Have Lotus lost the plot?

Mr_Sukebe

Mr_Sukebe

Mr_Sukebe

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I was reading the Car mag review of the new Lotus Europa yesterday, couldn't help but wonder if Lotus have lost the plot a little. Here's a link to the review:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=151&page=1

For years, Lotus have spearheaded the "low weight is good" strategy with the variations of the Elise (which is a brilliant car).
The Europa is being touted as being a more "sanitised" Elise. What I can't help but think is that it weighs in at 995kg. That's slightly more than the steel bodied mk3 MR2. Yes, I'm aware that the Europa has a turbocharged engine, but with the price difference between the two, would be more than possible to turbo the MR2, and still have a car that doesn't leak and leave you with some change. On top of that, the Europa is still not exactly classified as being a comfortable car, so what's the point to it?
Am I missing something?
 
I had a poke around a Europa yesterday; it's rather plush inside, all carpets and leather. The smell was reminiscent of a brand new Ferrari or Lamborghini rather than a Lotus.

The build quality was better than an Elise or Exige, however not up to Boxster/TT standards.

General consensus seems to be that it'll only take sales away from the Elise/Exige, not the other marques. I may be driving it this weekend so I'll post my opinion if/when.
 
Sorry, I forgot to add that I sat in a Europa at the motorshow this year. Didn't feel dramatically different to an Elise, which in some ways is a good thing, but for long term comfort (IMO) isn't. I certainly don't see it competing with a genuine all year round car like a Boxster, which it's quite close to in price.
 
I think lotus have been losing the plot for a while lol, how they went from the wonderful esprit to the elise / exige is beyond me
 
MaX_PoWah said:
I think lotus have been losing the plot for a while lol, how they went from the wonderful esprit to the elise / exige is beyond me
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Erm WTF?!?!! :confused:

The Elise/Exige are fantastic cars.
 
I think there's probably nothing wrong with the car per se. It's probably more a case that now Lotus' "honey moon" period has worn off since the success after success after success of the Elise/Exige cars. Journalists spotted a kink in the armor of Lotus and have decided to attack it. I'd wait for some proper reviews from Evo and TG before writing it off (ooh a pun!)

A lot of 20 somethings grew up loving the Elise. Some of them owned them and some just aspired to own one. So Lotus captured that market of people now aged 30 something, probably in family life, and the result is the Europa. A slightly more practical derivative of the Elise.

I think the disappointment stems from people just wanting more racing cars out of Lotus. But Lotus themselves are more interested in rebuilding their company as it was many decades ago - with a rather well developed product portfolio for many markets.
 
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Matmulder said:
Lets hope the Esprit is better!
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Wouldn't bet on it.

Hell - at the moment I wouldn't bet on it actually being released...

All sorts of nasty things happening *BMW seem to be the cause of a lot of them...*

MaX_PoWah said:
I think lotus have been losing the plot for a while lol, how they went from the wonderful esprit to the elise / exige is beyond me
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Errr, as good as the Esprit was *which it was* the Elise is a fabulously good car.


Also - the Europa to me is hideously ugly...
Was designed for Proton - then they decided the didn't want/couldn't afford it...Lotus needed to re-coup the development costs - hence it now exists as the Europa.

IMHO - M250 was where they should have gone instead of this... I loved Project M250.

Simon/~Flibster
 
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Flibster, do you know anything about the Lotus Esthi. I've heard it mentioned before and wondered what the deal was.

http://www.weissach.net/Lotus-Esthi.html

LotusElise_RS4Engine_1.jpg
 
Custom job in Germany.

Audi V6 Biturbo producing 380-420bhp *depending on what you read...*
6 speed gearbox from an Audi A8
Slightly wider as well
18" rear wheels and 17" fronts

oh...

And £70'000!!!!! :eek:

Don't think they've made that many tbh.

More info - http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=6384

TBH I'd rather go for the Alfa Romeo V6 conversion. Italian soundtrack and Lotus handling. :D

Simon/~Flibster
 
MaX_PoWah said:
I think lotus have been losing the plot for a while lol, how they went from the wonderful esprit to the elise / exige is beyond me
Click to expand...


I was with DreXeL on the "WTF" until I noticed your username and all became clear.
 
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