On the subject of succeeding in the North American market, Mark O'Shaughnessy, director of sales and marketing for Lotus Cars USA Inc., commented to Reuters just before the unveiling, "I think it's a question of being able to offer the right product."
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| The appeal of the Elise also appears to be wide spread, attracting potential buyers both young and old. (Photo: Lotus Cars Canada) |
O'Shaughnessy offered that the new Elise's target buyer would most likely be both older men looking for what he dubbed a "fun machine," along with younger people capable of spending a higher price for "style and performance."
And just what kind of performance can be expected from 190-hp? Being extremely lightweight, thanks to its bonded and extruded aluminum chassis, the Elise will zip from zero to 100 km/h in less than five seconds and top out at a maximum speed of 241.4 km/h (150 mph).
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| Lotus has struck a balance with North American drivers who want creature comforts, and purists who are concerned about overall weight, by offering separate packages catering to each group. (Photo: Lotus Cars Canada) |
Road-holding should be exemplary due to a combination of its rigid extruded and bonded aluminum chassis, which in itself weighs only 68 kilos (150 lbs), and the resulting ultra-light curb weight of less than 907 kg (2,000 lbs) - the average towing capacity of a car-based SUV.
A slightly heavier Elise is expected to arrive in North America with everyday features such as dual front airbags, ABS, climate control, carpeting, a Blaupunkt audio system and power door locks. Purists should be able to opt for a lightweight version which deletes the air conditioning and audio system while lowering the price and about $700 to $800.