Elise Replacement - EVO Magazine

[hedgerley]

Yet more speculation, based on tips from a source "close to Lotus" in the new issue of EVO. The current chassis will be developed further to support two new Elises - a federalised version and a rest of world version (and will scale up for the new Esprit as well) Although the Toyota V6 has been considered for the US market, they are going for a Toyota 4 pot as this is federalised for years to come. No mention of what engine the RoW version gets. The new Elise may be on the show stand at Geneva in Feb 04.

Interestingly, there is also discussion of upcoming Aston Martin models which share similar aluminium chassis concepts to the Lotus plans - some say that Lotus actually inspired Astons thinking. Does this mean them working closer with Lotus in the near future, despite the cost and time overruns on the Vanquish project? Does it support the conspiracy theorists who suggest Ford might buy Lotus? Who can tell.

[Davey Boy]

No mention of what engine the RoW version gets.

Probably another bloody K Series knowing Lotus.

[DanH]

Lotus have been working with AM for ages. They did a lot of the work on the Vanquish.

I also heard that AM got so pissed off working with them, that they didn't ever want to do it again Probably bollocks, but rumours are fun!

[alunr]

Davey Boy said:

No mention of what engine the RoW version gets.

Probably another bloody K Series knowing Lotus.

Lotus do have a deal to continue using rover K's til 2005 I believe (read it somwhere)