Cars
Slightly restyled, a basic new Lotus Elise now costs £27,450 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, a new Lotus Elise is a much more powerful car but is priced from $47,250. Before you go and point out that £27,450 equals about $40,000 in the USA, consider this: Brits are able to buy a Lotus Elise for about the same price as a Nissan 370Z. If only the same were true for us. Brits pay way less for a simple Lotus Elise than for a BMW 135i - reverse the story for American consumers.
I don't care about the reasons why; the costs of manufacturing and selling in the UK versus manufacturing in the UK before shipping little convertibles on big boats across the Atlantic to sell in a few widely spread dealerships. I just wish.... I wish a Lotus Elise was the high value proposition here that it is there.
Comparing a Nissan 370Z and a Lotus Elise is not so unlike comparing apples with oranges. One is a V6-engined Japanese brute, fun to drive in an "I'm the boss" kind of way. The other is designed in Hethel, and in base UKDM form, uses a 1.6L with just 134 horsepower. A Lotus Elise works with the road as an unindicted co-conspirator, flowing and bobbing and weaving with dexterity; permitting its driver to feel every crevice in the asphalt. The fact that British buyers can choose between such differing driving environments at the same price point ought to make North American consumers green with envy.
Green, you say? The 2011 Lotus Elise 1.6 generates just 155 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Using the U.S. gallon with the EU fuel economy cycle, the 2011 Lotus Elise is a 38.3 mpg car. As a result of entering the ring as a featherweight, the Lotus Elise, even with "just" 134 horsepower, accelerates to 60mph in less than six seconds. Yeah, the Nissan 370Z is quicker, but also far less efficient. The EPA rates the manual-transmission 370Z at 21 miles per gallon.
Yet again I must point out that this is not a comparison test between the Nissan 370Z and the 2011 Lotus Elise 1.6. Both cars seat two. The Z's interior is outfitted with required technology; Lotus would rather you not ask for extravagance. Claims have been made by outside sources which say the Lotus Elise is the best-handling car in the world. Nissan 370Zs are handlers, yes, but make a lot of headway with grip; less with supple manipulation.
Imagine back-to-back test drives knowing the monthly payments would be nearly identical. The Lotus would use far less fuel, the 370Z would keep you comfortable. Nissan's 370Z could power you out of corners like the 332-bhp rocketship it is, Lotus's Elise could be steered straight through with the throttle floored.
Lotus has no plans to certify the 1.6L Toyota engine for its North American Elise lineup. It's hard to blame the tiny Malaysian-owned company. Its sales volumes on our shores are a drop in the bucket of what's required to mount a full challenge on the North American sports car establishment. One wonders, however, at the possible Marketplace strength of a reliable, evocatively-badged British convertible with sky-high credentials and efficiency on its side.
Indeed, one wonders.
Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
The Good 12 v3.0 Part VIII - Nissan 370Z
Low-Volume Automaker Sales In The USA - January 2010
Lotus Evora Priced At $73,500 In America
Lotus Designs The Future Of Urban Transport Circa 2014
- Lotus North America Bids Farewell To Elise And Exige With Limited Edition Models
It is known for some time now that Lotus is going to axe the Elise roadster and Exige coupe from its North American lineup by the end of August due to Toyota's decision to stop production of the 2ZZ 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine that powers the two...
- Lotus Usa Offers Aftermarket Supercharger Kit For Na Elise And Exige Models
North American owners of naturally aspirated Elise and Exige models can now add a little more oomph to their cars without worrying about voiding the warranty as Lotus USA has announced the availability of a factory engineered, warranted and 50-state legal...
- Hertz So Good: Rental Lotus Elise Sc Available In Italy
Fancy taking a Lotus Elise SC for a spin? Well, if you're either a permanent resident or planning to visit Italy as a tourist, you'll be happy to know that Lotus has announced a new agreement with the car hire company Hertz Italiana to supply...
- Project Kahn Develops Special Edition Lotus Elise
Lotus has joined forces with tuning specialist Project Kahn to create a bespoke version of the Elise to celebrate the British automaker’s 60th Anniversary. Along with the release of a few teaser images, Project Kahn also revealed details on the...
