Lotus slashes Elise, Exige pricing

FRESH from formally assuming the Australian distribution rights for Lotus from Proton Cars Australia, Ateco Automotive has announced massive price cuts for the cheapest models in the hallowed British sportscar range.

Previously a $6000 option, the addition of a Sports Pack as standard equipment sees pricing for the Elise roadster drop by up to $23,000, while buyers of the Elise-based Exige coupe will save more than $31,000 as a result.

Including a $2000 price cut, the entry-level Elise is now $8000 more affordable than before at $67,990 plus on-road costs (down from $69,990), while the supercharged Elise SC is now priced at $77,990 plus ORCs – some $23,000 less than beforew ($94,990) when the now-standard Sports Pack is factored in.

Likewise, the standardisation of the Sports Pack adds $6000 of value to the Exige S coupe, but combined with a cool $25,000 price cut – from $104,990 to $79,990 plus ORCs – the fixed-rood Exige S can now be had for $31,000 less than before.

The Sports Pack comprises stability control for the base Elise 1.6, traction control for the Elise SC and Exige S and, for all three models, twin oil-coolers, Bilstein sports dampers Y-spoke forged alloy wheels with ‘Hi-Power Silver’ finish and ‘ProBax’ sports seats.

Standard equipment continues to include air-conditioning, power windows, central locking, an alarm system, removable soft-top roof, leather trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, twin front airbags and a four-speaker digital audio system.

“Our changes to the Lotus Elise for the Australian market are absolutely in line with the Lotus ethos,” said the general manager for Lotus in Australia and New Zealand, Glen Sealey.

Left: Lotus Elise. Bottom: Lotus Exige.



“The addition of the Sports Pack as standard further sharpens and hones the performance and sporting appeal of a car that is already a handling and road-holding benchmark. The new pricing ensures that the Elise maintains the position held by generations of Lotus road cars, that of a car with giant-killing abilities at an affordable price.”

The 15-year-old Elise remains otherwise unchanged from the MY2011 version released in July last year, when it arrived here with a more efficient - but lower-torque – Toyota-sourced 100kW/160Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine to replace the previous 100kW/172Nm 1.8-litre engine in the base model.

At the same time, the Elise became available with cruise control and rear parking sensors for the first time, plus a longer three-year warranty (which remains limited to 60,000km) and other detail changes across the range, including LED daytime running lights and Evora-style LED side indicators.

Launched in Australia in August 2006, the Exige S coupe is based on the same bonded and extruded aluminium chassis as the Elise, which comprises 42 per cent of global Lotus sales.

It is powered by the same Lotus-developed supercharged 163kW/212Nm 1.8-litre engine in the Elise SC, but weighs slightly more at a still-paltry 935kg and is slightly slower to 100km/h in a still-quick 4.7 seconds.

“These remarkable new price and specifications clearly demonstrate our determination to take Lotus to a new level in the Australian car market,” said Mr Sealey.

“Aided by the strength of the dollar, we have committed to expanding Lotus sales in Australia and Lotus have responded by sharpening their pencil and ticking additional boxes in the equipment list.

“This combination means that the remarkable performance provided by the Exige, which some say is the nearest to a pure track car it is possible to own and still be able to drive on the road, is now much more easy to acquire and enjoy.”