Latest 08 exige news.....

[lotus90]

Thanks alot forthe info and greats pics. It appears they will have a new track pack or a seperate brake upgrade kit.

Ed

[MickOpalak]

Why would you want the factory reflash that gets you an additional 20 hp when you can get Sector111's that gets you an additional 45 hp?

[Rob T]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

I am in disbelief.


We have speculated SO much about the '08 changes to Lotuses...and all you do is a simple factory visit and answer all of our questions. It's like ... I was anticipating a huge announcement with drama and uproar to follow and you just casually answer all of our questions with a simple post Wow.


Now my concerns are...


1) How do '07 S owners feel about this? Do they feel alienated because Lotus keeps coming with huge upgrades the following years or does it make them happy having something to upgrade to? This happened to original Exige owners as well and some were not pleased.

Huh?

Alienated? Hardly. If anything, the "upgrades" are less than I thought they would be. As for the HP increase, if any of us S owners really want more power, we have the Gotham tune. There is nothing to be upset with here at all. I hope Lotus keeps it up!

[Jack]

Originally Posted by MickOpalak

Why would you want the factory reflash that gets you an additional 20 hp when you can get Sector111's that gets you an additional 45 hp?

Perhaps warranty concerns???

Also, the difference isn't that great -- the 240HP is more than 240 if you use the (same) 15% drive-train loss based upon RWHP....just like the stock S 220HP would be more (~235HP based upon the 205 dyno RWHP for the '07 S).

[Vangman]

Thanks for the pix and the info!

[EliseCat]

I think the factory changes are a good thing.

As many other contributors have said, it's just like buying a computer.
They will always get better and faster and have more features.
Cost more too and that is the case here as well with our beloved Lotus.

I would just like to point out one simple thing that is usually brought up in threads such as this.
After some back road carving yesterday on a beautiful fall day, in my lowly 2005 non-sport pack Elise, we have to remind ourselves just how great these cars are no matter what year we bought them or how much power we have, etc.
Words can't describe the liberating feeling and the grin on my face during that drive yesterday. Oh...and of course I had the top off......had to get that in there since this is an Exige thread!!

Each Elise, Exige, Exige S is an incredible piece of engineering. Just go out and enjoy them!
Of course I want an '08 Exige S but for now I'll take my Elise!

[ducatiexigeowner]

.........
and a better fed pic....

[charliex]

re the ecu reflashes, 08 is the year they're suppposed to be changing the ecu out, i don't know if its required by the end of 08 or beginning though.

the new CAN bus diagnostics has to be done for 08 by law, and i know lotus are making a few changes to make it harder to reprogram the ecu, the box might look the same from the outside though.

in other words, they may not be able to offer it to previous cars, its possible it'll still work on the older ecu's or that they're not planning to do it until the end of 08, but all the docs i've seen say in 2008.

[R'elise Me]

I think whatever Lotus does to stay in the game is great, however, I really think they thought the original fed elise through so well that it's hard to make the leap to the S regardless of cost. On smaller tracks, which is my interest, I've seen many good drivers in stock elises pass many good drivers in SC cars. The car is simply all about the driver IMHO. The magic required to push an Elise's envelope is beyond what 99% of the drivers can bring to the sport, and getting there really just takes practice. In my observation, all but the most skilled drivers lusting after the next gen lotus are simply kidding themselves that more HP is the ticket to better laptimes, more enjoyment of the sport. I know, I know - some people just want it cuz they want it. To them, I say - indulge!

[def]

If we all drove what we needed vs what we WANTED, we wouldn't be in lotus cars to begin with

[308tr6]

Hey Ducati Exige guy...thanks for the pics that is awesome. The last yellow one is now my computer background. It matches my Yellow Ducati 999 rather well. Hmmmm....my wife has complained about the seating on the Duc, maybe the Exige would be a nice addition......

[ducatiexigeowner]

Guess we all agree track time and driver training inproves skills behind the wheel....the right track set up ect ect....and the ecu re-flash to smooth out the power......but....


The extra hp in the right hands is even more fun.....
the s/c cars driven hard are just.....

Who knows what lotus have in mind for the elise....i still think it will have an s/c....similar set up as the 2-11.....just because i didn't see any 08 elise with the s/c........this is lotus......who knows.They looked very busy with all the fed exige.......next week?????its only september..07.
Who is paying the factory a visit in a few weeks time....for some spy shots??

[ducatiexigeowner]

Originally Posted by 308tr6

Hey Ducati Exige guy...thanks for the pics that is awesome. The last yellow one is now my computer background. It matches my Yellow Ducati 999 rather well. Hmmmm....my wife has complained about the seating on the Duc, maybe the Exige would be a nice addition......

YOU BET.....On my screen too......
That car was simply stunning....i wanted to drive it straight out of the factory...

This was nice too....07 or not.....but wouldn't match our dukes.....

[Bavarian Motorist]

Cup holder, eh? Now I am gonna call Wallabyguy and talk trade-in...

[ducatiexigeowner]

Funny as the wife called it baby blue...
i had in mind..08 spec..cup roof....twin stripes....hmmm....

[ducatiexigeowner]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

Cup holder, eh? Now I am gonna call Wallabyguy and talk trade-in...

.............

[Bavarian Motorist]

This Exige is the only car that can get away with wearing baby blue.



Even Ferraris look fruity in them, but not the Exige.



(no offense to Polar Blue owners of Elises)

[Jack]

Originally Posted by R'elise Me

I think whatever Lotus does to stay in the game is great, however, I really think they thought the original fed elise through so well that it's hard to make the leap to the S regardless of cost. On smaller tracks, which is my interest, I've seen many good drivers in stock elises pass many good drivers in SC cars. The car is simply all about the driver IMHO. The magic required to push an Elise's envelope is beyond what 99% of the drivers can bring to the sport, and getting there really just takes practice. In my observation, all but the most skilled drivers lusting after the next gen lotus are simply kidding themselves that more HP is the ticket to better laptimes, more enjoyment of the sport. I know, I know - some people just want it cuz they want it. To them, I say - indulge!

Glenn,

I agree that it's all about the driver ..... but the same driver will be faster in the S than the Elise at all the road courses we typically run. In all of our on-track experiments with Craig Stanton , he has proved to be faster in the S than the Elise, all other things being equal. Clearly, the difference in his times is minimized at a tight, short track like Streets and increases at faster and longer tracks like Big Willow and BW. But, for the average driver, will the difference between the S and the Elise be worth the money.....that's another question all together. The law of diminishing returns definitely comes into play.

[TorsinADoc]

Whooo hoooo. This is what I was waiting for. I am ready to order one!

[Uncle Sam]

The new blue is a special edition Exige with a Subaru WRX engine.