LOG Elise news - updated 9-05

5919 Views 80 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Eyelise, Sep 6, 2003

zvezdah1

Discussion Starter · Aug 18, 2003

LOG Elise news - nothing special

HI All,
Got this info from a LOG attendee.

>>>>Unfortunately nothing new. Tony Shute did a presentation on the
multiplatform possibilities of the current Elise and how basically the new
Esprit that will be available in a few years will be based on it just as the
340R and Exige were.

Tony promised the engine announcement in September and said the reason for
the delay was that they just sewed up the deal last month.

He also confirmed that the Elise colors on the LCU website were the colors
the car will be available in on the federal car however, the site does not
accurately reflect the way they look and the site will be updated shortly.

That's all I really remember. <<<<<

1 - 20 of 81 Posts

Craigy

· #2 · Aug 18, 2003

Re: LOG Elise news - nothing special

zvezdah1 said:
HI All,
Got this info from a LOG attendee.

>>>>Unfortunately nothing new. Tony Shute did a presentation on the
multiplatform possibilities of the current Elise and how basically the new
Esprit that will be available in a few years will be based on it just as the
340R and Exige were.

Tony promised the engine announcement in September and said the reason for
the delay was that they just sewed up the deal last month.

He also confirmed that the Elise colors on the LCU website were the colors
the car will be available in on the federal car however, the site does not
accurately reflect the way they look and the site will be updated shortly.

That's all I really remember. <<<<<

My source told me a few months ago about the mid-September date, and as for the engine deal being finalized recently that might be true but developement mules have been punding round hethel for ages with the toyota lump in the back.... the marketing people will have been informed of that so I can't imagine what they are playing at. Lack of time to present anything is not a realistic answer because they have known this is coming for ages.

Craigy

OneFastLotus

· #3 · Aug 18, 2003

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zvezdah1

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 18, 2003

I'm under the impression Lotus UK is reluctant to release any info on the US car for fear of sending present models sales in the UK down the tubes.

I guess they figure they've got so many advance deposits for the first year or so, they don't feel they have to give out any info.

Chris

Randy Chase

· #5 · Aug 18, 2003

So I guess now we start speculating on WHEN in September will this announcement take place?

We should do a pool. I am picking October.

BrianK

· #6 · Aug 18, 2003

Randy Chase said:
We should do a pool. I am picking October.

I call January - LA Auto Show.

LarryB

· #7 · Aug 18, 2003

Personally am starting to get a little impatient. With first orders going in 3-4 months from now, all the major pieces should have been worked out. If the details don't start coming out next month, it will start to look like they may slip.

My understanding of the Euro market is that it's basically staying with the S2.5 with no plans for a new motor. From what I've heard there will be two lines for the car, fed & euro. Heard that the sales have gone a bit soft but have to wonder how much that (fed details) would hurt sales, with the UK market pretty much aware of the changes for the US market & knowing there are no change in the work for them. In any case I'll give them till the end of Sept before I start to worry. But then again Lotus may feel the die-hard will hold tight and they will introduce the car/details when they can make a bigger splash.

I'll go with my source for Sept 1st on the drivetrain.

lotusetude

· #8 · Aug 19, 2003

Considering that Lotus Gp UK had few working on the Fed Elise project until the announcement in Jan 2003 - which coincided with Proton's 100% buyout of Lotus - project wise they are probably doing as well as can be expected for a small volume niche manufacturer of exotic cars.

We may hear more about the drive train in September given that they may have just wrapped up the deal on the engine. I would expect to see Lotus modify the ECM to kick in around 5000 rpm to correct the current characteristics - i.e. Lotus make it their own modified engine in at least that way, but preserving the emissions capability of the engine.

Since Lotus Cars USA has less than a dozen people working at the plant - they are slim and trim, so our expectations should be in line that they don't have the staff to do very much of what a larger marque manufacturer would be able to do.

I would expect to hear a major announcement at the LA auto show in early January 2004. The reason I expect this is that I believe that Lotus are targeting the California USA market as to where they will sell the most Federal Elises.

In the last several years Lotus have increased their production capacity by at least an order of magnitude. Lotus have a lot of work to do on creating a viable dealer network with capacity to not only sell but repair the Federal Elise. Is it little wonder that there will probably be a rationing of # of cars per dealer - perhaps based on orders already taken with money put down.

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MattG

· #9 · Aug 19, 2003

If we trust what we've heard about Lotus being on track for an April '04 delivery (and this came from a sales manager who talked to Arnie about the car), then an introduction in January is probably too close to be realistic (IMHO). My money is on an introduction at the Frankfurt show in early September. If they make it more of a 'world car' - and why wouldn't they, if they could - then this location even makes sense (it's where they introduced the S1 I believe, and I think the S2 also).

Randy Chase

· #10 · Aug 19, 2003

MattG said:
If we trust what we've heard about Lotus being on track for an April '04 delivery (and this came from a sales manager who talked to Arnie about the car), then an introduction in January is probably too close to be realistic (IMHO). My money is on an introduction at the Frankfurt show in early September. If they make it more of a 'world car' - and why wouldn't they, if they could - then this location even makes sense (it's where they introduced the S1 I believe, and I think the S2 also).

