No more Europa

[Bigcalm]

Hey Hamburger

Mine has had some work some to the ECU, apparently giving out another 25BHP, and it has a switch to bring it back to standard HP. I don't understand it but they've "piggybacked" something on to the ECU to release more HP's? The difference is quite noticeable. Anyways, I'm thinking the first mods I want to do is the Milltek and some better brake pads. You reckon the Milltek is the way to gain more HP? I assume you fitted a full Milltek, not a half system? Are you happy with the sound of the Milltek?

Cheers

[Hamburger]

Hi Bigcalm, yes I do install the full Milltek and the sound is brilliant. Mine is the Europa SE, the Milltek gives more HP, more torque better Torque curve.

Chris Tullet makes perfekt exhausts too.

[Guest surferphil]

You Europa boys should start a new thread for Upgrades. I can't see one already on the forum and when I buy one i'll know how to find the information.

[NedaSay]

Considering the price of Europas and the price of a standard Elises. Europas are tempting the only thing that bugs me is the front end. I'd have to get it heavily modified same with the back end I can't stand these lights and bumpers! tech mods are great but haven't found much aesthetics mods on the interweb!

[Guest surferphil]

Considering the price of Europas and the price of a standard Elises. Europas are tempting the only thing that bugs me is the front end. I'd have to get it heavily modified same with the back end I can't stand these lights and bumpers! tech mods are great but haven't found much aesthetics mods on the interweb!

When you get one, give me a shout and I'll sort it out for you.

[Kimbers]

I was drinking with some ex-Lotus employees at the weekend.

It seems that the development costs for the Europa was totally written off last year, under MJK, so the car only had parts and labour costs against any made. Making them very profitable. What they and I now can't fathom is why you would cancel it if the build costs are negligable, even if you only sell 35 a year, if your margin is 50% of the cost....you do the math!

I don't understand it as a business decision ??

[Guest surferphil]

Plus the actual development costs have already been paid for, so why not get the money back by selling the cars? If you stop making something you'll stop getting the development cost back. Basic Economics, maybe they need the space but don't need the money.

All it needs are 2 comfy seats and a facelift. Oh and of course a decent sales team! When will Lotus sort out their online sales?

The virtual showroom has loads of potential to sell small production volume cars, without the overheads of a dealer network. But it doesn't do anything!

[simonb]

Or they had a pile of VXT parts that they used, now either have to buy another batch / give up.

If I were in charge, I would give Europa the V6, and leave Exige blown

[Jonathan]

Kimbers, thats interesting, but I suspect they dropped it becuase it wasn't making a big enough profit compared to another venture ?

Depends on what resources it eats up in the company vs putting that asset to another dept / product and making more money ?

Same with shares, you might dump a perfectly profitable share, in favour for an even more profitable one.

[PierreLP]

I was at Castle Combe on Saturday and again on Monday...which car got the most attention on both days? My Europa

I reckon mine will be the first to pass 100,000 miles as it is covering 1,000 miles a week.

Running it on Motul Sport 5W50 makes it run really sweetly.

Edited June 1, 2010 by PierreLP

[Bigcalm]

Kimbers, thats interesting, but I suspect they dropped it becuase it wasn't making a big enough profit compared to another venture ?

Depends on what resources it eats up in the company vs putting that asset to another dept / product and making more money ?

Same with shares, you might dump a perfectly profitable share, in favour for an even more profitable one.

Agree totally

It's pretty common bsiness practice to look at the margin / return equation. Another element for consideration is resourcing - they may have more people focussed on more profitable projects and don't want the distraction of something that can achieve a profit but not at the rate / margin of others.

Doesn't mean I agree with dropping it from the line up, but a perfectly understandable business tactic

[dodgy]

I was looking at buying one, when i get back at the end of September as a everyday car, would anyone agree that they are more practical than an exige?

Have the got better sound proofing?

[Junks]

Yes better soundproofing but I would say the practicality over the Exige was negligible, although the powertrain is almost certainly more reliable

[ads_green]

Opportunity cost - whilst you're building those 35 cars with all the specialist tools and parts that can't be reused you can't be building something else.

