Elise XL or Esprit Short? Third Lotus model spied during test
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Elise XL or Esprit Short? Third Lotus model spied during test
Elise XL or Esprit Short? Third Lotus model spied during test
JULIAN RENDELL
Posted Date: 2/1/05
Our spies in England spotted a prototype midsized, mid-engine $30,000 coupe that fits in the Lotus lineup between the Elise and a new Esprit.
Officially the project remains “under consideration,” but this trimmed-out mule is eerily identical to a design published in U.K. Patent Office journals last fall.
Insiders report at least six prototypes have been built, including one that has been crash-tested.
The car’s aluminum chassis, dubbed the Versatile Vehicle Architecture, also underpins the larger Esprit. The design is so flexible that front- and mid-engine models can be built off the same chassis.
Aimed at Porsche’s new Boxster coupe, this model is conceived as a more comfortable touring GT. Though likely to arrive as a Lotus, it could also be sold through Proton dealers, the Malaysian carmaker that owns Lotus.
Sources say a vestigial set of rear seats is under consideration, but chances of the car being a 2+2 are slim, thanks to a lack of rear access over its wide sills and access through its narrow doors.
Source: Autoweek
Spy-pics were included in the article
http://autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101720
JULIAN RENDELL
Posted Date: 2/1/05
Our spies in England spotted a prototype midsized, mid-engine $30,000 coupe that fits in the Lotus lineup between the Elise and a new Esprit.
Officially the project remains “under consideration,” but this trimmed-out mule is eerily identical to a design published in U.K. Patent Office journals last fall.
Insiders report at least six prototypes have been built, including one that has been crash-tested.
The car’s aluminum chassis, dubbed the Versatile Vehicle Architecture, also underpins the larger Esprit. The design is so flexible that front- and mid-engine models can be built off the same chassis.
Aimed at Porsche’s new Boxster coupe, this model is conceived as a more comfortable touring GT. Though likely to arrive as a Lotus, it could also be sold through Proton dealers, the Malaysian carmaker that owns Lotus.
Sources say a vestigial set of rear seats is under consideration, but chances of the car being a 2+2 are slim, thanks to a lack of rear access over its wide sills and access through its narrow doors.
Source: Autoweek
Spy-pics were included in the article
http://autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101720
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,769
From: cinci
Re: Elise XL or Esprit Short? Third Lotus model spied during test
yea, that'd be definately sweet if they could bring one out for 30k (but yea, i saw the point about being between the elise and espirit)
speaking of which, they just had the "best all around sports car comparo" in r&t and the elise was in it
i won't tell you which car won it though
speaking of which, they just had the "best all around sports car comparo" in r&t and the elise was in it
i won't tell you which car won it though
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 609
From: Cornelius, NC
Re: Elise XL or Esprit Short? Third Lotus model spied during test
Originally Posted by WERM
They probably mean 30,000 pounds. Which would be roughly $60K US, right in between the Elise and Esprit.
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