S3 Elise unveiling in March?

[Shug]

Just skim read the last couple of pages. Are people seriously getting het up about something Autocar printed?

I've never seen an Autocar artists impression that bore any resemblance to the actual car that was launched - they are legendary for doing crap like this as they need to fill column space weekly.

It's fiction. Let's wait till we get some fact before panning it, eh?

[Lazydonkey]

Normally i'd agree shuggles but they are claimed to be offical pics

[Ferg]

Just looks like they've updated the S2 to make it 'look' like it shares a product line with the Evora as it's proving so popular.

It looks strangely closer to an S1 at the front now....

[Shug]

Ah so - just looked at the link.

It's a facelift though, so not sure they'll call it the S3, will they? As a facelift, it's decent and grabs a bit of family resemblance with the Evora and the halo effect of that. VVTLi and SC options stay for now. 1.6 is a poor replacement for the S, no doubt, but perhaps primarily chosen for those who buy it cos it looks nice and don't care about the performance (they exist) Lower CO2 will be a good draw for that customer. Interesting to see what's in the pipeline for when the VVTLi dries up - as I'm sure Lotus aren't quite daft enough to think a low-power entry level model will sustain the Elise range (as it is a range for them now)

[PhilA]

will need to see it in the flesh to be sure, but to me first impressions are "ugly".
backend looks weird and disjointed.
the S2 front end is maybe busy, but at least it looks shrink wrapped and light.
It now looks heavy, from those pics.

would like to know more about the new gearbox...

apart from that, nothing would make me want one over a S2.
unless it was cheaper so i could get one sooner!!

[Andy G]

http://pistonheads.co.uk/lotus/default. ... ryId=21517

Hardly the S3 or "new" Elise

[J-Man]

Cruise control

[Stevoraith]

Exactly Andy.

Is nobody reading the links that have been posted?

Nowhere (other than the original Lotus central link) is claiming it to be anything other than a facelift for the S2.

They all talk about "styling tweaks" and "new front lights and rear bumper".

No mention of any suspension updates or any mechanical changes other than the new engine in one model and a new gearbox.

When the Rover engines were replaced with Toyota ones there were far more mechanical changes than there are in this update and no-one claimed it to be an S3 back then.

If it was billed in the original link as an S2 facelift would everyone be so disappointed?

[PhilA]

yeah, just i guess everyone is hopeful about a new elise from lotus... and i reckon this was let out now rather than march as there is a better unveiling to come?

the 2010 exige is better looking

[ed]

Looks like a mr2.

[mwmackenzie]

Not a fan of that at all! current S2 looks sharper... that's a very lazy facelift in my opinion

[Sanjøy]

Cruise + close ratio, nice combo boys.

[vx220]

exige is better looking

- Always has been!

[gorrie]

I know style/looks is subjective... but on those pictures... I think I'd take the current 'S2' over it. May be a grower though.

With the mild changes, would this be an S4 as they updated some body parts on the S2 when they moved from K to Toyota.... making the Yota S2 an S3...
As has been said, it appears that it's purely a mild facelift to the S2. It's certainly no S3... which means a good while to wait now for an S3.

[J-Man]

Compare & contrast?