2006 Spec Elise
Discussion
Just got the new details
New items include
Tourque-sensing type Limited slip diff (option AEC)
Switchable traction control (option AEC)
Satin Black wheels (option AEC)
New LED style rear lights
New seats (ProBax)
Rear reflectors removed and new rear grill
New exterior colours 2 solid, 10 metallics, and 8 lifestyle colour options
Cars now some with Touring, Super touring, Sport and Super sport packs. These include options like sterter button twin airbags, forged wheels sport suspention etc....etc...
Check your dealer for full details
111r Basic price i think is unchanged.
Just
>> Edited by just1 on Monday 19th September 14:51
>> Edited by just1 on Monday 19th September 18:29
New items include
Tourque-sensing type Limited slip diff (option AEC)
Switchable traction control (option AEC)
Satin Black wheels (option AEC)
New LED style rear lights
New seats (ProBax)
Rear reflectors removed and new rear grill
New exterior colours 2 solid, 10 metallics, and 8 lifestyle colour options
Cars now some with Touring, Super touring, Sport and Super sport packs. These include options like sterter button twin airbags, forged wheels sport suspention etc....etc...
Check your dealer for full details
111r Basic price i think is unchanged.
Just
>> Edited by just1 on Monday 19th September 14:51
>> Edited by just1 on Monday 19th September 18:29
The TC will be switchable though.
The interesting thing about the Elise is that it was originally conceived as being "a fun toy that you can drive at weekends and do the odd sprint or hillclimb with" (the words of Tony Shute in 1994).
What happened in 1996 when the car came out was 90% of buyers bought them for going to work and back in! The S1 was a bit raw for most people to do that in... (my friend's S1 gave me a headache on the motorway and made my backside sore. I owned a Caterham at the time and we both agreed that it was more comfortable!).
Three cheers to Lotus for responding to the demand by producing 'Touring' packs etc, but bear in mind that the sports version will still be available for those of us with tough backsides, shares in Anadin, or a sensible car to use everyday!
The interesting thing about the Elise is that it was originally conceived as being "a fun toy that you can drive at weekends and do the odd sprint or hillclimb with" (the words of Tony Shute in 1994).
What happened in 1996 when the car came out was 90% of buyers bought them for going to work and back in! The S1 was a bit raw for most people to do that in... (my friend's S1 gave me a headache on the motorway and made my backside sore. I owned a Caterham at the time and we both agreed that it was more comfortable!).
Three cheers to Lotus for responding to the demand by producing 'Touring' packs etc, but bear in mind that the sports version will still be available for those of us with tough backsides, shares in Anadin, or a sensible car to use everyday!
With regard to the supercharger, I can't help wondering what an in-house designed lightweight V6 would weigh. Lotus developed the Esprit's V8 on a budget, wo why not a small V6 for the Elise?
For me, the Elise is a wonderful car for its handling chassis/steering feedback and the way all the controls are well weighted and gel together; but to be honest, 'fast' for me starts at the Caterham R300 and R400 (333 and 441 bhp/tonne respectively). The Elise has enough power to entertain at the moment, but to have the same power/weight as an R400 (i.e. to be 'fast'), an 800kg Elise/Exige would need 350bhp, and a 900kg one would need about 400bhp. That should be possible from an all alloy block supercharged 3 litre V6.
For me, the Elise is a wonderful car for its handling chassis/steering feedback and the way all the controls are well weighted and gel together; but to be honest, 'fast' for me starts at the Caterham R300 and R400 (333 and 441 bhp/tonne respectively). The Elise has enough power to entertain at the moment, but to have the same power/weight as an R400 (i.e. to be 'fast'), an 800kg Elise/Exige would need 350bhp, and a 900kg one would need about 400bhp. That should be possible from an all alloy block supercharged 3 litre V6.
agree on the power thing...but engine development takes years + millions that Lotus dont have...its much easier for them to by a pre-type approved engine in.
My car weighs 835Kg and has 300bhp from a 2.0L SC Honda K20A ...its pretty lively
..not to say that I would decline another 50bhp or so, from a 2.4 block conversion and some different cams !
They would struggle to get the weight down with a 3.0l in there - just look at the weight of the Sport Exige with the 3.0l race engine in...and thats a stripped out GT racer..not a road car
My car weighs 835Kg and has 300bhp from a 2.0L SC Honda K20A ...its pretty lively
..not to say that I would decline another 50bhp or so, from a 2.4 block conversion and some different cams ! They would struggle to get the weight down with a 3.0l in there - just look at the weight of the Sport Exige with the 3.0l race engine in...and thats a stripped out GT racer..not a road car
With each successive update the original concept is getting far too diluted IMHO - aiming too much at the Boxster market.
Would be better to keep the Elise light weight and produce another model. How much is the new Elise going to weigh in at now - 1000+ kg????? Are they counting on the circuit car plus road pack to takeover as the Lotus lithe offering?
Having gone from early S1 to S2 and back to early S1 again, you really can't beat the feedback and purity of the original car.
Would be better to keep the Elise light weight and produce another model. How much is the new Elise going to weigh in at now - 1000+ kg????? Are they counting on the circuit car plus road pack to takeover as the Lotus lithe offering?
