Exige S to US?

[karmavore]

OK, who knows the score?

I kinda hope it isn't true cos there will be some mity pissed Exige early adopters out there...

[yeller77]

OK, who knows the score?

I kinda hope it isn't true cos there will be some mity pissed Exige early adopters out there...

I'm betting on Elise S, lowering the entry level price bar to stimulate sales. Any more Exiges will only be limited in number and not likely help the bottom line that much.

Tho' I hope you're right, Exige needs to be more of an arse-kicker than a faster Elise without a leaky top.

[esprithk]

I have talked to my friend who runs a private owned Lotus Elise team in USA.

the slow sale of Elise is due to the "fly-by-wire" system....(considering it is manual steering. the market expects the car to be "back to basic, Go-Kart direct feedback, not electronic)

American prefer the pre-2005 Elise

so any introduction of new Elise/Exige to the USA market (especially California)

must take off that "fly-by-wire" electronic system first..(the market likes raw mechanical feedback)

**however, this is not possible because of the emission regulation.

so tough luck to Lotus UK

Edited September 27, 2006 by esprithk

[LW Elise]

OK, who knows the score?

I kinda hope it isn't true cos there will be some mity pissed Exige early adopters out there...

$56900 American. First ones "in" (I'm in California) will reach our West Coast in November. List formed about 4 weeks ago when initial storm titanium was stated to be coming into dealers.

I'm actually debating between going for an 02 Esprit or new Exige S since the new Esprit may be a long way away. Both would be about the same price here.

Worthy of note is that the horsepower increase with the supercharger is only 28 hp, so I'm not sure so many people will be that upset. I'm more upset how soft the price will be on chopping in a basically new Elise.

[Kimbers]

$56900 American. First ones "in" (I'm in California) will reach our West Coast in November. List formed about 4 weeks ago when initial storm titanium was stated to be coming into dealers.

I'm actually debating between going for an 02 Esprit or new Exige S since the new Esprit may be a long way away. Both would be about the same price here.

Worthy of note is that the horsepower increase with the supercharger is only 28 hp, so I'm not sure so many people will be that upset. I'm more upset how soft the price will be on chopping in a basically new Elise.

Thanks, you answered for me. The Exige S is an awesome car. I drove it prior to it's release, enthused about it on here and then got bollocked for saying about it prior to it's release......post was then mysteriously edited.....

If there is one Lotus that every Esprit driver has to drive it's the supercharged Exige, it's like a demented clockwork toy and I found myself slowing as I passed cars on the motorwaythen suddenly hitting the accelerator to streak away! I actually got out of the car shaking with adrenaline.

My brother who was next to me got out shaking for another reason.....he screams like a girl!

Edited September 27, 2006 by Kimbers

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Hahahaha!

I would also imagien, like all Elises / Exiges that the engine will be further tweakable / abusable - and once you have things like turbo or super chargers, you can usually wind up the boost or fit intercoolers etc

[mayevora]

So what we really want is Exige S performance and Esprit looks! - simple really

Edited September 27, 2006 by mayesprit

[esprithk]

I don't understand this.

do you mean the Exige S comes with a supercharged engine??

or the owner adds the supercharger to the car?

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Errr I could be horribly wrong here but I thought the whole point of it was that it IS supercharged!!!

[DarrylV8]

I thought the S was a S/C 218 bhp engined machine

the limiled edition (about 18/24 months ago) was a fully fledged 240 bhp flying machine

with the (run of the mill) basic Exige using the 190 bhp engine as fitted to the Elise R

The S/C is what most of the Elise owners want as a kit but i would have thought Lotus would bring out an Elise RR version using the S/C 218 engine

The Exige S version though i've not driven one (there was one at the LCI weekend dinner) does look, the dogs twitch*r

I had a dream last night of driving an M250 with the S/C - 218 engine though it seamed very real to me (the dream that is?)

[yeller77]

$56900 American. First ones "in" (I'm in California) will reach our West Coast in November. List formed about 4 weeks ago when initial storm titanium was stated to be coming into dealers.

I'm actually debating between going for an 02 Esprit or new Exige S since the new Esprit may be a long way away. Both would be about the same price here.

Worthy of note is that the horsepower increase with the supercharger is only 28 hp, so I'm not sure so many people will be that upset. I'm more upset how soft the price will be on chopping in a basically new Elise.

