US Elise is here

[POVI]

here is a road and track link ..

I think its a great light performance car

click here for road and track

[Rot 911]

If it comes in at less than $40K it will be a great car.

[lendaddy]

Hmm, I gotta admit that I am VERY interested, very interested. Insurance would probably be a laugher though.

[RickM]

Nice car...sorry to the Esprit go.

[targa911S]

that HAS to be one of the butt ugliest cars I have ever seen! Whos cares if it's that fast. Probably has to be to keep people from spitting on it! This is what replace the Esprit?

[tchanson]

Well, not exactly "here" yet, but Lotus still claims the standard model will be here in June '04, with the Lightweight model (no A/C or stereo) and Sport model ( tweaked suspension bits, forged wheels and sticky Yokos unique to that version) to follow in September. Given that Lotus is still Lotus, however, I wouldn't hold my breath on those dates, but I'm hoping for the best.

I had a chance to get a good look at this "Series 2.5" Elise that we're getting in the US at a Lotus club meet last summer, and its an impressive piece. Almost 190HP (with room for much more) and less than 2,000 lbs is amazing in this federally certified day and age. The bonded aluminum construction is beautiful as well, regardless of one's opinion of the exterior styling, which has grown on me.

Lotus continues to claim that that the price of the base will be less than $40K. Sounds far more interesting to me than a $60K (!) "550 Spyder Commemorative Edition" Boxster.

Tim

[CarreraS2]

Lotus must have a HQ around here, because I've seen a few of them on the road in the past month or so.

I will say, it definately looks better in person than in pictures. Although still not a "pretty" car. Not bad, though, and probably a hoot to drive.

[Icemaster]

Yuck.

Front end reminds me of someone else's smile....

[CarreraS2]

I guess I just rejoice when ANY new sportscar comes out.

That's just one less ugly/homely SUV blocking the road and squeezing into a COMPACT parking spot.

[rudy sanchez]

I've seen one up close and in person and it was beautiful! really nicely made! the pics in the article were not the best look. I don't necessarily like the black wheels.

oh well, to each his own

paul schuster
santa cruz

[dd74]

Two years ago, I spoke kindly and enthusiastically enough to the VP of Lotus Engineering at the LA Auto Show, that he took down the ropes around the Elise display and allowed me to all but drive the car through the display hall.

Strip down a 911 to its most minimum, but leave in RS door panels, and that's the Elise's interior. There is nothing to waste and no room to spare inside it. Big guys do not apply for this one. But if you're a little guy, the only better seat you'll get is on Seabisquit. The car is very little; smaller inside than my '74 911.

Targa911S has a point about the Elise's appearance. My wife called it an interesting "dune buggy." In person, the car looks much better. But it's a real form over function design. I don't think one could even put a laptop and a passenger inside the car without they intruding upon each other. There are, as I recall, storage bins behind the front seats, but those are for the roof (s). The praying mantis (Lotus insider term) front end is really nice when looked at the right way. The rear and sides are awesome.

A concern may be the torque curve of the car - doesn't sound exactly traffic friendly. But then at 1,975 pounds, a healthy go-kart engine could probably get it to speed.

I'd buy one - but honestly, not for $40,000. Mini will probably come out with AWD soon and 200+ horsepower. If it's light (which it probably won't be - that's probably up to the owner), I bet it'll be a contender to the Elise, but for about 20K less.

[ted]

I've seen several at the track. Last year guys were buying them just to run them on the track knowing they may never be able to drive them on the street. This car is raw like a 73 RS.

[Todd Simpson]

I think I'm somewhere near $40K spent on my '71 track car with 3.2, kinda makes me wonder, but oh well, it's too late.

How about those 175 section front tires? When's the last time you saw that width on any type of performance car?

[tchanson]

Originally posted by dd74
Mini will probably come out with AWD soon and 200+ horsepower. If it's light (which it probably won't be - that's probably up to the owner), I bet it'll be a contender to the Elise, but for about 20K less.

Not likely, IMO. The current Cooper S weighs almost 2700 lbs as it is and has a 0-60 time more than two seconds slower than the US spec Elise. Tack on hypothetical AWD and I'd count on at least a couple hundred more pounds, (and a price likely north of $30K) resulting in a car that would then be almost 50% heavier than the Elise. Not sure how an owner is going to shed that extra 1,000 lbs...outside of tossing those stylish Mini cupholders.

As much as I admire the Cooper S, it seems to be apples/oranges in terms of both intent and execution when compared to the Lotus.

Tim

[cowtown]

Originally posted by targa911S
that HAS to be one of the butt ugliest cars I have ever seen! Whos cares if it's that fast.

that HAS to be one of the fastest/best handling cars I have ever seen! Who cares if it's that ugly?

to each his own