Having gone from early S1 to S2 and back to early S1 again, you really can't beat the feedback and purity of the original car.
The originl concept achieved its speed through light weight not high power. Every post seems to agree that the 'liz requires more power. This is against the original concept. The concept has moved on as peoples requirements have moved on. Legislation is also a lot more comprehensive, this add loads more weight. It is impossible to do another S1. I expect the closest you will get is a trackday car with a SVA kit.
Saying that, I want the s2 with more power and no more weight.
Saying that, I want the s2 with more power and no more weight.
Looking at the spec of the sports and super sports spec, i think that will keep the car as true as possible to the original concept as the sort of car you can turn up at a trackday, be bloody quick and then drive home after.
Sport Pack (£1495)
Twin oil coolers
Switchable TC
Sport Suspension(dampers and springs only)
Lightweight forged wheels
Super Sport Pack (£2495)
Track Suspension with 1 way adjustable damping and ride height
Adjustable Front anti roll bar
Double shear track control arm brace
Lightwieght forged wheels
Yoko A048 tyres
BS4 T45 Steel roll over hoop and struts
Roll hoop cross bar and race harness mount
Super sport pack available only with sport pack
Sounds like you can almost Exige your 111r up.
Touring pack is similar to 2005 but new ProBax seats included
Super Touring Pack
Upgraded interior trim with passenger and driver airbags
Engine start button
Embroided logo floor mats-black
Trinket tray stowage unit ????? WTF???
Handbrake Gaiter Black
Cup holder (Shocker)!!!
Leather shift knob
Same deal with the touring packs, super touring only available with the basic touring pack both £1995
i can see what lotus have done here the car will be more appealing to a hardcore trackdayer and the owner that want to do a longer drive in comfort while still having a sports car, i worry that the S3 elise when it finally arrives may not be simlar to the S1 or S2, trying to be more of a Boxter rival, But perhaps with the arrival of the Europa next year it will open the door for the design brief to be the same.
I personally love the S2, and i think the S3 will have to be quite something for me to change. But i think that a long way off
Just
>> Edited by just1 on Monday 19th September 18:30
Sport Pack (£1495)
Twin oil coolers
Switchable TC
Sport Suspension(dampers and springs only)
Lightweight forged wheels
Super Sport Pack (£2495)
Track Suspension with 1 way adjustable damping and ride height
Adjustable Front anti roll bar
Double shear track control arm brace
Lightwieght forged wheels
Yoko A048 tyres
BS4 T45 Steel roll over hoop and struts
Roll hoop cross bar and race harness mount
Super sport pack available only with sport pack
Sounds like you can almost Exige your 111r up.
Touring pack is similar to 2005 but new ProBax seats included
Super Touring Pack
Upgraded interior trim with passenger and driver airbags
Engine start button
Embroided logo floor mats-black
Trinket tray stowage unit ????? WTF???
Handbrake Gaiter Black
Cup holder (Shocker)!!!
Leather shift knob
Same deal with the touring packs, super touring only available with the basic touring pack both £1995
i can see what lotus have done here the car will be more appealing to a hardcore trackdayer and the owner that want to do a longer drive in comfort while still having a sports car, i worry that the S3 elise when it finally arrives may not be simlar to the S1 or S2, trying to be more of a Boxter rival, But perhaps with the arrival of the Europa next year it will open the door for the design brief to be the same.
I personally love the S2, and i think the S3 will have to be quite something for me to change. But i think that a long way off
Just
>> Edited by just1 on Monday 19th September 18:30
Yeah well for me there'll only ever be one.... The S one.... I like the look of the S2s but don't agree with them going away from their roots of it... even at its most stripped-out, the 111R is still about 80kg too heavy. Probably more due to regulations though than anything else and it's just the Elise model "maturing". I'll just keep my S1. I love its uncompromised nature and its lairy attitude.
I agree - the lightweight Elise is still available.
With regard to achieving speed through lightweight, it was never going to happen with the Elise - fantastic handling and steering feel yes - speed, no. Well, not for me anyway. As I said before, my definition of fast is 330bhp plus (i.e. a Caterham R300 or quicker). Even the original S1 Elise weighed about 700kg, which would need 231bhp to make it equal an R300 in a straight line - and that's just the start - to equal a properly fast car like an R400 the S1 Elise would need 308bhp, and getting this power would up the weight dramatically!
I'm happy with the Elise being an everyday car with amazing handling and steering feel. For what I term as a "fast car" or a "weekends and track days only" car, I'll buy a Caterham.
With regard to achieving speed through lightweight, it was never going to happen with the Elise - fantastic handling and steering feel yes - speed, no. Well, not for me anyway. As I said before, my definition of fast is 330bhp plus (i.e. a Caterham R300 or quicker). Even the original S1 Elise weighed about 700kg, which would need 231bhp to make it equal an R300 in a straight line - and that's just the start - to equal a properly fast car like an R400 the S1 Elise would need 308bhp, and getting this power would up the weight dramatically!
I'm happy with the Elise being an everyday car with amazing handling and steering feel. For what I term as a "fast car" or a "weekends and track days only" car, I'll buy a Caterham.
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