Lotus Enjoys Speedy Demand For Europa

[Mark H]

It's 40 years since Lotus created the original Europa sports car - now it's back and going fast.

 

As Lotus showed the new Europa S in the UK for the first time at the British International Motor Show press day at Excel exhibition centre in London's Docklands, the Norfolk-based sports car maker predicted that by the time the show finishes at the end of this month, the first year's full UK allocation could have been snapped up by eager buyers - two months before it actually goes on sale.

 

Heathcliffe Robertshaw, Lotus Cars general manager for the UK and Ireland, said that 400 to 500 Europa S models would be built a year of which 200 would be earmarked for the UK. Already 130 of these UK cars were committed to customers.

 

And he was hopeful the remaining 70 Europas would have been ordered by the end of the show.

 

“A lot of people are waiting with letters of commitment at the dealer to see the car at the show,” he said.

 

Facing such demand for the new, more upmarket mid-engined sports car, he explained that the Hethel company might be able to find up to 50 more cars for the UK over the year but it was more likely to be through shifting cars between different marketplaces, rather than increasing production.

 

“We don't want to produce too many more because we don't want to spoil its exclusivity,” he said of the Europa S.

 

And it is not difficult to see why because the result of that exclusivity is that the Europa S, which starts at £32,995, is expected to retain 65-69pc of its new initial price after two years and 12,000 miles.

 

“That is why we want to keep the production reasonably limited,” said Mr Robertshaw.

 

And Europa S is not just a hit in the UK because there are also nearly 40 orders in mainland Europe while other markets such as Asia, Australia and Africa have accounted for about 100 cars altogether.

 

Group Lotus chief executive Mike Kimberley, who was brought to Lotus 36 years ago by Colin Chapman to develop the twin-cam version of the original Europa, said Europa S would appeal to customers who wanted a car “that is a little more cosseting, a little more every day”.

 

While Elise and Exige were seen as sports car benchmarks for the motor industry worldwide, Europa S provides an increased level of luxury but was still a performance car.

 

Hence the hard-top Europa S comes fully equipped and includes driver and passenger airbags, air-conditioning, satellite-navigation and leather seats and trim.

 

The Europa S, which goes on sale on September 16, is powered by a 200PS 2.0-litre turbo charged engine that propels it to 60mph from rest in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 150mph.

 

Lotus's other star car of the show was the Elise S, the new lead-in model which is expected to account for 300 of the 400 Elise sales in the UK each year.

 

Mr Kimberley said: “These are very exciting times for Lotus, introducing Europa S and, in the future, moving towards a broader and wider model range.”

 

He welcomed the return of an entry-level Elise, after the loss of the long-serving Rover K Series engine created a “hole” in the Lotus range.

 

The £23,995 Elise S, which replaces the old 111S, is powered by a 136PS Toyota-sourced 1.8-litre engine making it capable of 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 127mph.

 

And still to come from Lotus is the replacement for the Esprit which, it was revealed in May, will be built at Hethel although not until 2008. Lotus is also looking at a more lifestyle-orientated vehicle, although the APX 4x4 'crossover' sports car it revealed at the Geneva Motor Show at the end of February was not at the British show. It is also looking at proposals to re-engineer other car-makers' existing models to give them the Lotus touch as it did with the Ford Lotus Cortina, Talbot Lotus Sunbeam and Vauxhall Lotus Carlton in the Sixties, late Seventies and early Nineties.

 

Mr Kimberley added: “With the Elise, Exige and now the Europa S, Lotus has increased its range for those who seek driving at its most involving.”

 

http://business.edp24.co.uk/content/news/s...3A52%3A33%3A570

[Tango190]

Please don't kill me for this post but ....

 

Mr Kimbers is poss short of the plot again ...

 

 

 

The Europa S, which goes on sale on September 16, is powered by a 200PS 2.0-litre turbo charged engine that propels it to 60mph from rest in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 150mph.

 

 

 

 

Just as a comparison in another world ...

 

 

 

SUMMARY

 

 

366bhp version of the Lancer Evolution IX launched at British Motor Show

On-sale now priced at £35,504 with first deliveries in September

1997cc turbo engine modified with high pressure fuel pump, high flow catalytic converter and reprogrammed ECU

MIVEC variable valve timing

Tuned for driveability: 366bhp@6887rpm and 363lb ft@3200rpm

Peak output of 363lb ft is 8lb ft more than the Evolution VIII FQ-400 produced, and is delivered 2200rpm lower down the rev range

0-60mph 4.1sec (est.), 160mph+

 

and then the bullshit bits.

 

Unique five-spoke Speedline alloy wheels mimic tarmac-spec rally car

Carbon fibre front lip spoiler and ‘sharks tooth’ rear vortex generator improve aerodynamic efficiency

Decal kit a no-cost dealer-fit option

Interior features Ralliart Sports Meter Kit displaying battery voltage, oil temperature and boost pressure

Comprehensive luxury specification includes climate control, SmartNav navigation, leather/Alcantara trim, Recaro seats, Momo steering wheel

Leather trim can be deleted, reducing the price by £1000

Bilstein suspension, Brembo brakes and electronically-controlled 4WD system unchanged

3-year Unlimited Mileage warranty, 3-year Pan European Recovery Service and 6-year Anti-Corrosion Perforation warranty

Supported by highly-trained network of Mitsubishi Ralliart dealers

 

 

 

Price please on the Europa ??

[Bramble111s]

You forgot these points..

 

Purity of driving experience - no computers etc

Lightweight gives a different feel to performance

two seats, so no naggin back seat drivers!

lotus badge and looks

exclusivity

petrol consumption vs EVO?

servicing vs EVO?

 

Don't get me wrong, the EVO is awesome, but not everyones cup of tea....

 

however I think the Europa is a little over priced too!

Oh and you didn't mention a second hand Scoob for £12k is just as fast, but is it just as good?

Cars are subjective purchases....

[Steve J]

Speedy demand, 130 cars?

 

 

Oooo Porsche and Audi must be crapping themselves

[gerags]

Whichever way you look at it, it has to be good news for Lotus.

[Tango190]

Whichever way you look at it, it has to be good news for Lotus.

I do hope so Steve, it's a key milestone in Lotus history at the moment and Kimbers is talking VERY low availability to start with of the Europa.

 

Exclusive car maybe, on time to market maybe, outperformed by chunky fat Jap sedan maybe.

 

God only knows who are running that business now.

 

Be a damn shame to loose Lotus in the same way as TVR to name but one.

 

[Zebedee79]

The Europa probably isn't the total package that it needs to be at launch for existing Lotus owners, BUT for new converts to the brand it might just work.

 

Having recently driven a Boxster S, I was distinctly underwhelmed by the entire package, it was only an event and came alive when thrashing it and no emotion.

 

However the Europa with the Lotus ethos of lightweight construction (relatively speaking) and driver involvement - might just be different enough from the mass market Boxster/TT brigade to appeal.

 

EVO brilliant but agree totally different world

 

However, didn't realise that Lotus were only selling 400 Elises in the UK each year... good job the US is growth market whilst exemption lasts.

 

John

[GCCK]

I know of an accountant who's thinking of getting a Europa. Never seen herself as an Elise person. An accountant though...