There is a lot that makes sense in that thought. From a marketing point of view, you want to leverage your announcements where they give you the most return. A world autoshow unveiling with the release of information might do that. And indeed, it may be federalized for USA, but it should be more of world car with some flexibility. As much as we might like to think that a USA Lotus owner's group is important, the specs on the car are probably more global in scope.

So an international showing in Germany, September 11-21.
http://www.iaa.de/ With the release of information to the press to get more attention.

And then an "unveiling" of sorts to the USA audience in January at the LA Autoshow.

LarryB

· #11 · Aug 19, 2003 (Edited)

I agree with you guys. Doubt Lotus will spend much on marketing the car. The free press from a car show would go a long way. Those of us waiting now getting a first look from the Sept show. With major magazine write up of pre-production cars and a showing in the states in Jan. - right around the time they start taking orders to get the “word” out… sounds like a best guess.

pcpacker

· #12 · Aug 19, 2003

I posted a new thread on the lotus forum today explaining that I can wait for the announcement, but I can't wait to know the date of the announcement. My title was "Lotus, we need answers" or something like that.

He must have pulled it, because the thread doesn't exist anymore. So much for freedom of speech.

zvezdah1

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 19, 2003

HI All,
Not really sure how much marketing needs to take place. With so many advanced deposits already, probably not that many cars left to sell realistically.

I agree, think January would be too late for release of info, or show debut, that means all the people who've pre-ordered would have to get the orders of what they want finalized almost immediately to enable the manufacturing process to start..

Sept. sounds good. Not really a big issue, I'm just a bit impatient!!
Chris

boomboom

· #14 · Aug 19, 2003

LOG 23 Announcement

I was at the LOG 23 convention and either Tony or Arnie, I can't remember who exactly said that the car would be shown at the auto show in December of this year though I don't remember which one. He also stated the 0-60 time of the car as being less than 5 seconds. Arnie said they added a couple hundred pounds to the car. He also stated that the last they need to do to get the car compliant is to get a waiver for the headlights. They recieved a waiver for the lack of a bumper and are also hoping to get one for the headlights as well though they do have an alternative headlight package ready to go. The hard top will be around $1500 according to Arnie and options include, power windows, door locks, upgraded cd/mp3 player, leather interior, sport tourer option with better suspension and wheels. I think thats about all that I can remember. Oh yes the front panel where the exit for the radiator are will be slightly different. Also the exhaust WILL come out of the diffuser.

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boomboom

· #15 · Aug 19, 2003

LOG 23 Announcement (CONT)

I almost forgot, Arnie said that there will be driver training, though it probably will not be for another year or so.

zvezdah1

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 19, 2003

HI boomboom,
Great information!!
Chris

Randy Chase

· #17 · Aug 19, 2003

Re: LOG 23 Announcement

FACTS!

boomboom said:
The car would be shown at the auto show in December of this year.

The 0-60 time of the car as being less than 5 seconds.

They added a couple hundred pounds to the car.

He also stated that the last they need to do to get the car compliant is to get a waiver for the headlights.

They received a waiver for the lack of a bumper

The hard top will be around $1500

Options include, power windows, door locks, upgraded cd/mp3 player, leather interior, sport tourer option with better suspension and wheels.

The front panel where the exit for the radiator are will be slightly different.

The exhaust WILL come out of the diffuser.

Interesting. A couple hundred pounds? What does that put it at, just around 1900 pounds? Anyone?

I am very glad to hear comfirmation about the bumper waiver. Let's hope they get the headlight one also.

I am very interested in hearing more about the Sport Touring option.

We had previously understood that the windows would be power, not crank. But this means it's an option?

Thomasio

· #18 · Aug 19, 2003

>>I am very glad to hear comfirmation about the bumper waiver.

Geeze, remember the first federalized Lamborghini Countach? With that Frankenstein-looking front bumper?

This *is* good news!

Thomas

Randy Chase

· #19 · Aug 19, 2003

I know a guy with an old TVR that had this huge block of rubber bolted to the front of it. Butt-UGLY.

The front panel where the exit for the radiator are will be slightly different.

Where is this? I need to look at a pic.

Is this referring to the vents on the hood?

Imp

· #20 · Aug 19, 2003 (Edited)

MattG said:
If we trust what we've heard about Lotus being on track for an April '04 delivery (and this came from a sales manager who talked to Arnie about the car), then an introduction in January is probably too close to be realistic (IMHO).

One rather smallish company that did this in recent memory was Subaru with the WRX in 2001. (worst kept secret... only thing that enthusiasts didn't know was price and one or two other details)

January 9th, NAIAS, they announced the WRX was coming.

Last week in March 2001, 1st allocation were on dealer floors.

Lotus, being a smaller volume (no pun intended) company than Subaru probably would not have much of an issue getting the required units to these shores in a small amount of time.

And about 1900lbs.. that would be fine with me. Meets minimum weight for a certain non-stock, non-SP, SCCA auto-x class.

--kC

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