New Lotus Announce. Elise Pick Up Truck, the Lotus Load Lugga

[BOB1984]

http://www.petrolheads.co.uk/news/de...?storyId=13546

(from Lotus Press Release) Lotus announces first Elise-based pickup.

Lotus Cars is delighted to announce that its first light commercial vehicle rolls off the production line today.

The Lotus Elise 'Load Lugga' is an Elise-derived flatbed that seeks to secure a slice of the ever-growing worldwide market for sportscar-derived pickup trucks.

Utilising a Briggs and Stratton pull-start diesel engine, uniquely supercharged by Lotus's own engineers, the Elise 'Load Lugga' is the first Lotus to marry advanced 4-wheel drive technology with the Lotus design philosophy of 'performance through lightweight'. A useful 5kg payload, together with an optional towing hitch offering a further 10kg of load-hauling capacity, ensures the new Lotus will be equally at home carrying a small bag of sugar as an expanded polystyrene surfboard.

With carbon fibre roof rails and perforated aluminium bull bars ensuring the new Elise derivative looks the part without compromising performance, hopes are high that 0-60mph acceleration is less than 3 seconds, and will have flatbed fans reaching for their chequebooks.

An active payload management system, linked to the engine's oil pressure control module, optimises ride and handling round even the sharpest bend, while big chunky tyres increase ground clearance to an all-terrain-conquering 4 inches.

Trevor Houghton-Berry, Lotus Head of Commercial Operations looked to the future 'The Elise 'Load Lugga' is our first move into the lucrative LCV market and certainly lives up to the Lotus philosophy of 'change the rules'.

We like trucking and we like to truck!'

Mark O'Shaughnessy, Lotus USA Sales and Marketing Director commented, 'We can no longer ignore Lotus's big opportunity in the pickup market - we want a slice of the action and are gunning for a 0.0026% market share this year and 0.0027% next. The Elise 'Load Lugga' will be known as the F1.50 stateside and we are set to take the market by storm. 200 Lotus Elise F1.50's in the first year? Bring them on.........'

[Yeti]

4/1 Ha Ha. I'll hold out for Exige version. That extra downforce is such a drag. I figure I can run the tailgate open and increase speed on the straights.

[mgdive]

Originally Posted by Yeti

4/1 Ha Ha. I'll hold out for Exige version. That extra downforce is such a drag. I figure I can run the tailgate open and increase speed on the straights.

Don't forget the Mythbusters episode where they tested that tailgate theory and found that you actually get less drag with the gate up!

[Yeti]

I only watch the Mythbusters when they use ballistic Jelly heads. Maybe they can show what happens when a "redneck" jelly head falls out the back. I've always heard the empty beer cans cushion the fall so they can still marry their cousin.

[Popolocho]

Did PistonHeads ask Michael Sands if they could use this?

[andykeck]

It's an actual, honest to god, Lotus-issued press release.

[JnC]

Originally Posted by andykeck

It's an actual, honest to god, Lotus-issued press release.

Andy, I haven't seen you on here in ages. Where have you been?

Welcome back.

[andykeck]

Originally Posted by JnC

Andy, I haven't seen you on here in ages. Where have you been?

Welcome back.

Thanks! Real Life™ snuck up on me a while back and I found that I had more responsibilities than hours in the day. Haven't even washed the Elise in months. I think I'll need to use a potato peeler to get the grime off when the time comes.

[111RDreamer]

My Uncle sent me this link, so it's a few places by now:

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/01/l...n-sport-truck/

I'm not sure about this one...

[BOB1984]

its an april fool

[gameson]

dunno if it's a joke, but edmunds reports it as well

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=109840

[shay2nak]

it's a joke.