Toyota is refusing to sell the 6spd? All Elises will be in automtic now?

Steve,

I hope you are not reffering to me personally. I think that the Elise needs to stay somewhat pure in order to differentiate itself from the competition. We must be realilistic regarding the cars market however. Lets face it, in the US you need some variation of the slushbox in order to attract real buyers. Lotus doesn't need it for the next 2 years (run of the current car) because what isn't sold out already will be soon. However in order to sustain sales, Lotus will have to adapt the car to the markets which it will compete. Note, we are not getting the car they have had in europe since 2000. We are also not getting just a new engine and trans. There are key marketing moves that have been and continue to be made to insure the car will sell ranging from ABS and central locking to carpet and insulation in the soft and hard tops. Don't look fot GPS or ESP on any Lotus for the foreseeable future (short of the rumor of a sedan coming to light). Even the colors of our Elise are being carefully picked. If Lotus sees a way to keep the spirit of the car and company while if not increasing, perhaps mantaining sales with adding options or specifications, be sure they will.

My use of "real buyers" was in reference to sustained market interest. There will be a large number of people who will love the idea of owning a Lotus Elise but either don't know how to drive a stick or are unwilling to deal with one in their commute. Right now, as I mentioned before, this is not the case but once the car is available at dealers (say early-mid 2005) these cars are going to be cross shopped with Z4, Boxters, Corvettes and 350Z Roadsters, all of which offer some type if not multiple types of slush boxes. Lotus will need to continually offer something "new" in order to avoid the VW Beetle problem where after an intial strong demand for the car is over (i.e. everyone who wanted one orginally got one), something has to make either new buyers show up or encourage old buyers to trade in and up. The Elise may never get an auto, but then a M250 type car maybe required to keep Lotus from experiencing a "flash in the pan" burst. A serious investment in the product line is going to need to be made in order for Lotus to succeed. this may come in the form of additional models or prehaps just "special editions" like the exige and 340R. Luckily Lotus is working down market at this point which will save it from the problem Volkswagon is having with the Phaeton in Europe. I know Lotus is planning the expansion of their line, I just hope they don't delay the new models too long or the momentum of the Elise launch will be lost.

wallabyguy said:

My use of "real buyers" was in reference to sustained market interest. There will be a large number of people who will love the idea of owning a Lotus Elise but either don't know how to drive a stick or are unwilling to deal with one in their commute. Right now, as I mentioned before, this is not the case but once the car is available at dealers (say early-mid 2005) these cars are going to be cross shopped with Z4, Boxters, Corvettes and 350Z Roadsters, all of which offer some type if not multiple types of slush boxes. Lotus will need to continually offer something "new" in order to avoid the VW Beetle problem where after an intial strong demand for the car is over (i.e. everyone who wanted one orginally got one), something has to make either new buyers show up or encourage old buyers to trade in and up. The Elise may never get an auto, but then a M250 type car maybe required to keep Lotus from experiencing a "flash in the pan" burst. A serious investment in the product line is going to need to be made in order for Lotus to succeed. this may come in the form of additional models or prehaps just "special editions" like the exige and 340R. Luckily Lotus is working down market at this point which will save it from the problem Volkswagon is having with the Phaeton in Europe. I know Lotus is planning the expansion of their line, I just hope they don't delay the new models too long or the momentum of the Elise launch will be lost.

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i have no idea that your use of 'real buyers' meant 'sustained market interest'. thank you for your explanation.

it really depends on the market which Lotus is aiming for. those car you mentioned was meant for mass appeal. lotus is working with a few thousand cars to begin with. it has very niche appeal.

since the original mark 1 elise was introduced in 1996, their demands have been proven that a light weight, no frills, no gimmicks sports car is what the real buyers look for.

lotus had been introducing various motors and motorsport upgrades to the basic elise besides the exiges and 340Rs (111s, sport 160, etc etc) and if you read on the other boards you can tell many owners do trade up within the brand. would a good sequential box do anything to sales? perhaps.

honestly, i much rather Lotus keep their niche and distance these cross shopers looking for an auto box here. those looking for 'comfort' and 'luxury' in the elise is probably in the wrong place.

notice you conveniently left out S2000 of your list of cross-shopping buyers. you think Honda would not be interested in 'real buyers' as you define it and start offering 'slushbox' in their s2000 anytime soon?

i am all open for the idea of a proper sequential/smg-like/dsg-like box that matches the engine and the characteristics of the car. what it does to the car and the experience is unknown. it's just too early to speculate anything.

on the other hand, i much rather see manufacturers such as BMW develop something light weight and pure like the elise (Z5 that is no longer).