perhaps
You may be right. My own view is that if it goes up too much more, it could make for a relatively short ride for the car.
Like everything else, you can bell curve the would-be buyers for the car. At one end, 10% of folks think the car is a total waste of resources and a total waste of money.
At the other end, 10% want the handling the car offers at nearly any price. They're the ones saying the car is worth many thousands over it's current price, and comparing it to Modenas and Vipers.
Capturing the 80% in the middle is what will determine the future of the car. Most of those folks aren't going to track the car, and aren't going to even drive it 7/10ths. They couldn't care less about the Lotus 'mystique.' And many of those 80% DO weigh the absence of certain amenities that make the car more than a specialized/special use toy...and as the price goes up, their desire for the car goes down.
This is all my humble opinion. All I know is that I've owned 4 Lotus', loved them all, crave the Elise, but if base goes over $45K, I'll be getting my deposit back. I admit it's partly economics...I'm not in a position to justify diverting financial resources much above it's current price for a limited use toy. But it is also partly one of value, or declining value in my eyes.
THAT's academic anyway, as so far my dealer has only ordered 20 cars and delivered less than 10, at least 3 to non line people, so I'm not really even thinking I'll get a car going that route...