Lotus Elise Cup 250

[C7Steve]

Just spotted this over on Pistonheads

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-feed ... -250/33762


Steve.

[Dominic]

Loving the look of that!

[Mike Scib]

How much!!

[rawsco]

Starts at 46k carbon fibre body kit extra wonga

[C7Steve]

More info here;

http://www.lotuscars.com/news/engineeri ... se-cup-250


Steve.

[mckeann]

Another 4 seconds faster than previous model. A lap of Hethel is now under 27 seconds.

[renmure]

Without commenting on the price, I think that looks really good (I appreciate I may have poor taste or maybe like OTT stuff a bit too much)

[j2 lot]

I do like that
I have a courtesy Elise from MMC just now and the supercharger transforms it. I always felt my last Elise a 111R, was too on-off. This with 220bhp just goes, anytime you press the pedal, with another 30 it will be nuts

[BigD]

Without commenting on the price, I think that looks really good (I appreciate I may have poor taste or maybe like OTT stuff a bit too much)

You and me both. I really like it.

[ryallm]

Aero bits may not be to everyone's taste but this is going to be an absolute belter to drive. However there is a faint whiff of flogging a dead horse - I've said it before, but the current Elise is basically the same car as the S2 launched way back in late 2000. Lotus badly need an all new model. This is an Elises forum, and when was the last time anyone on here actually bought a brand new Elise? When I joined all those years ago there was constant chat amongst people ordering new Elises, myself included, with lots of debate on colour and spec - pretty rare these days!

[campbell]

Agree strongly, Mark.

I believe Lotus have a plan, and once they've progressed a couple of cashflow-oriented projects around Evora and Exige, the Elise will be next for regeneration.

Wouldn't surprise me if the project was well underway now in the design studio.

But they're still not having my S1!!

[j2 lot]

There's maybe not as many as there used to be and probably less on here but there is a steady trickle of people buying new Elises. Brandon posts photos on their FB and Twitter pages when new owners are collecting cars. A new Elise is mooted for 19/20 so they need to keep producing new variants for a year or 2 yet.

[robin]

the current Elise is basically the same car as the S2 launched way back in late 2000.

In fact it's almost entirely different, ignoring the body shell itself which is obviously similar to the original S2 Elise. I think the car still appeals and it's not so unusual for a manufacturer to drag a model along for decades after it was first exciting, churning out specials and facelifts. How long have Mazda made the MX5, basically the same body shape and performance over all the models/years. Ford have made the Focus for a similar period.

It might not excite us much because we're so used to it, but it's still a very special car that attracts people who have not got a previous association with the brand and provides an entry level (well, a bit pricey, but entry level for the brand) model. An S3 Elise would probably generate some press interest and short term boost in customer interest, but would ultimately sit at the same place in the range and attract the same outsiders into the brand. Two years after its introduction it will just be the same as the current S2.

Releasing special editions generates more or less the same result as releasing an S3 Elise IMHO.

On another note I bet that we'll find the S3 Elise a disappointment - it will inevitably have too much weight and power and questionable styling (in the same way that the S1 Elise owners will tell you that the S2 has questionable styling).

Cheers,
Robin

[woody]

the current Elise is basically the same car as the S2 launched way back in late 2000.

In fact it's almost entirely different, ignoring the body shell itself which is obviously similar to the original S2 Elise. I think the car still appeals and it's not so unusual for a manufacturer to drag a model along for decades after it was first exciting, churning out specials and facelifts. How long have Mazda made the MX5, basically the same body shape and performance over all the models/years. Ford have made the Focus for a similar period.

It might not excite us much because we're so used to it, but it's still a very special car that attracts people who have not got a previous association with the brand and provides an entry level (well, a bit pricey, but entry level for the brand) model. An S3 Elise would probably generate some press interest and short term boost in customer interest, but would ultimately sit at the same place in the range and attract the same outsiders into the brand. Two years after its introduction it will just be the same as the current S2.

Releasing special editions generates more or less the same result as releasing an S3 Elise IMHO.

On another note I bet that we'll find the S3 Elise a disappointment - it will inevitably have too much weight and power and questionable styling (in the same way that the S1 Elise owners will tell you that the S2 has questionable styling).

Cheers,
Robin

Think the doors, front wishbones, hubs & calipers & stalks are the same... Suppose it's quite an achievement to change almost every aspect of a car & have it remain or at least be perceived to remain so similar to the one launched 15 years ago.

[Kelvin]

It's a tough quandary when you get lucky and build an 'iconic' motor - where do you go with it after 20 years of it gaining middle aged spread and some plastic surgery. Do they re-invent the S1 so stripped basic light powerful enough or realise that power and performance still sell and build a more usable comfortable every day motor that's inevitably bigger, heavier, but a lot more powerful.

The pricing is interesting as fully specced and your into 50k+ which is V6 money. Even base spec is low mileage second hand V6 money.