Who wants a 'new' Elise?

[dandarez]

...when Fiat look like going it alone with their new Abarth at (Autocar suggest 20k!)

Think Fiat has seen a massive gap going to be left by Bahar and Co's (impossible?) mission to aim too high.

Front cover of today's Autocar.

[61GT]

dandarez said:

...when Fiat look like going it alone with their new Abarth at (Autocar suggest 20k!)

Think Fiat has seen a massive gap going to be left by Bahar and Co's (impossible?) mission to aim too high.

Front cover of today's Autocar.

Hi Dandarez,

Can't help noticing that everytime you post something about Lotus (particularly on the Ginetta forum) it is only ever criticism. Having owned a G15, Caterham 7 and now a Lotus Europa I have to say I've only been too happy to support all specialist British car makers (the same goes for Marcos, TVR, Morgan etc).

What exactly is your problem with Lotus?

Edited by 61GT on Thursday 28th October 22:04

[winshent]

I guess that depends on if you can wait another 3 years for it..

[Tuna]

dandarez said:

...when Fiat look like going it alone with their new Abarth at (Autocar suggest 20k!)

Think Fiat has seen a massive gap going to be left by Bahar and Co's (impossible?) mission to aim too high.

Front cover of today's Autocar.

Dan, besides your relentless anti-lotus thing, you do appreciate that the picture is a drawing by Autocar, who have taken the 'Fiat do an Elise' idea a bit literally and just photoshoped up an Elise? As it is, I've not read any evidence that Fiat are about to develop a chassis that matches the technical sophistication of the Elise. If it's like the Barchetta, it'll be pretty, but not game changing.

Don't get me wrong, I quite like Fiats (I owned one for long enough), and Lotus have got a lot to prove with their new line up. However, cars like this always sound exciting when first announced. Few manufacturers can deliver on that initial promise (remember the MGF?)

[Frimley111R]

Vauxhall VX200 vs. Lotus Elise.

SEOT!

[Tuna]

Frimley111R said:

Vauxhall VX200 vs. Lotus Elise.

SEOT!

That's relevant how? The VX220 was based on the Elise chassis and built by Lotus alongside the Elise.

This Fiat is apparently their own car, based on their own chassis and built by Fiat.

[saaby93]

To save anyone else spending £2.80 on the mag it's an Autocar impression/rendering of an Elise using Fiat styling cues.

[Thorburn]

If it comes out, looks like that, handles like an Elise and costs £20k I'd buy it.

So I'd imagine my money pretty safe for now.