Thursday 21st February 2002

Elise Hard Top is Here

Hard top and air con are on their way

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[bert]

How about the gullwing hardtop ? By the launch of the s2 i saw that as a real innovative gadget. To much problems in production ???

[Umar B]

at the risk of sounding a bit think, what is the gullwing roof (i know what the gullwing system is but can't picture it on the roof)

>> Edited by Umar B on Thursday 21st February 16:11

>> Edited by Umar B on Thursday 21st February 16:42

[adeewuff]

Lotus should have offered this roof from the start... does anyone remember that the original Elise was supposed to be gull winged?! It then cost them £500,000 to change the design, anyone know how much this has cost them?

It certainly looks good, but air con sounds a bit of a compromise to me. I thought that was what the windows were for...?

[jonescr]

Err, the original Elise wasn't even supposed to have doors! never mind a gull wing.

It was putting the doors on that cost half a mill. A consequence of legislation. If you have a roof, then there has to be a certain entry height or something like that. The doors were put on the car, because they decided it should have a roof.

This is also why the 340R doesn't have a roof at all. If it did it would fall foul of the same legislation.

Cheers
Chris

[Hart]

Such hardtop could have been made in 2 or 3 pieces in order to store it in the boot.

[adeewuff]

Jonescr,

Yes you're quite right, looks like it was a while since I watched that Discovery documentary!

[al27]

Just hope you can get into the Elise now--maybe you climb in like you climb into your army issue pup tent!

[zertec]

quote:How about the gullwing hardtop ? By the launch of the s2 i saw that as a real innovative gadget. To much problems in production ???

Yes....as told to me by Lotus

[Mr Fix it]

CAn it fit into the boot- bet not. Thats the advantage of a gull wing affair as the boots looks too tiny to fit that roof. I have this on my tvr and its a good option to have. It would have been better if they designed one which could fit in the boot or behind the seats (if there was some room there.....)

Dave

[Firefox]

Im a bit gutted as I've always wanted to have the gull wings hard top (as specified in the sales pack) since I first brought the car. The roof in the picture isn't colour coded anyone know if they will produce colour coded hard tops, and the big question is how much £££££££

[PLANK]

From good authority Lotus have taken some time to release the hard top car due to the origional ventilation system having to be redesignd as the first proto cars cooked the driver.

[Umar B]

I have found some picturs of the elise 'gullwing roof' (i think)

www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/pictures/showpictures/bluesprit.jpg

www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/pictures/showpictures/eliseII.jpg

[ahagerty]

I was at my dealer today ( ordered a Mk2 Sports Tourer ) wooo hoo! I asked how much the hard to is likely to be, £1700 apparently. Yikes! Will start saving for the winter.

[ted]

I've just bought an S2 and the roof leaks dispite reassurance to the contary by the salesman. Does anyone else experience this problem and if so was it covered by the warranty? I hope that Lotus will replace the roof with the new improved version mentioned above...what do you all think?
Ted in total frustration and anger!

[v12 inside]

i'd like to feel too your frustration, Ted, but unfortunately i don't have any S2.
anyway, to have a hard top in an Elise, i'd prefer Exige.

>> Edited by v12 inside on Monday 25th February 00:45

[smele]

It has the one feature on the hardtop that I thought the MKI should have had, a groove in the middle. Looks much more sporting than just a plain old smooth roof.

The Dodge Viper roof is similiar. Now I just have to work out how to get a MKII to Seattle.....

[XPLOD]

Typical. I bought my 2001/Y S2 Elise from a Lotus dealer in Jan 02, and I was told that the hardtop was not on the horizon!