RE: Abarth Roadster - Like A Lotus, But Not?
Discussion
I can't see this happening. Fiat has its work cut out trying to make a success of Chrysler (a huge tumour which could easily kill it if it can't find a cure) to be arsing around with follies like this. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it. But £20K for a mid engined roadster when they don't have a chassis for it already? And where would they build it so they could keep costs low? And they've found a business case in spite of the Elise, Opel Speedster/VX220 and RenaultSport Spider selling in tiny numbers?
sunsurfer said:
I think Lotus would be idiotic to completely vacate Lotus Elise territory. I quite like some of their proposed new cars but the new Elise is a Boxster rival. I would suspect they will offer something below the new Elise - a new Lotus Seven?
I also think it is idiotic, but that's the plan. A new Seven would not be a luxury good, and that is what "the Lotus brand" is all about to the new management.This sounds awesome. We went to the Abarth museum near San Marino a couple of years ago and they have a far greater history than I'd ever appreciated. Such a shame you couldn't take photos in there or I'd put some up.
The Elise vacuum will surely be filled by someone. Abarth have a good badge and I hope it isn't abused with tinsled FIATs. A bespoke lightweight mid-engined sportscar with decent, modern, efficient engines sounds right up my street.
The Elise vacuum will surely be filled by someone. Abarth have a good badge and I hope it isn't abused with tinsled FIATs. A bespoke lightweight mid-engined sportscar with decent, modern, efficient engines sounds right up my street.
otolith said:
sunsurfer said:
I think Lotus would be idiotic to completely vacate Lotus Elise territory. I quite like some of their proposed new cars but the new Elise is a Boxster rival. I would suspect they will offer something below the new Elise - a new Lotus Seven?
I also think it is idiotic, but that's the plan. A new Seven would not be a luxury good, and that is what "the Lotus brand" is all about to the new management.If Fiat get this right, I will be delighted because I think the demise of the original Elise market is a shame. Whether they can make a profit out of it, we shall see.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 27th October 17:36
kambites said:
I could see an "Elise Clubsport" if you like - a lightened version of the new VVC Elise which weighs similar to the current car but costs twice as much.
Possibly - although I think the increase in weight is largely down to an increase in size and a move to aluminium bodywork rather than the addition of kit that can be deleted, so I'm not sure how much scope for lightening by stripping out there is. I reckon deleted interior trim, string door handles and a largely nominal weight reduction would fit in with the new marketing-led Lotus.I will also be delighted if this Abarth is genuinely light, but I think it is more likely to be around MX5/VW BlueSport/MK3 Elise mainstream small sports car territory.
Make it small, low powered, cute and cheap and stick a Fiat badge on the nose. Go after the MX5
Two years time make it slightly bigger, more powerful, sexy, not too expensive and stick an Alfa badge on the nose. Go after the Z4.
If Fiat spread their development costs like every other major manufacturer thy might be able to afford to sort out Chrysler.
Two years time make it slightly bigger, more powerful, sexy, not too expensive and stick an Alfa badge on the nose. Go after the Z4.
If Fiat spread their development costs like every other major manufacturer thy might be able to afford to sort out Chrysler.
otolith said:
sunsurfer said:
I think Lotus would be idiotic to completely vacate Lotus Elise territory. I quite like some of their proposed new cars but the new Elise is a Boxster rival. I would suspect they will offer something below the new Elise - a new Lotus Seven?
I also think it is idiotic, but that's the plan. A new Seven would not be a luxury good, and that is what "the Lotus brand" is all about to the new management.MonkeyMatt said:
Dont forget that as well as the 1.4T twinair there there may be a 1.8T (1750) and possibly a 2.8 turbo V8!
And remeber there are other FIAT group cars so chances are that that they will use the chassis for an Alfa or a Lancia and possibly a Chrysler/Dodge as well, so the price may well be in the twenties after all.
The whole reason Abarth haven't already built (and sold) the third car in their range (as opposed to the 500 and Punto) is that they refused to use the platforms already available. Lancia, Alfa, Fiat, Chrysler, etc. are not interested in a mid-engined platform - it doesn't fit with anything they are doing or planning to do so Abarth had to go it alone on this.And remeber there are other FIAT group cars so chances are that that they will use the chassis for an Alfa or a Lancia and possibly a Chrysler/Dodge as well, so the price may well be in the twenties after all.
The range topper was part of their original plan and has been on the drawing board from day 1 (about 5 years now) but the chassis has been the fly in the ointment. We know other manufacturers have been approached but it looks like even they have priced themselves out of the market. On the other hand Fiat and Abarth have had plenty of light weight chassis in the past (Abarth and Fiat produced an all alloy version of the X1/9 back in the 70s but it was too expensive and not light enough to be useful with the technologies of that era). The X1/9 wasn't exactly a heavyweight to start with - in stripped out form it came in at 600kg but not exactly suitable for the road. The core chassis itself bears a remarkable resemblence to the original Elise (somewhat inevitable considering the layout) so what we're talking about in terms of chassis design is fabrication and assembly rather than design and Abarth just happen to have plenty of space for low volume construction already.
Pretty much everything is already in place - it might take another few years before it reaches the market but the imagined hurdles aren't there, the real hurdle is the Fiat empire itself with huge opposition from within.
otolith said:
It still bears far more resemblance to the original car than it does to anything else you can buy today - but it won't when the new model is released.
Anything else you can buy today, yes. I'd argue that the mk3 MR2 was closer in ethos to the mk1 Elise than the current Elise is. I'm looking forward to seeing this car for real. A modern time Fiat X19 please. VW are also planning a Bluemotion Sports thingy (or some name like that). Both look nice. I just hope the entry models are not too expensive.
Please make sure neither car leaks and the roofs are easy to handle though. The main market will be girlies.
Please make sure neither car leaks and the roofs are easy to handle though. The main market will be girlies.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff