New Lotus "Evora"

[fitfan]

2 things - one is the technology of manufacturing and assembling the tub : this is the else technology.

the other thing is enginering all thoose assemblies as a few components (like lego blocks) that are interchangable - then you just pick the components to suit the chassis design (suspension uprights, wheel base, width, front engine, rear engine, etc...) and it all goes together from a very well engineered batch of intergrated options.

the first is the elise, the second is VVA.

a "new elise like chassis" has to be re-engineered from scratch, so rather than doing that every time lotus (or a customer like aston martin, or tesla) needs a new chassis - why make it a new project? just do all that work once up front and devople a box of parts that allow variable designs to be assembled from.

the vanquish was the first VVA type car, althougth it was custom parts, but engineered around the VVA general concept.

so anyways ... after a few years of development and engineering - the "evora" is the first lotus VVA car. esprit will be VVA anything not built on an elise chassis will be VVA, and probalby the next generation elise will become VVA.

[wallabyguy]

Originally Posted by exarkun1178

didnt see anything with VVA.. or maybe i did but dont know it... is it the same tech used on the elise tub? if so wouldn't the elise have been the first with such tech in production?

http://www.grouplotus.com/managedcontent/view/36

The VVA program created a chassis which, unlike the Elise before it, could be built in easily modified sections which can be assembled to underpin a large variety of vehicles from crossovers to compact FWD cars to mid engined supercars. It's assembly and engineering also allow for niche production levels at economic price points. While the same assembly method is used on the Elise, the VVA is much more flexible. One of the problems with the Elise Chassis was that it could not be widened easily and that eventually hurt the Europa S and prevented it from being marketd in the US (at least that was one reason).

[fitfan]

Originally Posted by Murix

Thinking of positive points, what the Evora does have going for it ....

the big thing i see is that this car is very significant for lotus (whether or not the evora itself is not succesful)

first recent lotus with a "real and modern" interior comprhensivly designed - so that lotus can "compete" with the major manufacturers.

first VVA based lotus car - this will alow lotus to create radically different cars with minimal R&D engineering.

marketing - while perhaps weak - it does show the that lotus actauly thought and executed on it.

the only missing link i see is the dealerships (in the US at least) need some mentoring and accountability - and a level of expectations needs to be set and enforced by lotusUSA. - its the responsibility of Lotus and LotusUSA to drive improvements in the "ownership experiance"

hopefuly lotus is showing that it can compete - in its own unique way - with any manufacturer. but i really don't see Lotus ever becoming a major manufacturer itself.

[wallabyguy]

Originally Posted by fitfan

the only missing link i see is the dealerships (in the US at least) need some mentoring and accountability - and a level of expectations needs to be set and enforced by lotusUSA. - its the responsibility of Lotus and LotusUSA to drive improvements in the "ownership experiance"

Now where I have heard that before........

[fitfan]

Originally Posted by wallabyguy

Now where I have heard that before........

? dunno -i hope lotus!!!!

[Godzila]

For that kind of money you buy something else.
Maybe GTR?

I'll stick with Exige/Elise

[exarkun1178]

Originally Posted by Godzila

For that kind of money you buy something else.
Maybe GTR?

I'll stick with Exige/Elise

i disagree

for that kinda money...

first most people assume even our lowly elise cost 100k plus.... so a lotus around that price will make sense to a lot of people and see it maybe not as a value but the price associated with a "exotic" name plate. some one looking for a drivers experience is not shopping for a gtr. every mag/show/review are consistent with its lack of feel in ever sense of the word.


and i keep other then the 911 no other car at this price has a back seat. that will mean a lot to a lot of people. i feel quite a few of you keep skipping over that, or at least are not realizing just how important that feature is to many people.

[lotusforsale]

Originally Posted by exarkun1178

and i keep other then the 911 no other car at this price has a back seat. that will mean a lot to a lot of people. i feel quite a few of you keep skipping over that, or at least are not realizing just how important that feature is to many people.

I've not yet seen a clean, good perspective picture of the back seat. Is it REALLY that usable as a seat? The 911 seat isn't much of a seat. Even the MGB GT had a back seat, sorta.

If it's a back seat in name only, and not really much of a usable one, then perhaps it runs a market risk of being seen as a pretender as a 2 + 2.

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by exarkun1178

heres another question.. the guy said during the unveiling that the evora chassis is 250% stiffer then the elise. is it just because of a roof? didnt the cut the sills down a bit? by cutting the sills would it not be less stiff?

That's probably where a bunch of the near 3,000 pound weight comes from.

[GregD]

None of us knows at this point, but perhaps the Evora will be priced more competitively than many seem to expect. Lotus themselves has said that they see it as a Cayman competitor, and the UK mags are predicting a price the same as a Cayman S, i.e. 45,000 pounds. The base price here in the U.S. of a Cayman S is $59,100, so maybe the Evora will start at under $60k.

I think if Lotus prices it at Cayman prices, they'll sell a bunch of them; it'll have most of the functionality and performance of a 911 for a lot less. If they kick it up to the base 911 price of $73,500, it'll be a lot tougher sell.

[GabbaGabbaHey]

Originally Posted by GregD

The base price here in the U.S. of a Cayman S is $59,100, so maybe the Evora will start at under $60k.
....

wishfull thinking.. no way .. Although I wouldn't eat a





I will eat a

if thats the case.

[exarkun1178]

Originally Posted by GabbaGabbaHey

wishfull thinking.. no way .. Although I wouldn't eat a

[GregD]

Originally Posted by GabbaGabbaHey

wishfull thinking.. no way .. Although I wouldn't eat a





I will eat a

if thats the case.

Yech! No candied scorpion for me either, thank you. I wouldn't make a bet either way, but I think there's at least a reasonable chance they'll price it comparable to a Cayman S.

[Bavarian Motorist]

I'm actually looking forward to consuming one of our amphibious friends.

[goelise]

just got my email from FVMC (Jim Nuccio) about the Evora. Looks like they are accepting orders for Summer 2009 delivery.

Looks cool but I'll keep my Elise. Thank you.

[jesterbot]

My deposit is in

Now it's the waiting game...

[njcu]

wonder if the engine would fit in the Elise... hmmmm