auRouge 438 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Apologies if this is being discussed somewhere else in the forum. http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-events/geneva/2017/alpine-sports-car-2017-revealed/ Cant help thinking Lotus should be building something like this instead of an SUV that it knows so little about in an over saturated market... The trend is shifting to what Lotus does best. Alpine has my attention as an everyday car. It's a great looking, light, modern drivetrain, alternative and not too expensive. Looking forward to testdriving one! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 4,343 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 I'm not worried about what Lotus should or should not be doing, but I like that a lot. Captured the original styling, and brought it up to date. It's also cheaper than buying an original Alpine! Quote Margate Exotics. Link to post Share on other sites
auRouge 438 Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 They've done well haven't they. I don't profess for a second to know much about the original but this modern interpretation really works. V Impressive spec and attention to detail. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
auRouge 438 Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 250bhp / 1080kg mid engined roughly 60/40 distribution with a punchy 4cyl mated to a Getrag dct... Decent suspension set up for both handling and everyday suppleness and Brembo 4pots... Am I missing something.. What's the catch? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nerobi 219 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 EPAS and not a good sound Overall it impresses me too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bravo73 1,297 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 And no manual option either. FWIW, the dynamic parts were developed by Caterham (many of the team being ex-Lotus) before the Caterham/Renault relationship ran into trouble. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post ChrisJ 1,475 Posted March 12, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 To answer the original question - In my opinion, no. Lotus need a proper 4-seater rather than yet another 2-seater. I am part of a large segment of the market that Lotus does not cater for, and I cannot see any circumstance where I would buy one of their current models. Now if there was a 4-seater - I'd be at the front of the queue. I bought a 25+ year old Excel so as to be able to go on holiday with my family in the make I prefer. So carry on the 2-door version plus derivatives - but also cater for families. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,805 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 SUV for you then 1 Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
NedaSay 835 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 If JMG and his crew get their way we should have an Elise Vs A110 by 2020. Renault and Caterham used the Elige has a template for the car so it is not surprising that the car is so close to what a 4 cyl hardtop Elige would be... The powertrain system spin is interesting, the system is lighter than the same car with a manual... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
auRouge 438 Posted March 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 A few years ago I hoped Lotus and Renault could have partnered up. F1 team etc, could have helped each other out... Lotus with access to the parts bin (transmission etc), budget to develop a new chassis and become more prevalent. Renault with a proper high level performance brand to go head to head with Porsche. It would appear my idea was definitely a non starter (Gallic shrug moment). Renault didn't need Lotus to make a fast everyday, modern, technologically advanced, lightweight sports car that you can occasionally track and competes well against Porsche Cayman! They also own an F1 team outright. Renault - 2 Lotus - nil Would have been cool if Lotus could have used this platform and spun off a Lotus version 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vanya 564 Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 I really like the new Alpine - it respects its heritage while maintaining an overall elegant design which is missing from its contemporaries. All the big manufacturers are pursuing more technical and aggressive designs, losing beauty in the process. However the lack of manual is a deal breaker for me. It's the same bloody mistake Alfa made with the 4C, which was nigh-on perfect. You can give me good suspension and steering feedback all you want but don't feed me stupid flappy paddles. I'm sure a MTR will be released at some point. As for Lotus, I believe the next Elise could be up to the challenge of matching this, especially if they release a more "Lux" version of it. The less said about that SUV the better. That thing won't have "just" missed the train by the time its out. I wouldn't be surprised if it'll be illegal to drive on half of european roads (owing to petrol engine) by the time it sees market. 2 Quote Vanya Stanisavljevic '91 Esprit SE | '97 XK8 Link to post Share on other sites
Arregueti 206 Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 I tend to agree. From pictures it seems a nice update of the original (if a bit awkward from some angles). Lack of manual transmission (and rear seats) is a show stopper for me, though. I hope this pushes Lotus to do even better cars moving forward. :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