Great, another couple hundred cars for the US market....

[Tony K]

So what we really want is Exige S performance and Esprit looks! - simple really

Bingo! Yes, pretty simple! Give us a good looking car that performs well!

The Exige is the new Europa Twin Cam for the Lotus lineup -- it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down, but it's good enough in bed that people overlook its aesthetic shortcomings...

Edited September 27, 2006 by Tony K

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I think the Exige looks the nuts!

Mean, purposeful and to the point - I love it

[WayneB]

Try these Robin

My friend Campbell, whos mom owns the first Elise sold in Canada phoned me to say he had saw a white what he thought was an Exige S on HWY. 401 the other day with Georgia license plates on it

Lotus cars USA are based out of Georgia are they not?

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Yeah well, Wayne - you think the Zonda looks crap so I place NO heed on your car tastes!

(except one!)

[Goose]

Yeah well, Wayne - you think the Zonda looks crap so I place NO heed on your car tastes!

(except one!)

If the Exige looked like a Zonda then I think I would start saving now. Saw one at the London Motorshow and it looked great.

[karmavore]

I

[DarrylV8]

I

Edited September 27, 2006 by darryl

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Well Lotus always did aspire to Porsche!

It looks like they've finally acheived it! No f*er can tell which model's which and what the differences are?!

[1amk34@hotmail.co.uk]

I have to say that the Exige S really is an experience not to be missed. Wayne, shame on you making a judgement prior to actually experiencing one I thought you were an engineer?

I drove a dealer demo and When you wind that baby up she starts with the normal Lotus "burble" which turns into a growl then the supercharger cuts in and Holy Cr*p the roar turns into fully fledged F1 scream with a hint of supercharger whine and all the time time you are looking in the mirror and all you can see is this supercharger whizzing away!

Then you realise that you've hit warp factor 1!! I really couldn't stop myself screaming "Holy Crap!" as you get pushed into the seat.

My mate saw me and said it was like watching one of those old movies where they speed up the car. Adrenaline does also come in Brown!!!!

Edited September 27, 2006 by Skidz

[WayneB]

Dont bollock me Craig, all I said was my mate saw one on HWY 401 and that it was white with Georgia plates

I would think that things a hoot to drive, but that styling................

Hoping decient Lotus styling has a renaissance with the new Esprit

[mayevora]

Got into in to an Exige back in the summer. Absolutely not made for big blokes. When you're 6" 6" and a shade under 20 stone, its a bit of a no go area. I haven't got the coolest entrance or exit from Esprit but climbing into Exige cockpit was just a bit embarrrasing with a croud around.

However, if a foot shorter and a cask of ale lighter, it would have to make the shopping list though.

Edited September 27, 2006 by mayesprit

[Vulcan Grey]

Dont bollock me Craig, all I said was my mate saw one on HWY 401 and that it was white with Georgia plates

I would think that things a hoot to drive, but that styling................

Hoping decient Lotus styling has a renaissance with the new Esprit

Haha "Craig"

I'm not sure now that Wayne knows your "personality"... B)

But Craig does have a point

I have to wonder, would people be so outspoken about their dislike of the current Lotus styling (or the rumored future Esprit) if they were face to face with the designer? Not an attack Wayne, just a question.

I know they were pretty crushed at Lotus when people were immediately trashing the Europa S before it was ever seen in person. I feel sorry for the team.

I only wish Lotus sucess, and am not upset when they come out with a new improved model. That's what they have to do to be profitible, use existing developed platforms to divest the costs while renewing interest as improvements come out.

Edited September 27, 2006 by Vulcan Grey

[WayneB]

Travis, I dont know if you know this but I am a freelance vehicle stylist by trade and have had my work critisised , rejected and laughed at by the best of them

Yes it can hurt, but alot of times things end up so compromised due to circumstances that they look nothing like what you initially envisaged.

I would love to chat with Russel Carr about Lotuses current styling direction.

And yes I know who "Craig " is in real life

[Vulcan Grey]

Yes, I did know that about you.

Have anything you can share?

I promise no rocks, or wedges of cheese...

I also know about the thick skin a designer must have, though my designs go under the skin...

I think most people at my work are just happy the implant doesn't look like little a Lotus car.