New Elise/Exige Models???????

M Blur · Post by **M Blur** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:46 pm

Any saving in the alloys - switching to superlight OZ, Volk etc.>?

What about dampers, suspension arms etc etc.
Thinner glass?
Titanium exhaust
Lightweight bells and discs
Composite seats - single seat?
Remove doors into a unitub..
Remove weather protection and rpelace with a simple 'spyder' set-up
Smaller dash set-up

Usually when you start saving weight in mechanical bits the cost rockets - less is more ..

Always ways tho..

relative of course but road cars always way too heavy for track.. and too softly sprung.

ryallm · Post by **ryallm** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:20 pm

I reckon there is likely to be an all new S3 Elise within a year. The S2 was launched late 01, without anyone apparently having any idea it was on the way - pretty amazing considering they put up a new factory to build it, along with the VX220. So, my money is on a heavily restyled Elise with the same basic chassis in the not too distant future. Lets hope they keep the weight down, and that they do an S3 Exige too.

Mark

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:24 pm

ryallm wrote: that they do an S3 Exige too.

Mark

Thats the kind of racey chat that will get me saving

M Blur · Post by **M Blur** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:59 pm

ryallm wrote:I reckon there is likely to be an all new S3 Elise within a year. The S2 was launched late 01, without anyone apparently having any idea it was on the way - pretty amazing considering they put up a new factory to build it, along with the VX220. So, my money is on a heavily restyled Elise with the same basic chassis in the not too distant future. Lets hope they keep the weight down, and that they do an S3 Exige too.

Mark

Strictly speakng isn't the Europa a sort of S3.. I'd be surpsied if there was an all-new Elise within the next 18 mths..

Didn't GM money help facilitate the new production line facility.. guessing it's there now and paid for.. guess balance sheets may be an issue - US pitch also a big deal to new product lines- also new Esprit project in the wings - enough money to cover everything?

woody · Post by **woody** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:50 pm

I thought the S3 was going to be based around the VVA chassis system?

Post by **simon** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:54 pm

I'd be surprised if an S3 Elise came out before the Esprit, they've already said that they think there are enough variants they can bring out on that platform until then. I also thought that they'd be using the VVA system for it.

The Europa is pretty much an S2 VX

Actually, it was never meant to be a Lotus, remember all the patents that were posted online? All of them were submitted by Proton and not Lotus.