auRouge 438 Posted March 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Kind of risky strategy in a way as it's a bit niche. Not everyone will like the alternative looks. Having experienced a Getrag dct in my current daily car for two years I must admit it's simply brilliant for everyday.. you can get properly involved when you're pushing on if you want to but it's still nothing compared to a stick and peddle (hence the Elise in my life!). I wonder how many Cayman or TTS's are sold manual these days? Full credit to Porsche & Audi for maintaining the option! Apparently Porsche have no idea how many real die hards there are out there with the new GT3 manual offering... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Arregueti 206 Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Fair point, I admit I have not tried one, but if your business case is based around nostalgia, you should probably give people the chance to enjoy it fully and offer a manual gearbox. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ramjet 1,086 Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Is it 'Alpeen' or 'Alpine'? I just heard the bit about the fuel tank being in the front. I don't know of any cars in Oz that have the fuel tank in the front. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. Link to post Share on other sites
AK70 218 Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 @ramjet: it is spoken "Alpiin" Quote For the few who know the difference Link to post Share on other sites
ramjet 1,086 Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Thanks. Learn something every day. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. Link to post Share on other sites
clivef38 156 Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 As a kid with radio under the covers the BBC pronounced it Alpeen? Monte Carlo rally. Like the new one though. Anything retro i like. Well sort of. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJW 677 Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 1 Quote Previously owned :Exige 380, Exige 350, Evora 400, Exige V6S, Esprit GT3, 2-11 SC, Evora S, Elite 501 Link to post Share on other sites
CaptainSlow 283 Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 Really nice, unfortunately not available in Sweden ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
auRouge 438 Posted December 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 Lotus esk in its pursuit to be light and fun to drive. The comments at the end are a real compliment. I agree. A light sorted chassis with lively handling is what makes me happy Bravo Alpine, I really want to drive one! £50k these days doesn't seem unreasonable for that car. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,408 Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 Looks nice. Good to see another manufacturer investing in lightweight engineering rather than another hybrid SUV. I like the way it looks but paddleshift is an issue for me. A car like that which isn't chasing laptimes should be all about fun and driver involvement. Happy to drive EPAS cars all day but can't be persuaded to part with my own money to own one while better alternatives exist. Sounds like an interesting car. I'd love to drive one back to back with an Alfa 4C, another car that intrigues me greatly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KAS-118 229 Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 On 12/03/2017 at 14:51, ChrisJ said: To answer the original question - In my opinion, no. Lotus need a proper 4-seater rather than yet another 2-seater. I am part of a large segment of the market that Lotus does not cater for, and I cannot see any circumstance where I would buy one of their current models. Now if there was a 4-seater - I'd be at the front of the queue. I bought a 25+ year old Excel so as to be able to go on holiday with my family in the make I prefer. So carry on the 2-door version plus derivatives - but also cater for families. I totally agree with this - there's very few 2+2 coupe's on the market that you can actually fit even a small adult in. Lotus had this with the Elite. Had my teenage daughter been able to fit in the rear of the Evora I would have bought one. Being someone who's wife doesn't drive, and commute by train and therefore does less than 2,000 miles per year - I have no wish to own 2 cars. Although the 4-seater coupe market may not be very big - if Lotus actually produced one they would have little competition. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NedaSay 835 Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 2 hours ago, DJW said: I'm lookinfg forward to a 3 way battle between the A110, the refreshed 4C and the Elise 250. By the look of this the Alpine is already loads better than the 4C, but the Elise will give the Alpine a serious run for its money. Knowing the Elise won't be replaced before 2022, it reinforces my opinion that Geely should order Lotus to revamp the Elise's cabin and make it a global car again, Lotus has access to a powertrain combination that could do serious damage the Volvo Drive-E engine in either 1.5l or 2l turbo with Geely's own 7 speed DCT would be a great way to set the current Elise on its way before it is replaced. The Alpine is a great addition to the market of course but I won't see much of it unless I cross the pound again... As the UK is leaving the EU I should petition my local government to take its place, the guy in charge south of the border doesn't make much sense these day... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve V8 1,310 Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 It seems I have an issue with the site.....while you guys are describing a lovely looking mid engined sportscar, I'm getting pictures of a tall narrow uglier version of a 911 (if such a thing were possibe) frankenstiened to the back end of an Audi. The original A110 wasn't exactly the prettiest thing around in its day, maybe this retro version will look nicer in 40 years time. At the end of the day it's just a Renault, I've owned a few and they've all been shit, cheapo components, mechanically unreliable and down at the breakers yard with metal worm long before most of their competitors. I agree Lotus has missed the boat with the SUV project, and should concentrate in this market, it shouldn't be too difficult to blow this monstrosity out of the water. (are we really looking at the same car). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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