https://media.lotuscars.com/en/news-articles/the-s...

[Olivera]

duncs said:

Pumpsmynads said:

It will be the AMG unit from the A45.

I have 'heard' that this is what's going in the entry level versions, complete with DC box

Sounds like nonsense to me. The A45 engine is allegedly going to form the basis (with hybrid) of future C63/E63 cars, so selling it to Lotus seems unlikely. There isn't even an equity stake in play like Merc have with Aston for V8 4.0 supply.

[duncs]

Olivera said:

duncs said:

Pumpsmynads said:

It will be the AMG unit from the A45.

I have 'heard' that this is what's going in the entry level versions, complete with DC box

Sounds like nonsense to me. The A45 engine is allegedly going to form the basis (with hybrid) of future C63/E63 cars, so selling it to Lotus seems unlikely. There isn't even an equity stake in play like Merc have with Aston for V8 4.0 supply.

Certainly could be nonsense but from Autocar (not the most reliable source I admit) there is co-operation between Merc and Geely afoot ......

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/m...

"Further details to the German-Sino co-operation remain under wraps, but Mercedes-Benz sources suggest the new four-cylinder would be used jointly by Mercedes-Benz and Geely as well as a number of Geely-owned brands, including Volvo, Lynk&Co, Proton and, possibly, Lotus."

[Bob-iylho]

I'm still stuck in 1979

[anonymous-user]

Bob-iylho said:

I'm still stuck in 1979

Beautiful looking car. JPS years were Lotus' hey-day by a country mile. Alarmingly almost half a century ago.

[redrabbit]

Bob-iylho said:

I'm still stuck in 1979

1986 for me

[jcl]

Great and I wish them the best of luck with it but it wouldn’t really bother me, that current Elise in the article photos is everything I would want in a drivers car.

[TdM-GTV]

Everyone keeps complaining about the chassis being old. Even if it's based on the same chassis, this being a chassis that is often at the top of handling and ride quality in reviews and the only reason it not winning usually being down to onboard tech and not being loaded with sound deadening and modern luxuries, what's wrong with using a modified version of that, widely regarded as brilliant, chassis?

[theclutch]

Olivera said:

duncs said:

Pumpsmynads said:

It will be the AMG unit from the A45.

I have 'heard' that this is what's going in the entry level versions, complete with DC box

Sounds like nonsense to me. The A45 engine is allegedly going to form the basis (with hybrid) of future C63/E63 cars, so selling it to Lotus seems unlikely. There isn't even an equity stake in play like Merc have with Aston for V8 4.0 supply.

Clearly you're not aware of the relationship between Daimler and Geely

Geely are the largest shareholder of Daimler AG.

Edited by theclutch on Friday 22 January 00:50

[Bser16]

" as well as featuring entirely new electrical architecture for increased connectivity." RIP Lotus. Im guessing the Elise-Evora Mashup will weight at the very least 1,590kg especially when seeing the lightest Evija is going to be at least 1,680kg. Shame, as I always wanted a manual Exige and that is looking like they are done with lightweight driver's cars.

[HeMightBeBanned]

TdM-GTV said:

Everyone keeps complaining about the chassis being old. Even if it's based on the same chassis, this being a chassis that is often at the top of handling and ride quality in reviews and the only reason it not winning usually being down to onboard tech and not being loaded with sound deadening and modern luxuries, what's wrong with using a modified version of that, widely regarded as brilliant, chassis?

Because it makes the resulting car bloody difficult to live with for most people. The interior is cramped and the high sill (which can’t be reduced any further) coupled with limited door opening makes them bloody hard to get in and out of. Especially with a roof on. Most people just can’t be bothered to live with the compromises it forces, in order to deliver the brilliant driving experience.

Lotus needs to appeal to a far wider audience and a car based on the M111 chassis can’t deliver that.

I’m no Lotus hater - I’ve owned 4 and have two M111-based cars in the garage right now. The raw fact is that the M111 chassis is a dead-end for sales growth.