The Lotus Elise will arrive on our shores as a 2005 model in either April or June 2004, depending on which Lotus executive you speak to. Without releasing specifics, Lotus execs said our Elise will have a more powerful engine than the European model, though torque will be similar to the European engine. Lotus will release more information midyear, including the name of its engine maker.

The V8-powered Esprit will continue into the 2004 model year, ending its 28-year life in early ’04. Lotus said that an all-new Esprit will hit the streets “in a few years time,” with the same name and the same two-seat, mid-engine configuration.

Lotus is also investigating a 2+2 car, “to see what the market’s expecting,” said Tony Shute, head of product in Hethel. Does the market expect an SUV?

“I don’t think the Lotus market does,” said Shute.

Whew!



grrrr baby

 

2+2 Lotus? No. Lotus is not Aston Martin, or even Ferrari. Lotus has a reputation for making tiny cars. The Esprit V8 clocks in at 3043 lbs; the car started its life much lighter though...the '93 only weighs 2700 lbs.

 

This market expects another 340R style vehicle. :chuckles:

 

The 1993 was also the S4S with a tiny 4-cylnder engine. Lotus makes an effort though, the V-8 in the current Esprit only weighs around 320 pounds.

 

I know the S4S has a 4-banger, I saw Pretty Woman!

Still, the overall car is essentially similar.

 

Screw Pretty Women, Honey I Blew Up The Kid had an S4S in it too.

 

bah this is old news. I posted this ish last year around november.

the engine is the toyota celica GT-S retuned to produced 200hp.

which is good for me since that means there is a chance of getting the SMT transmission from the MR2

 

Actually, it was July h:

 

tirod = wned:

 

Didn't the previous Elise use the Integra Type-R engine?