Questions about US Elise

1-When will they bring it to the US?
2-How much will it cost?
3-What will the changes be from the Euro. one and ours?
4-How many will they bring over?
5-Are there any plans for them to bring the Exige for stree-legal use?

This is what I remember from my conversation with some senior Lotus Club people and a discussion with the CEO of Lotus NA at the LA Auto ShowOriginally posted by Chipper2207
1-When will they bring it to the US?

summer of '03

2-How much will it cost? mid- $30k's

3-What will the changes be from the Euro. one and ours?

More powerful engine for the US (I believe they are targeting th eoutput of the aftermarket VTEC tuners that convert Euro- Elise's. Lotus is targeting a curb weight of 2,800 pounds.

4-How many will they bring over?

Not sure, but I believe that they are going directly after the S2000 , Porsche Boxster and BMW Z and the 350Z. That would tell me that these are not going to be very limited production cars.

5-Are there any plans for them to bring the Exige for stree-legal use?

No there isn't, but there will be a 200+ HP Elise designed soley for the track available around the same timeframes . It is just an updated version of the Exige. I hope that they eventually bring over the GT version of the track monster

That's my $.02.

Brad

I heard that Lotus can ramp up production to a maximum of 3200 cars a year. That includes production for Europe and the USA

I am sure they can, if they work hard enough and shorten the production line.

There seems to be WAAAY too much conflicting information.

Ive ordered one thru a dealer in Atlanta. According to him, they wont be here until 2004/2005.

Cost MSRP will be anywhere from 38K to 42K. When signing paperwork I had to agree to that spectrum. Im paying MSRP not dealer markup.


Changes include bumper reinforcement, sideimpact additions. Leather and AC will be offered in the US.



I sure as hell hope they're not going to weigh 2800lbs. Thats 600lbs more than my current miata. If they weigh that much Im cancelling my order right now. I was told 1600 for euro models, add 200-300lbs to the US versions for upgraded impact area and leather/AC.

Thats sounds about right.

that still sounds like a good deal! do you think that this car will need a/c?

if its hot enough for you to need a/c than the top should be off!!:rolleyes: ;) :D

does anyone know what kind of elise they will send over, i've seen about 6 different versions on some web site.
i heard something about it having a GM ecotec (or Geek-o-tec) engine with about 145 ponies. please tell me that isnt going to happen. but hey, if it does i'll just have to swap an MR2 turbo engine or an sr20 instead


"You wanna raise your truck? Why don't you just punch out your teeth and marry your sister while your at it?"
The immortal words of Pete

the engine they are putting in is a celica engine and the body type they are using can be seen here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t86291.html)

I have doubts about the Federalised Elise. People wont like it and forever dislike the Elise as a car. If anyone knows anything about Elises, they know that they are no place for power windows, CD players and AC. Common. Unless the Celica motor will compensate for this useless weight, I don't think that the Elise will be as great as it is in Europe.

I have doubts about the Federalised Elise. People wont like it and forever dislike the Elise as a car. If anyone knows anything about Elises, they know that they are no place for power windows, CD players and AC. Common. Unless the Celica motor will compensate for this useless weight, I don't think that the Elise will be as great as it is in Europe.
I think you're wrong.

From what I've heard about the US version is it will have a radio, no power steering or power brakes, 180hp engine, est. 1700lbs. If I had the money I'd be after one in a heartbeat. Dunno about the a/c though...

Answers to your questions:

1. April
2. 39,000$
3. Quite a substantial change. A different aluminum chassis (I think) that will be a platform for future VAT legal cars. Toyota transmission and motor.
4. Initial plans were about 10 a month for the US, but hey, look what happened! American dealers have received way more orders than anticipated.
5. The Exige S2 will NOT be coming to the US. The only way it will if Lotus themselves changed their minds. It is still a really really low chance.

