Lotus Exige Cup 380

[LF1]

@JayEmm can you elaborate as to why this is not a Cup car in your opinion? 

In my mind it is finally the Cup in the same respect as the Elise Cup. The original V6 Cup seemed to be an upgraded version of the road car rather than a road going version of the Cup Race car which the Elise Cup is. 

It would be nice to see the kill switches and harnesses as standard options per the original (although these were missing from the 360 too). 

I've pondered this car overnight - I'd love one. The only thing that will stop me is the fact Lotus are knocking out new versions of their top end cars too quickly - having been caught out by this once recently I'll be passing. No doubt there will be a 400/4xx version in the next 12/24 months - most likely announced when the first 380 Cup cars are being delivered to customers. The fact there are only 60 being built suggests there will be something in 12 months. Although it's about 21 months since the 360 Cup was announced with a run of 50 IIRC.   

I'd like to think that is the runout range now 350/380/Cup. This car is an amazing looking thing exactly the Cup I was hoping for. It completes a refreshed lineup.

Lotus please stop now until the final edition prior to the new platform launch. These new models may be keeping you in the news but in my mind they are stopping long term customers buying new and winding up anyone buying the last latest and greatest versions.

If I'd have bought the GT4 I had a build slot for it would still be THE cayman of choice for at least the next 18/24 months. That would be a total of 3 - 4 years before my bonfire got pissed on following purchase.

@The Pits can you knock up an ardent red one please?

[LF1]

Just reading a few other press releases about the car (gave up on the Lotus website - can't find it there and the site does not work on mobiles - wake up Lotus and sort that joke of a site out!!!!).

I'm somewhat disappointed Lotus are promoting it as collectable. The Cup of all cars should be driven and driven on track. I made the mistake of doing this with the LF1 and paid the price (although I'd do it again in a heartbeat) - that was a collectable.

 

[Vipers]

I must admit that is a stunning looking car and although at around £90k it is a huge amount of cash it is still pretty decent value for the performance against a lot of the competition.

Although tempted to trade in the LF1 I think I'll be keeping that and will still aim to get a maxed out Elise Cup 250 shortly, just waiting for Lotus's press release mentioned for May for the new version.

If some one can knock up a Metallic Orange Cup 380 though I could change my mind :-)

[The Pits]

Many good points there @vd9. It was a similar story with the V6 Cup four years ago. People found it hard to see past the £62k starting price, even those who specc'd their V6 S past £60k!

I guess the thing that's startling is how quickly you can get to £90k. Anything over £80k is a lot for an Exige. When you see what goes into an Evora up at the factory it's clear that it costs Lotus a lot to make. We'd only just been getting our heads around paying £70k for an Exige now it's nearly £90k. It's a psychological barrier and I fear it puts Lotus on a price trajectory that they may not be able to sustain.

However, Lotus do have form here. The first Turbo Esprit was £21k at the time more to expensive than the Ferrari 308. The 4 cylinder Esprit Sport 300 was £64k back in 1993 and aircon was an extra £1450 then too. The Esprit V8 was also launched around £65k in 1996 but that was a price it couldn't sustain. The V8GT was brought out in 1998 with a starting price just under £50k. Many would argue that the Elise has long been overpriced but Lotus were barely breaking even on them until recently, they aren't cheap to buy, not cheap to make either.

I don't think Lotus have ever really focused on offering the biggest bang for your buck but in many other areas they remain peerless at the price. The real problem is less Lotus prices, more lack of wealth! Maybe this pricing strategy is intended to attract new, wealthier buyers, people who look at £80k like a bargain. People like Seb Delaney and his chums. They're all about the Sport 380 as the bargain of the century, traditional buyers like many of us here are all wincing at the price. Guess who'll be invited up to Hethel to drive it first...

Given the choice of cheaper Lotus cars or more wealth I know which one I'd go for! 

