Autoweek Article

[MattG]

Thanks for posting that, Randy! I'm still waiting for my issue to arrive. :-(

It's nice to see an article with some new info for a change!

[MikeAR303]

Originally posted by MattG

It's nice to see an article with some new info for a change!

...but do you really trust new info coming from autoweek?

[Randy Chase]

There is a lot of interesting points raised by the article. I tried to bold highlight a few of them.

Electric windows on the Touring package? Are they thinking it does not come on the standard model now?

Lightweight version in the fall. And $500 less. Nice to not pay more to get less, as often is the case.

Possible sponsorship in SCCA. Hello!!! Lotus!!! Care to sponsor someone in ProSolo against those mean Z-06 Corvettes? Please? There are at least two people with ProSolo national championships under their belt on the waiting list. And I don't care if the other guy is better than me.


1965 pounds. That would be nice compared to "just under 2000 pounds."

Interesting that with a heavier engine, they kept the weight ratio the same front to rear.

[LarryB]

Thanks, Randy, lots of good info. Also noted the slight bump in redline, from earlier reports, had thought the sport exhaust was going to be std.

No doubt you'll be one of the first to get the call if they back SCCA efforts.

[Jon]

The article posts something contrary to what had been stated previously:

They are planning to get the Exige to the USA eventually. I may have to wait.

[zvezdah1]

Randy,
Thanks for posting!
Without a doubt the most informative of all the articles to date on the US Car.
Chris
BTW>Cross drilled AP brakes are standard?
The weight watchers will love the lightweight version. Sounds like LCU has been listening

[FederalElise]

Lotus engineers insist the new engine is safely capable of 300hp

Hope that's a typo or my confidence in Lotus engineers are dropping

[babak]

Colonial Elise?
I-70 East of Denver? That'd be mah stomping grounds, nottin but flatlands, wheatfields and old abandon oil derricks there. That's until you hit Heartland park.

[jml1952]

I notice that the little box says first delivery of US Elise is June 2004. The article says maybe April, possibly June. If they don't start building them until March, June seems more likely.

Lightweight package available in fall. I would guess that if you are #1 on the list, your dealer would allow you to hold off if you really wanted that package. Or, you can pay someone a premium to buy slot #50 on the list!!

2200 cars for US market! A little less than previously rumored. Also, Canadians seem to be out in the cold. Attention Canadians: bring me a case of Leffe Blonde beer and I'll let you drive my Elise around southern California (with me as passenger, of course).

Thanks, Randy. Great to read some fresh news. Does raise a few more questions. Hopefully many things will be clarified at the LA Auto Show. Willing to bet that some won't be, though.

It's going to be a long wait between January and whenever.

[atyclb]

Originally posted by jml1952
I notice that the little box says first delivery of US Elise is June 2004. The article says maybe April, possibly June. If they don't start building them until March, June seems more likely.

If the first ones begin production mid-March, they should be done by the end of March. Takes less than a month following production completion to reach East Coast dealerships.

[zvezdah1]

The first 40-50 cars are reserved as demos and not to be sold for a certain period (I think 90 days), so I'm figuring cars will start going to deposit holders in May sometime.
Chris

[Randy Chase]

Originally posted by babak
Colonial Elise?
I-70 East of Denver? That'd be mah stomping grounds, nottin but flatlands, wheatfields and old abandon oil derricks there. That's until you hit Heartland park.

I also noted that. I am thinking of I-70 WEST of Denver. That stretch near the Colorado River seems to be continually under construction.

[shinoo]

Anyone else note that the article was written by the same guy who wrote the Auto Express article? The pix were also quite similar. Wonder why they got to print it first. Though the Autoweek article provided alot more detail.

Thanks for posting it. Now when's my issue gonna arrive?

I hope the Exige is imported. Won't that require another waiver from DOT?

The carpeted sills sound like they'll keep the sills looking better than the current vinyl material - those seem to scuff quickly.

Wonder if you can get the touring pack and the sport pack?

[atyclb]

so, is that a Federal Type 25?

[Derek]

Originally posted by atyclb
so, is that a Federal Type 25?

Lets hope so

[Andrew]

Originally posted by mapes
I hope the Exige is imported. Won't that require another waiver from DOT?

From the wording of the article, my guess is Lotus will wait to import the Exige that is based on the "world" Elise that's due in 2006. Won't need the DOT waivers on that one.

[Randy Chase]

Note the revised stereo placement in the middle. But interestingly, we see manual window winders on this car.

[stuttgart]

Thanks for the post Randy! It provides alot of new info.
I hope the electric window will be std (I don't want the fancy touring package) and I wonder will the sport exhaust included in the sport package or it will be ANOTHER option item.

[frukio]

Originally posted by Jon
The article posts something contrary to what had been stated previously:

They are planning to get the Exige to the USA eventually. I may have to wait.

I heard somewhere (the dealer here?) that they might sell the Exige as a track-only car, that would not be street legal. Who knows if there's any truth in that though...

[_JD_]

Aty- the covers over the brake booster are not raised, so I don't think it's a Federal car. Thanks for posting the article Randy, I was jones-ing for that. They have the article on AutoWeek's site now with a bit of additional info on the chassis.