Scottish Elises

OOOOOOH nice

Was just thinking about how the market has changed - think the Esprit is going to have to be very good to do well - 911, V8 AM, R8 etc
Hope Lotus really is pulling out all teh stops to ensure it really is a beast

Very nice, I think it's biggest problem will be finish all the high end manufacturers have sorted out things like interior finish and reliability, all the things that for the low volume producer are more difficult as they don't have the money to invest in the tooling. The Esprit will have to offer that something special in a crowded marketplace to do well.

jamie wrote:Was just thinking about how the market has changed - think the Esprit is going to have to be very good to do well - 911, V8 AM, R8 etc
Hope Lotus really is pulling out all teh stops to ensure it really is a beast

Yeah, it is going to have to be really good. I have no doubt the Lotus handling boys will make it great to drive, but the fit and finish is going to have to be far better than Lotus have ever managed before if it is going to compete with the R8. The last rumour I read in Autocar was that it may even have an Aston V8 engine rather than a BMW or Toyota V8 - it will make a very nice noise if true

Mark

shooomer wrote:I expect it to be an anticlimax

Do you have you name down for one?

very Gallardo-esque.

Shame about the S2 Elise grille on the white car.

The Toyota V8 would be the best option I reckon - I'd be surprised if BMW let them have their V10 as this's surely got some overlap with the M6.

The Aston engine is, by all accounts, slightly underwhelming in power, torque and delivery. Sure the noise makes up for it somewhat but some funcy exhaust tuning would surely make the Toyota engine better?

ryallm wrote:

jamie wrote:Was just thinking about how the market has changed - think the Esprit is going to have to be very good to do well - 911, V8 AM, R8 etc
Hope Lotus really is pulling out all teh stops to ensure it really is a beast

Yeah, it is going to have to be really good. I have no doubt the Lotus handling boys will make it great to drive, but the fit and finish is going to have to be far better than Lotus have ever managed before if it is going to compete with the R8. The last rumour I read in Autocar was that it may even have an Aston V8 engine rather than a BMW or Toyota V8 - it will make a very nice noise if true

Mark

Fit and finish hasnt stopped the likes of Noble shifting a few cars, but granted to make it a commercial success it really has to surpass anything theyve done before.

I Just hope this isnt a sign of the direction project Eagle will go



The rear is very Aston!

supposedly the finished article....



hint of Lambo about it?

supposedly the finished article....

That pic has been around for a while and IIRC was the design that Mike Kimberley said was not the new Esprit.

However the wheel do look similar design to the 08 Elise wheels. Its not a bad lookinh car but don't think nearly jaw dropping enough to have the impact that Lotus needs. Keith

I think the reason they are all Gallardo-esque is because they are all photoshopped Gallardos

just about to say, looks very Lambo-esque!

Lotus loosing direction?!

not at all sir! However i am sure there is Lambo-esque pricing to accompany the design!

Rag_It wrote:not at all sir! However i am sure there is Lambo-esque pricing to accompany the design!

Thing is it would have to be at least as good as all the other super/hyper cars in that price bracket and let's face it lotus no not have the budget to pull it off. everyone in that bracket has huge budgets and can use the car as a "design study" and afford to make a loss on it because information will work it's way down into base models made my same group manufacturers.

Can lotus produce a 911 beater for 911 money ?

I'm sure I've seen the side air in-take somewhere before.