Monday 28th July 2003

Proton gets Sporty

Is the Elise to form the basis of a new Proton Coupe?

---

[LotusACBC]

I have never even seen what a Proton looks like in the 1st place.

[stevenrt]

I live in Australia, and I can confirm the Elise is bloody expensive here.

Consider this: the Lotus Elise and the new Mazda RX-8 are about the same price in the UK - 21,000-22,000 UK pounds. In Australia, the Elise costs 85K AUD but the Mazda RX8 will be about 60 K AUD.

So something badged a Proton but for half the price and with a roof - there is no ozone over Melbourne, you're nuts if you drive a convertible here! - and Lotus chassis, ride and handling would be a really great niche product here. There are no sporty coupes anywhere in the world under 1000 kg that are mid engined, so I think it would find a market - I'd get one! (instead of the Rx-8)!

[chickensoup]

4 pot 250 bhp must be a turbo, as Lotus said that does not suit the Elise; using the Proton badge may be a way to keep bean counters happy

[rpguk]

LotusACBC said:

I have never even seen what a Proton looks like in the 1st place.

This is the satria GTI, A car which I always thought looked a lot better then most people give it credit for


>> Edited by rpguk on Tuesday 29th July 14:59

[cybersdorf]

As for how an Elise-based coupé could look:

http://www1.opel.de/dudenhofen/de/?mode=events&sub=ecospeedster&feature=galerie