APX Concept

[MickOpalak]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/...ept/#more-1835

[rnr]

More pix and press text here
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/24/l...cept-unveiled/

[wallabyguy]

OK, I have my helmet on.

I have to post that if the APX was put into production by Lotus, depending on price and final specification, I'd buy one.

Now before everyone starts sending me nasty PMs, please understand that I have 5 kids (2 of which are about to drive) and my wife is on a war path to get the similar Audi Q7 (to replace our 1998 Expedition, which, btw, has been a great car). I'd rather have a Lotus. Although I question weather Lotus should be headed in this direction, I have to admit that there is a market and I'd likely be included in it. Let us not forget that the Cayanne is Porsche's best selling model. If the APX could fund other products, then I can't see why not to do it. I'm not overwhelmed by the styling but I haven't seen it in person yet.

Big question for me is why this engine isn't in the Europa? Then you would have a marketable vehicle.

If they build it, they'll sell at least one, to me (it'll look good next to that new Elise).

[wallabyguy]

Looking at the car, esppecially the interior, is it me or are there alot of Mazda styling hints? Rear quarter windows, dash, the radio/ central controls (see RX-8). Rear end lights look like a mix between the last gen Mercury Couger and a Mazda. If it were to be a Lotus product, it would need some changes. It could use more Lotus styling cues like the correct front intake and maybe some round rear tail lamps. Yes, I know it's not designed to necessarily be a Lotus.

As I said in a previous post, I'm not sure about the styling yet but if the specs held up, I'd probably buy one.

[wallabyguy]

here some interior pics of a RX-8 and the APX

[wallabyguy]

rear 3/4 view of a Mazda 3 and the APX

[JnC]

The cluster binnacle looks like it was lifted directly from the Mazda.

Do you think it's a bit misleading to call it a 7 passenger vehicle when 2-3 of the passengers have to be children in order to fit within that roofline? It would be like calling an Audi TT a four passenger car. Maybe it's really like a 5+2.

[smoseley]

RX8 interior is more like the Z3 M:



APX interior is not exactly, but something like the new Mustang interior:

[JnC]

That's a Z3M alright... notice how it has begun to assimulate the owner's wallet into the car.

[_JD_]

Another article
http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/new...p?na_id=218854

[JnC]

The roofline of the Mazda CX-7 looks similar, but the greenhouse isn't quite there.

[_JD_]

http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/new...p?na_id=218951

Autocar article

[Nochmal]

The view out the rear seems pretty limited...I think it would bug me as the driver.

[t65tampa]

If Lotus builds the APX, I will definately buy one. I can't drive my wife and kids around in my Elise.

[elise24fps]

Originally Posted by wallabyguy

OK, I have my helmet on.
I have to post that if the APX was put into production by Lotus, depending on price and final specification, I'd buy one.

Me too likely. Currently considering replacing the Chrysler Concorde with a Nissan Murano.

[Daedelous]

I can't believe Lotus is building a station wagon. Wouldn't it make sense for Lotus to stick to their target consumer and produce sporty cars? I can maybe understand a four-seater version of the Elise...maybe...but not this. It's definitely nothing special, at least on the outside. Like many here have noticed, it looks exactly like a Mazda. Lotus should be embarassed about that fact alone. And having a station wagon that can do 0-60 in 5.0 is like putting V-10s in Cadillacs. It may be powerful but no one who drives Cadillacs is ever going to use all that. Who says "I want a car with great performance...so I'll get a station wagon." I just think it's a big mistake and will somewhat ruin Lotus' image.

Is Ferrari the only sports-car manufacturer left that doesn't make SUVs, sedans, or station wagons to appeal to mass consumers?

[andykeck]

Originally Posted by Daedelous

I can't believe Lotus is building a station wagon.]

This isn't going to be a Lotus Cars project. It's a rolling advertisement for the Lotus Engineering side of things. At most, they're saying they like the business of designing and helping build such a vehicle for another manufacturer.

[008]

very Mazda. I don't think I'd get one because of the lack of off road and towing capacity. I use my Touareg to go to construction sites and raw open land and would miss that in an suv. I would prefer an E320 cdi to this as a family hauler especially if we could get the wagon version here.