The Elise/Exige predecessor - LotusTalk

lotusforsale · 02-03-2008, 07:49 PM

THIS is the Elise/Exige spiritual predecessor. Like the looks or not, the Elise/Exige should've been named the 'Europa.'

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUPER...em130194367597

tandemracer · 02-03-2008, 09:33 PM

Wow! That is a beautifully restored Europa.

fitfan · 02-03-2008, 10:37 PM

no - after the horrible business experiance of the "elan" - they needed a fresh start with the re-born concept. a new name was the right move!!

xtn · 02-04-2008, 04:31 AM

I always thing of the Europa as being the father, and the Dino GTS as being the mother.

xtn

MickOpalak · 02-04-2008, 05:34 AM

I agree. The Elise should have been called Europa 2.0.

Robissimo · 02-04-2008, 09:14 AM

Why do I get an El Camino vibe from the Europa?

TimMullen · 02-04-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitfan

no - after the horrible business experience of the "Elan" - they needed a fresh start with the re-born concept. a new name was the right move!!

I agree completely.

They reused the name Elan and the name Elite. Doing so, simply causes confusion. The M100 Elan was a good car in it's own right, it did not need the name of it's predecessor. The second Elite just never was accepted.

The proper thing to do is to give a new design a new name - and I'm not talking about updates to the old design, but new designs. For instance, look at the various Fords that carried the name "Thunderbird" - huge variety that simply diluted the name...

IsellLotus · 02-04-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robissimo

Why do I get an El Camino vibe from the Europa?

+1
I was thinking the same thing!!

SimonMExS · 02-04-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMullen

I agree completely.

They reused the name Elan and the name Elite. Doing so, simply causes confusion. The M100 Elan was a good car in it's own right, it did not need the name of it's predecessor. The second Elite just never was accepted.

The proper thing to do is to give a new design a new name - and I'm not talking about updates to the old design, but new designs. For instance, look at the various Fords that carried the name "Thunderbird" - huge variety that simply diluted the name...

Tim,
All excellent points. I couldn't agree more.

t65tampa · 02-04-2008, 10:33 AM

This looks like a really nicely restored car. I have bid on it and watching it on Ebay, but I just really don't think I need another car that will need more than its fair share of maintenance at this time. My dad had one when I was a kid, so a car like this would have a lot of sentimental value for me.

Z-dculus · 02-04-2008, 05:21 PM

that is cleeeeaaaaan!

ewalberg · 02-04-2008, 06:06 PM

i think esprit is a nice name and as a flagship model i think they should keep it for what ever 100K+ car they release, or at least a better name that Eagle... isn't that an AMC car? ...but to me the elise is different enough from other models that i agree there's value in it's getting the elise name.

and yes, the el camino certainly comes to mind.

TimMullen · 02-05-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewalberg

at least a better name that Eagle.

Keep in mind that Lotus has never said they were calling a car "Eagle". Lotus uses internal code names during the development of their street cars. For instance the Elise 111R was the "Croft". The "Eagle" is their internal code name for the new car under development.

andykeck · 02-05-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMullen

For instance the Elise 111R was the "Croft".

The 111R was codenamed "Zolder". The Federal Elise is "Croft".

edit: Or maybe I have the 111R and the Exige backwards. Here's what I posted a year ago...

Quote:

Federal Elise: Croft
111R: Cyclone
Exige: Zolder

TimMullen · 02-05-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andykeck

The 111R was codenamed "Zolder". The Federal Elise is "Croft".

edit: Or maybe I have the 111R and the Exige backwards. Here's what I posted a year ago...

I new there was a second one, I just couldn't remember it.

Bavarian Motorist · 02-06-2008, 01:48 PM

You know, if they really wanted to save weight, they could have cut those huge walls off behind the windows and just gone all-out El Camino.

lotusforsale · 02-06-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

You know, if they really wanted to save weight, they could have cut those huge walls off behind the windows and just gone all-out El Camino.

They DID! The Lotus Europa Twin Cam/Special.

Tristar Racing · 02-06-2008, 03:45 PM

No matter how much I like Lotus, no matter how many pictures I look at, no matter how many I see in person, I cannot say anything nice about the Europa. I mean that is possibly the nicest example I have ever seen, and it still looks incredibly cheap, ugly, and fragile.

Look at the side profile, mainly the lower rockers, it looks like the middle of the car is sagging. (I realize its the lines of the car going up right before the rear wheel well, but why design a car to look like its sagging?) Like I said, no love for the Europa from me.

AnsisK · 02-06-2008, 06:17 PM

Yeah, it is one of the most visually intrusive cars of all time. Such odd shapes and protrusions.

lotusforsale · 02-06-2008, 06:25 PM

Indeed, but it has an extraordinarily low cd.

