S3 Elise unveiling in March?

[tut]

Elise S3? Started to write my thoughts, but ended up staring at the wallpaper instead.

tut

[Edinburgh 111s]

I like the front end, alot cleaner.

Lets see what it looks like in the flesh, and what other varients come along with forced induction etc

[r055]

anyone else think the elise cruise control option is just a bi-product of having a toyota? Sticking throttle anyone?

[Gooldie]

Seriously, it that it?

Massive dissapointment.

Evo says 134 bhp and 876kg ! so that's 150ish bhp per tonne.

Complicate and add weight, it would seem

Couldn't agree more, what a waste of time.

[tut]

"The car in front is a Toyota....."

Of course it bloody is. It's throttle is jammed open.

tut

[Corranga]

The S1 'borrowed' many styling points from the Ferarri Dino... and there was no law suit back then.

There are possibly a couple of very small similarities in the S3 vs California pics, on the front end... but only a blind fool would think one was a copy of the other....

You mean apart from the very similar head lights, lower vents and large radiator vent? ie the front 25% of the car...

The rest of the car is barely different from an s2.

Similar to the Fezza or not, it's a bit of a disappointment following 10 years of the s2!

Chris

[DDtB]

You mean apart from the very similar head lights, lower vents and large radiator vent? ie the front 25% of the car...

oh.... you were serious...you think the front 25% of the car was copied to the extent to leave Lotus open to a law suit ?!??



HTH...

[vx220]

IMO Lotus have dropped a clanger here, there is really no real upgrade from the S2. The styling is nothing more than a mild facelift, the engines are nothing to get excited about, the price is expected to be the same too, so exactly what are Lotus doing to try to attract new customers and keep loyal the existing ones?

If you look at the change from S1 to S2 there were some noticable changes to try to attract new customers and try to entice current owners to upgrade. I dont think there are any points the S3 has to entice S1 or S2 owners to upgrade or indeed attract new customers who havent already bought the S2.

Gotta be a big marketing blunder this one.

Only saving grace is if they come out and say the new S3 costs £18k new (but then that will alienate existing customers somewhat with the possible depreciation of the S2).

[smee]

Money must be tight after evora development because that looks like warmed up leftovers. Like many of you have aleady said i am really disappointed. Although knew it wouldn't be carbon

[j2 lot]

Got to agree with VX220, not different enough to have existing owners trading up. To be fair the S3 probably is 'all new' as it has new motor too but it looks like a mild facelift. All new car is 2014 so this version has to keep buyers parting with their hardearned for 3 years !!
As a diehard Lotus owner I could/would have gone for the S3 if it had flicked my switches - as it is I will stick with the Europa and keep saving for an Evora
Let's hope the S3 gets stunning reviews when the magazines drive it. If not Lotus may struggle with this one.

[Corranga]

oh.... you were serious...you think the front 25% of the car was copied to the extent to leave Lotus open to a law suit ?!??

HTH...

The law suit was a joke, the fact it looks kinda like the Fezza wasn't

S'pose a bit part of me just wanted to be blown away like the first time I saw an s1 , should have known that wasn't to be:(

[Victor Meldrew]

Ah well..

[DDtB]

Fuss about nothing I reckon. They're only the Autospurt pics and chances are bear no resemblance to anything due to come out of Hethel.

That may actually be pics of a facelift for the S2 ... which is fine and probably due imho... But it's not an S3 Elise..... More like what they've just done to the Exige for 2010.

The S3 will be no doubt be announced when we're least expecting it and be much better !! I'd be very surprised if Autospurt got their hands on the real pics of the S3 (whenever it comes) before an official Lotus launch!

[Digital]

Meh, what a disappointment

Just looks a bit bland and not memorable at all. Some details are OK, the grilles in the side vents are OK, but the break in the grille above the radiator just looks odd (http://www.lotus-central.com/images/sto ... ises3h.jpg).

[Stevoraith]

That may actually be pics of a facelift for the S2 ... which is fine and probably due imho... But it's not an S3 Elise..... More like what they've just done to the Exige for 2010.

Thats exactly what I thought. I doubt thats actually an 'S3'. I'm sure there would have been more leaked info regarding the development of an entirely new car over the past couple of years.

Have Lotus confirmed that there will be an S3 unveiled? I can't remember reading anything about it so it seems like we're all getting worked up because someone on a forum said they were unveiling an S3 when in fact it's just an S2 facelift.