Source for Automobile Information and News
October 03 , 2005
Lotus Vehicle News
With the success of the Elise automobile putting Lotus back on the exotic car map, Lotus has decided to enlarge the Elise to accommodate full size drivers and to produce a new Espirt vehicle model that should arrive at dealers as early as next year.
The new Elise vehicle will get a different name and will increase the cockpit size to handle normal sized adults. Like many other car enthusiasts, I rushed down to the dealer to see the new Elise last year, only to discover that I didn’t fit inside. Just like those kiddie coasters at amusement parks the interior room was just too damn small. Lotus got the message, so the new model will have a larger cockpit with a larger door opening to allow for easier access. The engine should get beefed up by 30 to 40 horsepower to accommodate the extra weight. The new version will have a real trunk along with storage space behind the front seats. The idea is to have the new version feel like a real car and not just a rich kid’s go-cart. Lotus vehicle will continue to produce the current Elise which has become a true cult hit amongst those who want race car like handling at an affordable price.
The new Espirt will be a 2007 vehicle model, but should find its way into the auto dealer showrooms by late spring 2006. The car will be powered by a 450 horsepower V-8 and the car will weigh in just under 3,000 pounds. The price is set at $120,000, rumors have it that they didn’t want it to cost more then the baby Aston the Vantage. The engine in the new Espirt will be a twin turbo 4.3 liter version of a V-8 currently used by Toyota in its Lexus line vehicles. It is its mid engine design that Lotus is banking on to help it sell cars. The current Lamborghini Gallardo lists at about $180,000. If Lotus can build a better looking car then they should have no trouble selling them at this $120k price. Car buyers are much less afraid of the Elise because of its Japanese engine, hopefully the same will hold true for the Espirt vehicle. Lotus uses a mere 1.8 liter Toyota engine in the 2,000 pound Elise; it would follow that this car with more then twice the horsepower should rock as well.
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The last Espirt, the 2004 version had a 3.5 liter twin turbo 350 horsepower power plant, but scared people away with its British built engine. At the time, Edmunds said the car still looked cool, and its staring role in two James Bond movies didn’t hurt either, but they recommended getting a Vette or a 911 auto for the same kind of money. That was because both of those cars offered greater visibility, resale value and dependability. Lotus auto is counting on the good press that has followed the Elise to insure that the new Espirt vehicle is a winner as well. Along with the realization that; if Toyota is building the engine and drive train then, what could go wrong? top of page |
- Automotive Insider
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