[JG220]

I think we'll just have to work harder to keep up

[The Pits]

@LF1

[LF1]

[TBD]

On 4/21/2017 at 05:47, NW76 said:

Agree - the current Lotus pricing strategy with big steps closer towards the premium sportscar segment, will help all our residuals.

Also, the higher margin certainly helps Lotus. A win - win - win proposition.

Also, with what is the Cup 380 competing? The only other clearly track focussed car out there is the Porsche 911 GT3 RS,  all else being exotic beyond compare (Radical, Monobac, etc.). Both should be near equal on performance, but even at 110 K€ the Exige s a bargain in comparison.

I think that Lotus have best chances to gain new customers upmarket with this strategy. After all, there are only 60 cars to sell. 

[Trevsked]

I might be the only one that keeps looking at the these and thinking it's a little over dressed but that seems to be the fashion at the moment. I think when I look at race cars they don't have so many holes in then. This looks a little draggy.

 

Trevor.

[SamoL]

In my calculations (that include a slightly higher tax on increased CO2 emissions), this car is 50% more expensive compared to 360 Cup. They should at least include the GBP 1400 baffled sump for this money which was standard on 360 Cup. It took lotus a while to sell 360 Cup cars - as they were expensive. That's why I was able to get mine for a nice price. Do they expect to sell 60 of these "gold plated" cars now?

[LF1]

I am wondering if the baffled sump is not on there because it is not really required?

[The Pits]

I know @LF1, I think we better stay away from the Lotus dealers for a while!

[SamoL]

1 minute ago, LF1 said:

I am wondering if the baffled sump is not on there because it is not really required?

Many other things on this car are also not required, but buyers "know" they need them

[Trevsked]

I imagine the lack of baffled sump. harnesses, fire ex are a result of no Motorsport department as that's what they did.

 

Trevor.

[LF1]

2 minutes ago, Trevsked said:

I imagine the lack of baffled sump. harnesses, fire ex are a result of no Motorsport department as that's what they did.

This stopped with the Elise Cup/Cup 360 when there was still a Motorsport department. The harnesses were dealer fit also I believe - they certainly were on the Elise Cup.

[The Pits]

Who ordered Orange?

 

[LF1]

All this colour choice is lovely, but has anyone noticed this on the PH site:

Just 60 Exige Cup 380s will be made, offered in five colours: Essex Blue, then white, silver, grey and black.

[Trevsked]

I didn't but I'd like to.

 

Trevor.

[cbaileyuk]

Could someone mock an isotope or krypton please

[The Pits]

They'll do you an Ardent Red one if you pay nicely Tom!

 

[LF1]

I am not sure i like the mix of shiny carbon and mat black. Shame all the CF is not an optional cost. I'd forgo. Let the flaming begin...

1 minute ago, The Pits said:

They'll do you an Ardent Red one if you pay nicely Tom!

And then bring out a 390 based on my spec at a lower list price...

33 minutes ago, The Pits said:

I know @LF1, I think we better stay away from the Lotus dealers for a while!

I may have jumped the gun... 

[The Pits]

Yes but you'd have an Ardent Red 380 Cup. 

No chance of a '390' not at a lower list price anyway Tom, you don't need to worry about that!

 

[LF1]

2 minutes ago, The Pits said:

Yes but you'd have an Ardent Red 380 Cup. 

No chance of a '390' not at a lower list price anyway Tom, you don't need to worry about that!

 

Ha - Elise 220 - £55k, Elise 250 8 months later £53k in our spec

[mbes2]

I think the new Elise prices are far too high, with very little changes over the older ones.. for this new 380, I would guess you could clear 100k for a fully spec version with all the toys... but I just can't see it as a 90-100k type of car.. 

Sticking with my v6s for now, which is perfect :-)

[PaulLF1]

Nice car, very nice but getting a bit pricey! Shame a lot of the stuff does not come as standard.

Still if Lotus sell 60 of them, a nice profit for them and more money to develop the new exige.

And the price of the exige new, can only push prices up on the older models.