For more info on the Federalized Elise, here are two good links.

www.elisetalk.com
www.lotusfury.com

I just got the new Road and Track the other day and guess whats plastered all over the cover...
the elise is going to be so bad-ass. It is ALMOST a car uncorrupted by weight adding crap. i want one... or two.

The opening phrases of that article define the Elise.

They said that they were driving a Euro spec car, take alook at the hsot with the license plate. Those tailpipes are not Euro spec, those are the federalized ones!!!

Have any of you guys read the new Road & Track Mag featuring the Elise 190 on the front? Well anyways, I was reading in on it, and they claimed that the 190hp Elise was to run 0-60 in 4.8 and a quarter in 12.0!!!!!!!!!! I kid you not, read Road and Track or go to the website and they posted a 12.0! I don't know whether they misprinted that or what, but a 12.0 seems ridiculous to come from a pre-existing Elise running mid to high 13's. Does anybody else find a 12.0 quarter on a Elise 190 to be ridiculously low or what?
PLZ RESPOND! :confused:

well you have to consider that the euro-spec elises have a lot less hp, closer to 120 than 180. but yes, it does seem a little low, my guess would probably be 12.5-12.7.

Who really cares anyway, the Elise isnt about straight line performance.

if you want REAL info from owners of the Elise and future owners of the fed version, go here www.elisetalk.com

i herd that the elise was gonna have 180 HP and it was gonna weigh 1,800 pounds...from a magazine

Seriously everyone, the Lotus is NOT about straight line performance. Although, the U.S. model certinly will have it. Maybe even enough to take a few unsuspecting vetts. But just think about the braking and handling that thing will have, even the Enzo Ferrari will have a hard time keeping up it in those respects.

In all honnesty, I have seen an Elise take many many cars on track. Names such as the Ferrari F series, and I won't say which "aniversary" the model was, try a track-spec GT3... This car is undoubtedly very nimble on the twisties. The older Euro K-Series motor is definately lacking in the reliability dep. but the new Toyota powerplant will (rumoured) run 100,000+miles trouble free, no belts broken...

BUT! I just read a review of the federalized Elise (I think it was just a Euro S2 with the identical Toyota motor swap) and the driver did comment about the strange powerband and the somewhat confusing red-line. Regardless, we will wait til' April for a full review, when the little beasts get delivered.

In all honnesty, I have seen an Elise take many many cars on track. Names such as the Ferrari F series, and I won't say which "aniversary" the model was, try a track-spec GT3... This car is undoubtedly very nimble on the twisties. The older Euro K-Series motor is definately lacking in the reliability dep. but the new Toyota powerplant will (rumoured) run 100,000+miles trouble free, no belts broken...

BUT! I just read a review of the federalized Elise (I think it was just a Euro S2 with the identical Toyota motor swap) and the driver did comment about the strange powerband and the somewhat confusing red-line. Regardless, we will wait til' April for a full review, when the little beasts get delivered.

well supposedly its going to be a tuned version of the celica engine.. and what do u mean 100k+.. its going to last atleast 250+ if you keep it in good condition and dont drive it like a madman everyday.. also the weight shouldn't be alot more than 1 ton.. i mean how else can a 190hp vehicle have a 12/13 second 1/4 mile.. also 2800 is WAY to heavy.. as i saw on some post on this thread.. if it was 2800 (which is the same weight as my accord) it will be slow as hell

can't help much here except give you the uk figures for the 190 which is more or less waht you guys are getting.

189bhp@7800 (bear in mind that this is with a vvt-i cm change-a-mi-bob)
133lb/ft @6800
860kg

oh, and as far as i know, it isn't a tuned engine.
just the same unit from the celica t-sport/190.
remember, the celica has an extra 500kg(ish) and is physically about twice the size of the elise.

oh, oops..
i keep forgetting.
not many u.s. guys have actually seen one of these....
:naughty:

True it is a celica engine, but according to Road and Track, the ECU was remapped, bumping the engine to the power and torque of 190 and 133 respectivly.