Caterham Elise?

[scotta]

Lotus allegedly considering selling the tooling to manufacture the Elise. Caterham being an obvious choice.

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-bri ... art%20List

Have to say im not overly keen on the idea. I expect those that have ponied up the premium for an FE car will be even less keen.

[PaulJ]

I love to see this happen. The proposed future plans at Lotus seem as flakey as ever.

[RobYob]

Have to say im not overly keen on the idea. I expect those that have ponied up the premium for an FE car will be even less keen.

I read that article for "tooling" = the extrusions and perhaps jigs to assemble an Elise tub. Not the molds for the exterior or anything else.

So it'd be as much an Elise as a VX220 is.

Could be great but I would be skeptical that Caterham/Radical/Ultima want to exchange their own processes for a Lotus one.

[Carlos]

Have to say im not overly keen on the idea. I expect those that have ponied up the premium for an FE car will be even less keen.

I read that article for "tooling" = the extrusions and perhaps jigs to assemble an Elise tub. Not the molds for the exterior or anything else.

So it'd be as much an Elise as a VX220 is.

Could be great but I would be skeptical that Caterham/Radical/Ultima want to exchange their own processes for a Lotus one.

I understood the chassis tubs were made by a third party or were originally?

[Jobbo]

I thought it was the bodies which were made out of house - by a portable toilet manufacturer. Or was that just the VX220?

[V8Granite]

Aslong as it has a characterful engine then the more the better.

Dave!

[Foz]

It’s the S1 they should resurrect..

[drcarlos]

Have to say im not overly keen on the idea. I expect those that have ponied up the premium for an FE car will be even less keen.

I read that article for "tooling" = the extrusions and perhaps jigs to assemble an Elise tub. Not the molds for the exterior or anything else.

So it'd be as much an Elise as a VX220 is.

Could be great but I would be skeptical that Caterham/Radical/Ultima want to exchange their own processes for a Lotus one.

I understood the chassis tubs were made by a third party or were originally?

Chassis were made by a subby in wales. I worked there for bit doing an automated cataloging and delivery system for the dies to the extruder machinery. Quite impressive watching a billet of aluminium being quickly turned into a ‘girder’.

[Carlos]

Have to say im not overly keen on the idea. I expect those that have ponied up the premium for an FE car will be even less keen.

I read that article for "tooling" = the extrusions and perhaps jigs to assemble an Elise tub. Not the molds for the exterior or anything else.

So it'd be as much an Elise as a VX220 is.

Could be great but I would be skeptical that Caterham/Radical/Ultima want to exchange their own processes for a Lotus one.

I understood the chassis tubs were made by a third party or were originally?

Hydro Aluminium Denmark and part of it is now UK based and called Lotus Lightweight Structures Ltd.

I can't see any reason why LLS wouldn't produce chassis's on a commercial basis to a company that owned the rights to manufacture and sell the Elise.

[Carlos]

Can you imagine the queues for a low cost, bare bones Elise kit

[Zonda_]

Can you imagine the queues for a low cost, bare bones Elise kit

Priced right it would be a no brainer but what would constitute bare bones in terms of an Elise, not like they can pair back the spec!

[Foz]

Here’s some extrusions, supply your own adhesive and clamps..

Nah yer ok mate

[RobYob]

Can you imagine the queues for a low cost, bare bones Elise kit

Well we can have a guesstimate as a kit cost.
£40k Elise will be broadly a third BOM(parts) a third assembly and a third overheads.

You can remove a fair bit of the assembly third (£13k) depending on how complex the kit is.

Overheads will still be there for the logistics of ordering, storing and distributing parts, profit.

BOM cost is likely to go up as the suppliers willing to do a deal with small fish Lotus are even less likely to play ball with a kit manufacturer.

So finger in the air says ~£27k for a full box of bits and maybe low twenties for one sans engine.

Still queueing?

[Carlos]

Can you imagine the queues for a low cost, bare bones Elise kit

Well we can have a guesstimate as a kit cost.
£40k Elise will be broadly a third BOM(parts) a third assembly and a third overheads.

You can remove a fair bit of the assembly third (£13k) depending on how complex the kit is.

Overheads will still be there for the logistics of ordering, storing and distributing parts, profit.

BOM cost is likely to go up as the suppliers willing to do a deal with small fish Lotus are even less likely to play ball with a kit manufacturer.

So finger in the air says ~£27k for a full box of bits and maybe low twenties for one sans engine.

Still queueing?

Similar cost to a Caterham so why not ?

[mik]

How much is a crate LT5 engine? 800 bhp be enough eh?

[RobYob]

How much is a crate LT5 engine? 800 bhp be enough eh?

I always thought it'd be a fantastic "kit" if Henessey started selling the Venom rear subframe.

You're stuck with an upside down Posrche unit or something pricey from Quaife for a gearbox though AFAIK.

[RobYob]

Can you imagine the queues for a low cost, bare bones Elise kit

Well we can have a guesstimate as a kit cost.
£40k Elise will be broadly a third BOM(parts) a third assembly and a third overheads.

You can remove a fair bit of the assembly third (£13k) depending on how complex the kit is.

Overheads will still be there for the logistics of ordering, storing and distributing parts, profit.

BOM cost is likely to go up as the suppliers willing to do a deal with small fish Lotus are even less likely to play ball with a kit manufacturer.

So finger in the air says ~£27k for a full box of bits and maybe low twenties for one sans engine.

Still queueing?

Similar cost to a Caterham so why not ?

Wow, I did not know Caterham DIY kits were that much! Probably means I've grossly underguesstimated someting .
linky

[mik]

@RobYob Ultima use the 996 6-speed which they seem to be happy with at 1000+ horsies n twisties.

[RobYob]

@RobYob Ultima use the 996 6-speed which they seem to be happy with at 1000+ horsies n twisties.

Yeah, flipped over though, I can't remember if that means it needs some bespoke extras to make it work?

Wonder whether a new turbo era Boxster box would survive a mild V8 now.

[scotta]

Could be a new buisness venture for @dan