Thursday 10th July 2008

Elise Now Available In Green

'Eco Elise' is greener and faster

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Lotus has unveiled the ‘Eco Elise’ – a greener and faster version of their lightweight sports car. The company says it has focused on more than just the CO2 emissions, looking at everything from materials used to greener manufacturing techniques.

Lotus hopes to become a world leader in environmental automotive consultancy and has used a number of clever methods on the Eco Elise. For example sustainable materials, hemp, eco wool and sisal have been developed for body panels and trim and, combined with hi-tech water based paint solutions.

The Eco Elise weighs 32 kg (70.5 lbs) less than the standard Elise S, which means that the efficient Elise S engine in the Eco Elise will give higher fuel economy figures and even better performance. Meanwhile the company has made huge reductions in energy (Electricity 14%, Gas 30%) and water (11%) consumed across the Hethel headquarters in 2007, compared to 2006.

The Eco Elise also has a green gear shift display integrated into the instrument panel to ensure that gears are changed at the optimum point to reduce emissions and save fuel.

Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus said: ‘This Eco Elise is a great example of the advanced and affordable green technologies Lotus is developing. We are at the cutting edge of environmental technology and are determined to push forward with our green agenda. The Lotus brand values of lightweight, fuel efficient and high performance are more relevant today than they ever have been.’

 

[edb49]

Saving fuel through light weight... good.

But this?

"The Eco Elise also has a green gear shift display integrated into the instrument panel to ensure that gears are changed at the optimum point to reduce emissions and save fuel."

[londonese]

hmm, doubly green... this news item is so good, its posted twice

[Alpine110]

Sounds like Lotus doing this "tongue in cheek!"

[dbroughton]

What with the Tesla and all this sort thing, I expect lotus to own GM, Ford and Toyota by 2020.

Lotus have to be the only (semi)mainstream car maker in a position to seriously exploit the changes the world is facing.

When Lotus talk about lightweight you actually believe them and when it comes to turning of the lights at night, you know they have been doing it for decades to save a few quid.

Lotus are without doubt the greenest car company on the planet

[TTwiggy]

And yet, under our current VED banding, it would still be £210 a year to tax!

[jaik]

I have massive respect for Lotus for doing this, they've made an "eco" car that is just as good as the "normal" model whilst keeping the carbon-counters happy rather than just whacking on a regenerative braking system that has as much chance of saving the planet as my left shin.

[corcoran]

nerds

[Spunagain]

I bet the S2 111s still does a better mpg

[Fiatfan]

Excellent, reducing weight improves the fuel consumption but also improves the driving experience too. Everyone is happy!

This is a better solution than the "everything must be hybrid/electric" route that the goverment has suggested. Focus on the goal of improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. How the manufactuers achieve it is not important just the final more efficient vehicle.

[R.P.M]

fair play, I'm sure they went ott to take the pee.

As I see it this is one of thier main strengths and playing to this can only stand them in good sted for what is to come.

Rpm.

[BT52]

jaik said:

I have massive respect for Lotus for doing this,

I don't. The more the environment dictators are ackowledged the more credibility they obtain.

Makes me want to go out and buy a supercharged VXR8.

[Snoggledog]

article said:

The Eco Elise also has a green gear shift display integrated into the instrument panel to ensure that gears are changed at the optimum point to reduce emissions and save fuel.

How many Elise drivers will pay any attention to the 'green' gear change light when they hit a good B road?

[cowellsj]

[quote=edb49]Saving fuel through light weight... good.

Could be wrong, but aren't they about the only car manufacturer that seems to understand this simple principle and actually puts it to use.

[morgrp]

Snoggledog said:

article said:

The Eco Elise also has a green gear shift display integrated into the instrument panel to ensure that gears are changed at the optimum point to reduce emissions and save fuel.

How many Elise drivers will pay any attention to the 'green' gear change light when they hit a good B road?

But how many potential consultancy customers will see this as a good idea along with all the others on the car - I see it as an advertisment from lotus to offer their "eco consultant" skills to other manufacturers in order to bring in the bucks. Admittedly most Elise drivers wouldn't use the "green light" when thacking the hell out of their car but many owners use their Elise on a daily basis (My neighbour commutes to work in hers) and surely in day to day driving e.g. around town etc it might be handy?

Edited by morgrp on Thursday 10th July 13:30

[Mr_C]

I use mine every day.

Does nearly 40mpg if I want to and it's quick and fun when you want it to be, best of everything really

[bencollins]

Needs an aygo engine IMO then will be another 60kg lighter and could break 80mpg.
Sports cars are the natural progression of the eco times, light and aerodynamic. Big heavy engines make cars corner slower not faster and are unnecessary with progressional turbocharging around.

[clarencegi77]

i'm gonna get shot for this..
how about a car smaller and lighter then the current Elise? great steps on Lotus's part in the 'eco' fiasco, but yes, we should not be giving in to or encouraging the eco-freaks so soon yet.
it's quite funny when you think about it, how other manufacturers are making/ developing porkish hybrids and whatnot, which require more energy to move anyway.. while Lotus seems to be the only manufacturer with the common sense to not try and defy the laws of physics by simply employing lighter cars, still, the impact that one single manufacturer can make on the entire market is yet to be seen..
hemp interiors are cool! especially if there should be any accidental fires in the cabin...

[moanthebairns]

morgrp said:

Snoggledog said:

article said:

The Eco Elise also has a green gear shift display integrated into the instrument panel to ensure that gears are changed at the optimum point to reduce emissions and save fuel.

How many Elise drivers will pay any attention to the 'green' gear change light when they hit a good B road?

But how many potential consultancy customers will see this as a good idea along with all the others on the car - I see it as an advertisment from lotus to offer their "eco consultant" skills to other manufacturers in order to bring in the bucks. Admittedly most Elise drivers wouldn't use the "green light" when thacking the hell out of their car but many owners use their Elise on a daily basis (My neighbour commutes to work in hers) and surely in day to day driving e.g. around town etc it might be handy?

Edited by morgrp on Thursday 10th July 13:30

the civic has something similar to this, however you cant believe how much a disappointment it is when it doesn’t go from green to red when you trash it

[waynepixel]

Bloody hell, how many Limited edition Elise can you release before you make a company like Lotus look like a gimmick.

[golemgrey]

cowellsj said:

Could be wrong, but aren't they about the only car manufacturer that seems to understand this simple principle and actually puts it to use.

Not quite. Mazda and Subaru realise it too. Subaru looked at weight pretty intensively on the current Liberty I think, and Mazda has applied it's approach to the MX5 (strict weight revisions of the vast majority of parts) to the new 2 and 6 models, noting the dual impact of fuel/handling.

I've read a review that said the liberty/legacy feels a little narrow compared to the 6 and the Mondeo. But for the weight advantage it delivers, and having been in one, I don't think it's worth the weight personally. The Liberty/legacy is a fine car until I put on 40 kilos or so.