S3 Elise unveiling in March?

[gorrie]

I think the S2 still looks quite young, so will be interesting to see what they do with the S3 to make it look WOW.

From a completely selfish p.o.v I see this as great news.
In the S1 v S2 asthetics debate, I'm in the S2 'camp' (that's the appropriate word for S2-ers isn't it?).
I loved mine... I'd have another some day.
With the release of an S3, it can surely only push second-hand S2 values down... and, with there being plenty S2's around compared to S1's, probably lower priced than S1's.

£6K for an S2 that spends most it's time in the garage, I can probably handle that.

Andy.

[Rich H]

I would imagine the 1.6 will be in a nice cushy low-tax bracket but they are going to struggle to keep the weight down with all the driver aids, safety features, 85 air bags, subscription to Greenpeace and pedestrian safety stuff...

[scott_e]

I would imagine the 1.6 will be in a nice cushy low-tax bracket but they are going to struggle to keep the weight down with all the driver aids, safety features, 85 air bags, subscription to Greenpeace and pedestrian safety stuff...

see thats what worries me too, prefer a stripped down lotus with the S2 (ish) looks with performance as the focus with no add ons, keep it super light. Want it to be something to compete with all these EVO FQ 360 etc that do 0-60 on 3.5 seconds or what ever.

[Edinburgh 111s]

There is no way 130/160 bhp is going to cut it in 2010. I know a Lotus is not all about headline figures, but come on, 130 bhp, most shopping cars have more than that!

I wonder if the 2010MY Exige will stay in production? Strange to redesign it late last year only to replace it a year later? time will tell i guess, although i love the Look of the S2's - and they still look very modern so not so sure if the redesign will be to radical

What we do know is that there will be a new engine, and what i know about the current Toyota line up it is nothing to get excitited about, they would need to totally remap it, and add forced induction...which they wont untill after a few years of production. The 111r was out for nearly three years until the SC came along, and the N/A exige was out for two until the S (240r aside)

Looking forward to seeing it at the Geneva show (not that i am going!) Although knowing Lotus they may surprise everybody and unveil the new Esprit and not the S3 Elise, afterall no one saw the S2 Coming along, they shocked everyone when they launched it.

[j2 lot]

I think the market for the stripped out version may be limited . Uness it can be really light with decent horsepower it isn't going to get existing Lotus owners out of their current versions.
To get sales in decent numbers Lotus have to appeal to the broader market who want gadgets and 'trim'.

Lets hope they are able to cater for both markets with appropriate performance and the option of 'touring packs' or whatever to spec it up a bit , and it needs to be competivelly priced too

[DDtB]

meh... I think a 130/160bhp lightweight version would be pretty tempting actually. There's clearly a market for the softer, more luxurious versions but there's still a market for the more basic, more edgy one too imho.

Maybe it's just me, but I have no urge to get a gadget laden, heavy sports car albeit with 10000000 bhp to help make up for the extra weight and also provide some pub top-trump fun..... Mine is just a weekend/trackday toy though and not something I use to go into town or pop to the shops in, so I don't need luxuries.

Plus, there's enough folks out there driving supercharged variants just now to make my standard-ish S1 feel fast enough when it goes past them at Knockhill regardless of its shopping car power

[Gourlay83]

Looking forward to this one.

Lotus obviously realised they sold their souls with the S2, adding Servo's, A/C and traction control to gain the "Women and Hairdressers" market share.

Alan

[Mr Momo]

Why has this stayed underground so far ? News about Eagle/Evora was around for ages.

I'm in the camp of stripped-out, up-to-date chassis with low/med power at low cost - 130bhp for 650kg ? - trying to cash in on some on Caterham's recent market

Would be nice, but not raw.

[steve_weegie]

Looking forward to this one.

Lotus obviously realised they sold their souls with the S2, adding Servo's, A/C and traction control to gain the "Women and Hairdressers" market share.

Alan

<coughs>

I think you'll find the early S2's that have none of these limp wristed gadgets, are the connoisseurs choice

If they take the S3 elise in a similar vein & leave the Evora as the softer choice, they will do well I think

[vx220]

Stripped out and lightweight but still needs more power than 130bhp, up it to atleast 160bhp and more like 200bhp and then you have a real alternative to Caterhams

[vx220]

So what prices do you reckon they will start at?

[smee]

I dont agree with the carbon fibre chat, It would hurt evora sales if they made the cheaper models carbon but their 50k car was made out of B&Q bath tubs. I suppose leaking the eagle/evora was there because it was a completely new move for Lotus and they needed to make their new market aware of what was coming but they can keep the s3 secret because they know they have a loyal following already.

[Edinburgh 111s]

I think the market for the stripped out version may be limited . Uness it can be really light with decent horsepower it isn't going to get existing Lotus owners out of their current versions.
To get sales in decent numbers Lotus have to appeal to the broader market who want gadgets and 'trim'.

Lets hope they are able to cater for both markets with appropriate performance and the option of 'touring packs' or whatever to spec it up a bit , and it needs to be competivelly priced too

I agree, i would be amazed if Lotus made a stripped out version off the S3 - that is where the 2-11 fits in to the market. They need to sell this car to the masses, and most potential buyers do not want a stripped out road car. (I do, but then i love light weight cars). So lets say that the new Elise will be about 850/900 kilos (going on the current range), 130/160 bhp is a joke for that weight of car. It needs to be 200+ if they are going to be that heavy. Time well tell - Lotus may shock us with a stripped out vesrion, producing 200 bhp +

[Corranga]

I don't see how they could realistically do something the weight of an S1 with the modern safety alone, never mind extra padding, sound proofing etc. especially when they have to ad a heavier engine too.

All that said, isn't the current basic Elise (Elise S?) only around the 130hp mark anyway and surely weighs around 8-900kg and generally a low power model is released before the hotter versions..

Chris

[Edin430]

Doubt Elise S2 prices will fall as far as £6k, although I could be wrong. That's first gen S2K money and average S1 money.

The Exige S release has upheld the value of the N/A - so hopefully any new models will do the same to the S2.

I hope it will be the new Esprit that is released, not the next Elise. Although that might kill the Evora sales.

Either way i'm looking forward to seeing it..... Funny how one article pops up saying the Elise S3 is being released and every forum starts discussing it.

Oh and very much doubt it will be a stripped out fella, as above, they have been there with the 2-11.