02-03-2008, 07:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
lotusforsale Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,223 Images: 8	The Elise/Exige predecessor THIS is the Elise/Exige spiritual predecessor. Like the looks or not, the Elise/Exige should've been named the 'Europa.' http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUPER...em130194367597

02-03-2008, 09:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
tandemracer Enemy of the State Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nashville Posts: 840	Wow! That is a beautifully restored Europa. __________________ 06 Elise, AW, Touring, Sport, Premium, Hardtop, Starshield -- S111 Harness bar, Schroth ASM 6 point Harnesses, Seat Grommets, Front Tow Hook, Rear Tow Hook, Halon fire extinguisher, Polk speakers, MicroMirror, Odyssey PC680, ekological HID kit, Pagid RS14 pads, SS brake lines,CF Center Console, CF AC Surround, urethane motor mounts, Titanium Dave's Sub Belt Bars, Heater Core Bypass , Craftsquare Mirrors, Carbon Splitter, LETSLA, DBW Pedals, Xtender

02-03-2008, 10:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
fitfan Regurgitated User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Diego! Posts: 4,097	no - after the horrible business experiance of the "elan" - they needed a fresh start with the re-born concept. a new name was the right move!! __________________ Driving it around!

02-04-2008, 04:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,845	I always thing of the Europa as being the father, and the Dino GTS as being the mother. xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

02-04-2008, 05:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
MickOpalak Prez: The K.G.B. Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 5,305	I agree. The Elise should have been called Europa 2.0. __________________ 2007 Exige S265 - Krypton Green - Gotham 265 ECU - Volk TE37s - Toyo R888s - B&M Shifter - QuickSilver exhaust - stripes - harnesses - Pagid pads - Green air filter 2002 Jaguar XKR convertible 2000 BMW 528i President - Lotus Limited Southeast http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/LLSE/

02-04-2008, 09:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Robissimo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NoVA Posts: 118	Why do I get an El Camino vibe from the Europa?

02-04-2008, 10:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
t65tampa 1/3 Rotweiler, He Crazy Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 654	This looks like a really nicely restored car. I have bid on it and watching it on Ebay, but I just really don't think I need another car that will need more than its fair share of maintenance at this time. My dad had one when I was a kid, so a car like this would have a lot of sentimental value for me. __________________ Dean 2006 Pontiac GTO 2006 Infiniti G35 2008 M-B C63 AMG 2002 Honda S2000 1997 BMW 318 iC

02-04-2008, 05:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
Z-dculus Derriere Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US OF A! Posts: 2,311	that is cleeeeaaaaan! __________________ 2006 KG-Sport Pack, LSD, TC, SS, RAC Monolites, Sector CF Roof, Carbon 3 Element Diffuser, V3 Panel eliminator (p-coated), Odyssey PC680, Boomerang , HIDs, CF Console, Multivex, Lotus Stage II, CF Zoom Rear View, Sector LidBone, Darth Holder (thanks Kestrel!), Sector 4Tress Harness Bar/CRD Mount, couple exige trim pieces- KGB Authenticated 2009 VeeDub Jetta (new kid on the block) 1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic -(relegated to 'project car' status)

02-04-2008, 06:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
ewalberg Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 717	i think esprit is a nice name and as a flagship model i think they should keep it for what ever 100K+ car they release, or at least a better name that Eagle... isn't that an AMC car? ...but to me the elise is different enough from other models that i agree there's value in it's getting the elise name. and yes, the el camino certainly comes to mind.

02-06-2008, 01:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
Bavarian Motorist Live to Drive Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC/Westchester, NY Posts: 10,852	You know, if they really wanted to save weight, they could have cut those huge walls off behind the windows and just gone all-out El Camino. __________________ Be an alpha male. Drive a Lotus.

02-06-2008, 03:45 PM	#18 (permalink)
Tristar Racing Damn Evo Owners... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 518	No matter how much I like Lotus, no matter how many pictures I look at, no matter how many I see in person, I cannot say anything nice about the Europa. I mean that is possibly the nicest example I have ever seen, and it still looks incredibly cheap, ugly, and fragile. Look at the side profile, mainly the lower rockers, it looks like the middle of the car is sagging. (I realize its the lines of the car going up right before the rear wheel well, but why design a car to look like its sagging?) Like I said, no love for the Europa from me. Last edited by Tristar Racing : 02-06-2008 at 05:04 PM.

02-06-2008, 06:17 PM	#19 (permalink)
AnsisK Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,457	Yeah, it is one of the most visually intrusive cars of all time. Such odd shapes and protrusions.

02-06-2008, 06:25 PM	#20 (permalink)
lotusforsale Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,223 Images: 8	Indeed, but it has an extraordinarily low cd.

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