I know many here don't like body kits, but it seems to me that the Elise could be a neat kit someone would try to build on a Fiero. The Elise is a sweet car and is "current," and it seems there'd be some interest. But I'm thinking that the most likely reason is that Fieros are gradually becoming less popular so there simply isn't a market for it. Or maybe it's that used Elise's aren't that expensive? Thoughts?
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[This message has been edited by FieroFanatic13 (edited 05-01-2014).]
Yeah, that's a Finale. It was built in the U.K. before I bought the company. Notice the 3 louvers in the quarter windw area. Peter Ashdown only built a few of them with the louvers before changing the design to having a reverse scoop in that area.
A
(edit to add)
After seeing that EBay ad on the Finale for sale, I'll add this.
Peter Ashdown owned Candy Apple Cars & I bought the business from him in late '99.
Peter used to drive for Lotus & was the 1st Lola Works driver. I've talked to Peter a lot of times during & after the sale & he never mentioned that the Finale was any kind of prototype for Lotus. I think he would have mentioned that because he was trying to sell me the business & that, if true, would have enhanced the value of the business.
I have all of his archives from Candy Apple Cars & there is no mention in those records of what was posted in the Ebay auction.
Archie
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Originally posted by batousai666:
*EDIT* well actually I have no evidence that this is from England. but Archie did not build this one. so maybe that IS the proof. Archie may know.
[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 05-01-2014).]
I know many here don't like body kits, but it seems to me that the Elise could be a neat kit someone would try to build on a Fiero. The Elise is a sweet car and is "current," and it seems there'd be some interest. But I'm thinking that the most likely reason is that Fieros are gradually becoming less popular so there simply isn't a market for it. Or maybe it's that used Elise's aren't that expensive? Thoughts?
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Maybe because the result would be an overweight, underpowered elise at best?
Originally posted by Archie: ... I have all of his archives from Candy Apple Cars & there is no mention in those records of what was posted in the Ebay auction.
Archie
Would not be the first time an ebay ad embellished the details to make something seem like more than it really is.
I like the looks of the Tesla Roadster even better. I like both of the Lotuses but they were a little bit swoopy/scoopy for my tastes if you know what I mean. To me the Tesla cleaned up the lines a bit. Might have been more of a "form follows funtuion" result though because underneath the skin the only thing lotus was the frame and suspension. I was behind one last week and it was the exact color as the ones that have been my favorites on ebay. I think that he caused an accident. There was a collision as we were going through an intersection with the light green. I think that someone was looking at his car instead of paying attention. Or maybe they were texting.
Originally posted by dratts: I like the looks of the Tesla Roadster even better. I like both of the Lotuses but they were a little bit swoopy/scoopy for my tastes if you know what I mean. To me the Tesla cleaned up the lines a bit. Might have been more of a "form follows funtuion" result though because underneath the skin the only thing lotus was the frame and suspension..
Definitely a result of "form follows function" there. The Tesla is a little less of a raw performance vehicle, and needs to make a good balance between performance and range of the electric setup. The Lotus is more of a raw performance car, and the requirements for cooling and airflow are a lot greater. The Tesla motor doesn't have a radiator or oil cooler which need air, no air intake for the engine to make power and burn with fuel, and no exhaust to siphon heat away from. The batteries and motor can heat up, but almost all the airflow required for that can come from the front and under the car. So no need for scoops and vents to get air in and out, in as many places as the Lotus requires. Closing up those scoops and vents can also let them use a body with a slightly lower coefficient of drag, so they get more range on the electric motors.
Definitely a result of "form follows function" there. The Tesla is a little less of a raw performance vehicle, and needs to make a good balance between performance and range of the electric setup. The Lotus is more of a raw performance car, and the requirements for cooling and airflow are a lot greater. The Tesla motor doesn't have a radiator or oil cooler which need air, no air intake for the engine to make power and burn with fuel, and no exhaust to siphon heat away from. The batteries and motor can heat up, but almost all the airflow required for that can come from the front and under the car. So no need for scoops and vents to get air in and out, in as many places as the Lotus requires. Closing up those scoops and vents can also let them use a body with a slightly lower coefficient of drag, so they get more range on the electric motors.
Just a little more info: Lotus Elise 0-60, 5.5. Tesla roadster 3.7. Not really "a little less of a raw performance vehicle" It does require some cooling but gets it from a radiator up front.
Originally posted by dratts: Just a little more info: Lotus Elise 0-60, 5.5. Tesla roadster 3.7. Not really "a little less of a raw performance vehicle" It does require some cooling but gets it from a radiator up front.
Right. That 0-60 time is more of a "bonus" though, than the purpose of that model Tesla. Direct drive electric motors can indeed result in big gains for things like 0-60 times. But it will also drain the energy stored in the batteries very fast.
The point of the Tesla Roadster was to show that they could build an all electric car that had reasonable performance, and reasonable range. Fun cars, but I wouldn't run that body design on an actual Elise with the internal combustion engine. You'd probably run into overheating problems very fast. I bet the MPG increase would be nice though. At least until you overheated.
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