Also if the Europa got faster it would start to encroach on the Evora 2+0 - sure I know the Evora is a totally different car however if the Europa got a V6 and a facelift to fit in with the current lineup it would look like a baby Evora with similar if not better performance and a price tag of about half.

I would much rather Lotus develop the VVA a produce a nice cheap and importantly fun front engined Elan S3 than another Elise derivative that never had a clear direction.

[Guest surferphil]

The tooling is done, the development is done, the market is now obvious, tweak and go! A baby Evora would be great! What is wrong with that?

The front engined Elan (SE) went the same way as the Europa; cut off before it made it's money back and the Elan S2 was what was left over from the SE production line being cleared out of the warehouse. If they don't sell the car, they will never get the investment money back. This is why Lotus are frequently in trouble, they develop loads of new cutting edge technology cars, they either stop selling early or they just don't go into production. How many times have they had their debts written off and then not had the money to develop the next car properly?

VVA is a system for designing chassis rather than a chassis it's self isn't it? Elan SE is over 20 years old can you believe it!

[Kimbers]

I agree. You make 35 to 50 cars a year with a 50% profit margin due to development costs being written off, you don't cancel it unless it's taking up space on the line and demand is so strong you need the production slots. They don't and it isn't. It's a strange decision considering lack of profits at present, to cancel a vehicle that is clearing you 3/4 million profit a year.

Shame as I have to be honest, I was thinking that was my next car.

[NedaSay]

Europa was the uggly duckling! I guess it never did receive the support from the higher ups at Lotus! After all it was a Lotus Malaysia/Proton developed car that was supposed to run the Proton badge before Proton changed their mind! When you consider the current line up it was a weird fit. More comfortable than the Exige, very capable GT while less powerful, but way too close to the Evora 2+0 in terms of price and not quite as refined. However I'm surprised it wasn't given a proper send of with something like an R version for the last hundred cars! The Europa was pretty much abandoned the day after the SE was in the showroom.

Edited June 8, 2010 by NedaSay

[Beaujolais Dom]

I was looking at buying one, when i get back at the end of September as a everyday car, would anyone agree that they are more practical than an exige?

Have the got better sound proofing?

Much better soundproofing, less hardcore ride, much better boot (I know we shouldn't care about such things, but in "everyday" terms it does matter), but sill headturning looks.

I always thought it was a shame it wasn't given more of the family look (eg head and tail lights) - just seemed to reinforce the feel that it was the unloved ba$%^rd child of the family - even at the 2008 Silverstone Classic when Lotus was the "celebrated marque" and had a large display area, teh Europa was parked off to one side as if they were embarassed about it.

I love mine - great car! Take the plunge, get one!

[simonb]

Finally seen one on the road, looks like a Lotus

Would be my first choice for work commute if I wanted a Lotus with a roof on

[PierreLP]

Finally seen one on the road, looks like a Lotus

Would be my first choice for work commute if I wanted a Lotus with a roof on

And it drives like a Lotus...............an ideal daily driver.

[happyfish]

Interesting to read all your comments about the Europa. I've had mine for nearly two years now and the car has been fantastic, apart from lotus events i've only seen one on the road. It may be the unloved lotus but in life you should buy the car you want not what others say is cool. I love the looks, the way it drives and it is suprisingly practical. The Badge Says LOTUS.

[PierreLP]

Tom,

It's quite nice to drive around in a "rare" car.

We did get 9 at the Europa meeting.

Peter

[Beaujolais Dom]

Peter,

Let me know when the next meet is - I'll make it 10!

I've had mine coming up on 3 years now. Wasn't convinced when it was first launched (I think the photographer who took the launch photos has since been taken into the anechoic chamber at Hethel and put to death...), but went to see it in the metal/fibreglass and loved the looks, but thought the interior was pretty low rent - then they brought out the interior upgrade option (plus power hike etc) and I was sold. I love it. Drives like a Lotus, looks like a Lotus, but is more practical than the rest of the Elise range. And with 225bhp it does actually go like a stabbed rat! And it is quite nice to drive something rare. I have only seen one other on the road - ironically parked in the car park of the office opposite mine! I've taken mine on the Beaujolais Run 3 times now and it always attracts as much comment as the more "exotic" cars

[Junks]

Determined to have mine finished for mid July (just have to clear a few others out of the way first!)