Lotus U K Launch at Knockhill

[Shug]

Same reason - CGT meant to mimic the balsa wood knob on the 917, this meant to mimic the wood gear knob (I assume balsa, for lightness, as well) on the T25 F1 car.

Not sold on either TBH, but like the fact that they try to give a historical connection.

[Victor Meldrew]

Time to go against the flow....

I love it.. I want one.. get me the right finance deal and I'll pay a deposit on Sunday..

[Andy G]

think you are talking to the wrong place

try 0131 442 2800, ask for G Robertson, then bend over

[Victor Meldrew]

think you are talking to the wrong place

try 0131 442 2800, ask for G Robertson, then bend over

[Neil72]

Any word on how much this will cost ? Is there a premium over a std car with similar spec ?

It looks OK to me (a wee bit garish) but I wish Lotus would give up on this nonsense of trotting out endless "limited edition" models. It smacks of desperation to me

[campbell]

Not a bad effort. At least it's a truly limited run. But I guess they needed another "special" to plug the gap between the last major Elise update and whenever they plan to do another. Presumably after they get the Eagle off the ground? (oops, sorry about that...)

[Shug]

Not a bad effort. At least it's a truly limited run. But I guess they needed another "special" to plug the gap between the last major Elise update and whenever they plan to do another. Presumably after they get the Eagle off the ground? (oops, sorry about that...)

Ah, but will there be another Elise...? Seems odd that there's a 2 and a 2+2 Eagle in the offing - the Eagle won't be hugely bigger than the Elise. Will Lotus be able to afford 2 models so close in the future, or are they trying to move upmarket with the plan being an Eagle/Esprit lineup in a few years...? Will they really have capacity for a three-platform lineup?

Plus, they will be able to sell Eagles to more people (cabin access issues) and I daresay that they've spent a bit of time making it easier to build (what with buying up the Alu manufacturing side recently)

Hate to think of the Elise dying off, but it's an old design now and I can't see Lotus making an S3 before the Esprit - that'd be a helluva long time to keep bolting sh*t onto the existing platform...

I think they'd be nuts to head upmarket with their range - history shows when they try that, it goes funbags-up. Just a theory though...

[ryallm]

Not a bad effort. At least it's a truly limited run. But I guess they needed another "special" to plug the gap between the last major Elise update and whenever they plan to do another. Presumably after they get the Eagle off the ground? (oops, sorry about that...)

Ah, but will there be another Elise...? Seems odd that there's a 2 and a 2+2 Eagle in the offing - the Eagle won't be hugely bigger than the Elise. Will Lotus be able to afford 2 models so close in the future, or are they trying to move upmarket with the plan being an Eagle/Esprit lineup in a few years...? Will they really have capacity for a three-platform lineup?

Plus, they will be able to sell Eagles to more people (cabin access issues) and I daresay that they've spent a bit of time making it easier to build (what with buying up the Alu manufacturing side recently)

Hate to think of the Elise dying off, but it's an old design now and I can't see Lotus making an S3 before the Esprit - that'd be a helluva long time to keep bolting sh*t onto the existing platform...

I think they'd be nuts to head upmarket with their range - history shows when they try that, it goes funbags-up. Just a theory though...

Agree with you there - just look what happened to Noble and TVR when they tried to move upmarket. I amazes me that Lotus aren't at least planning to launch a heavily reskinned Elise/Exige in the near future. The S2 Elise was launched way back in late 2000. Ok, it has had a new engine in that time, but it is still pretty much the same car otherwise. Surely they are going to need a new Elise/Exige soon to keep the sales up rather than just special editions? Have to say, though, I think this particular special edition does look great

Mark

[jason]

It'd be a great shame - perhaps madness? - if Lotus abandoned the concept that appears to be what saved the marque... someone feel free to correct this possibly uninformed owner

As for the S2 - I don't see why it needs a new coat... whilst I can understand that some existing, long-term owners may be tiring of the current S2 'look', IMHO I don't think it's at all dated yet. Does anyone have sales figures to demonstrate demand is slowing?

No point in change just for the sake of change?

[tut]

Again, I have been sworn to secrecy, but there is also a chance that THEY WILL be launching the new Elise S3 on Sunday as well, and I have been sent a photo.

tut

[Shug]

It'd be a great shame - perhaps madness? - if Lotus abandoned the concept that appears to be what saved the marque... someone feel free to correct this possibly uninformed owner

Totally true - the factory had months where they couldn't pay the wage packet while the S1 was in pre-production. The S2 Elan was long out of production and the only model they had was the expensive to build and sell Esprit.

Designed from a clean sheet for £4.7million (IIRC) At the time, £10 million was going rate for a major manufacturer annual advertising budget for one model
Work of genius in adversity.

[GregR]

Back on topic...

I actually really like it. I'm looking forward to see how they cope with the type 25 single stripe as we've all seen a few efforts done by punters that've ended up looking like frogs with yellow lipstick.

I like the interior too - shame the wheel isn't alcantara and airbag-less (IIRC a pre-requisite on USA cars - but does such a limited run need to conform?). I like the wooden gearknob idea, but i'd have preferred a ball without the logo. If I'm honest, I see more point in the retro-inspired Lotus having one than the Carerra GT...

[j2 lot]

shame the wheel isn't alcantara

Alcantara doesn't wear well on the steering wheel, I had a JPS Type 79 and the steering wheel 'bobbled' and looked shabby really quickly.

[Shug]

Back on topic...

I actually really like it. I'm looking forward to see how they cope with the type 25 single stripe as we've all seen a few efforts done by punters that've ended up looking like frogs with yellow lipstick.

I like the interior too - shame the wheel isn't alcantara and airbag-less (IIRC a pre-requisite on USA cars - but does such a limited run need to conform?). I like the wooden gearknob idea, but i'd have preferred a ball without the logo. If I'm honest, I see more point in the retro-inspired Lotus having one than the Carerra GT...

& the wheel in the real 25 was leather - the gearknob is also a replica of the one in the F1 car.

As for the CGT - yeah, part of me agrees... The argument is that it was a road car based on a non-starter Le Mans car (the engine was designed for Le Mans originally) So, the connection with the 917 is pretty clear. Personally, I like the fact that they hark back to their glories in a way that's not too brash.

I'm still not sure if this special edition steps over that "too brash" line, but I like the sentiment

[BiggestNizzy]

type25.JPG

I like it