- 2008 Lotus Elise Range Enhanced With 217 Hp Supercharged Elise Sc
Lotus is gearing up its Elise range for the 2008 Model year with the introduction of the most powerful production Elise to date, the 217 Hp / 220 PS Elise SC. Branded by a new rear spoiler and unique alloy wheel design, the Elise SC is equipped a supercharged...
Cars
2011 LOTUS ELISE 1.6L PRICE ALIGNS WITH NISSAN 370Z - BUT THE LOTUS IS 'GREEN'
I don't care about the reasons why; the costs of manufacturing and selling in the UK versus manufacturing in the UK before shipping little convertibles on big boats across the Atlantic to sell in a few widely spread dealerships. I just wish.... I wish a Lotus Elise was the high value proposition here that it is there.
Comparing a Nissan 370Z and a Lotus Elise is not so unlike comparing apples with oranges. One is a V6-engined Japanese brute, fun to drive in an "I'm the boss" kind of way. The other is designed in Hethel, and in base UKDM form, uses a 1.6L with just 134 horsepower. A Lotus Elise works with the road as an unindicted co-conspirator, flowing and bobbing and weaving with dexterity; permitting its driver to feel every crevice in the asphalt. The fact that British buyers can choose between such differing driving environments at the same price point ought to make North American consumers green with envy.
Green, you say? The 2011 Lotus Elise 1.6 generates just 155 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Using the U.S. gallon with the EU fuel economy cycle, the 2011 Lotus Elise is a 38.3 mpg car. As a result of entering the ring as a featherweight, the Lotus Elise, even with "just" 134 horsepower, accelerates to 60mph in less than six seconds. Yeah, the Nissan 370Z is quicker, but also far less efficient. The EPA rates the manual-transmission 370Z at 21 miles per gallon.
Imagine back-to-back test drives knowing the monthly payments would be nearly identical. The Lotus would use far less fuel, the 370Z would keep you comfortable. Nissan's 370Z could power you out of corners like the 332-bhp rocketship it is, Lotus's Elise could be steered straight through with the throttle floored.
Lotus has no plans to certify the 1.6L Toyota engine for its North American Elise lineup. It's hard to blame the tiny Malaysian-owned company. Its sales volumes on our shores are a drop in the bucket of what's required to mount a full challenge on the North American sports car establishment. One wonders, however, at the possible Marketplace strength of a reliable, evocatively-badged British convertible with sky-high credentials and efficiency on its side.
Indeed, one wonders.
Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
The Good 12 v3.0 Part VIII - Nissan 370Z
Low-Volume Automaker Sales In The USA - January 2010
Lotus Evora Priced At $73,500 In America
Lotus Designs The Future Of Urban Transport Circa 2014
- Lotus North America Bids Farewell To Elise And Exige With Limited Edition Models
It is known for some time now that Lotus is going to axe the Elise roadster and Exige coupe from its North American lineup by the end of August due to Toyota's decision to stop production of the 2ZZ 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine that powers the two...
- Lotus Usa Offers Aftermarket Supercharger Kit For Na Elise And Exige Models
North American owners of naturally aspirated Elise and Exige models can now add a little more oomph to their cars without worrying about voiding the warranty as Lotus USA has announced the availability of a factory engineered, warranted and 50-state legal...
- Hertz So Good: Rental Lotus Elise Sc Available In Italy
Fancy taking a Lotus Elise SC for a spin? Well, if you're either a permanent resident or planning to visit Italy as a tourist, you'll be happy to know that Lotus has announced a new agreement with the car hire company Hertz Italiana to supply...
- Project Kahn Develops Special Edition Lotus Elise
Lotus has joined forces with tuning specialist Project Kahn to create a bespoke version of the Elise to celebrate the British automaker’s 60th Anniversary. Along with the release of a few teaser images, Project Kahn also revealed details on the...
- 2008 Lotus Elise Range Enhanced With 217 Hp Supercharged Elise Sc
Lotus is gearing up its Elise range for the 2008 Model year with the introduction of the most powerful production Elise to date, the 217 Hp / 220 PS Elise SC. Branded by a new rear spoiler and unique alloy wheel design, the Elise SC is equipped a supercharged...