http://gallery.opel-speedster-club.de/gallery/cache/speedstertreffen/2004/2._Int._Speedstertreffen_21.-23.Mai/msx2plus/46_Viele_Speedys_08_800.JPG

looks pretty good. what is it?

those are new lotuses.

would it not be Lotii, if it was indeed a lotus
Opel speedster

yeah they're nice...look a little to much like the toyota spyder though, although obviously much better

ah yes, i am mistaken - thanks.

careful what you're saying, closet GM-haters... that's a subsidary of GM's euro devision ;)

Originally posted by MikeW
would it not be Lotii, if it was indeed a lotus
Opel speedster

It's the Opel Speedster on the Continent, in the UK it's the Vauxhall VX220. There's a turbo version that puts out around 220 hp; with the light weight, it's a real rocket.

In a way, it is a Lotus too - GM paid Lotus to develop that car based on the Elise chassis, and it's built for GM (Opel/Vauxhall) by Lotus on the Elise assembly line.

Regards,
Gordon

OK, so I was HALF right. :)

I read the Lotus Elise uses the Celica GT-S Engine. The same article also said Lotus made their own software load for it it and added an oil cooler.

I wonder what happens to someone who loads loads the Lotus Flash in their Celica?

do the get Elise-like power?

greese

ohhhhh, maybe. i don't know of any mechanical differences between the engines (then again i'm not really digging for information on it).

This month's Car and Driver is where I read it. They had a big comparison of the new US Elise and the S2000, a cobra replica, a chaterham 7 and a Mazdaspeed Turbo Miata. Why the miata was there is anybody's guess.

I'll see if i can find a link.

I really think that an Elise will be my next car after I pay off the 8. Now that is 4and1/2 years away, but if the Elise is the sucess that I believe it will be, it is one of the few cars I would sell my rotaries for. Of course, if I have children, I will be keeping the 8.
BTW is the Vauxhall/Opel quicker than the Elise. I know they were codeveloped but what are the performance numbers for each? I probably will look it up so I guess the question is rhetorical.

depends which model of elise u're comparing with. but i do believe the turbo opel would be slightly faster than the elise line up which max's at 141kw(what ever hp that is :p)

Originally posted by Senseny
I really think that an Elise will be my next car after I pay off the 8. Now that is 4and1/2 years away, but if the Elise is the sucess that I believe it will be, it is one of the few cars I would sell my rotaries for. Of course, if I have children, I will be keeping the 8.


thats my future plan EXACTLY as well.. wait unless i win the lotto then ima get a Lamborghini!

Originally posted by Gord96BRG
...There's a turbo version that puts out around 220 hp; with the light weight, it's a real rocket...

its actually no more than 200hp. one has to be an idiot, to my opinion, to buy that car. the opel badge just won't do. the name lotus here in europe echoes almost as 'supercar'

lotus 'used' this car as a testground from the experience they had from 1st gen elise. then, when they knew even better how to do the job, they built the latest elise. nothing moves like an elise on the street (even with the 120hp) the toyota-powered version is a blast...

I don't think you could do the lotus "flash" because lotus built their own ECU from scratch if I remember correctly, and I know it has different intake and exhaust on the engine, which might cause a problem with the lift or switch to the speed cam.

AT the NY auto show I got to sit in the ELise- I have really loved that car ever since I saw it on a trip to the UK. AFter sitting in it I was a bit less enthusiastic. The doorsills were incredibly high- (meaning hard to get in/out) and honestly it felt and looked a little like a kit car inside. I'm not saying that I wouldn't love to drive one, or that if I lived in the country and had it as a Sunday car I wouldn't love it. But after lusting for that car for over a year, and getting back in my 8, I was completely content in it's balance of real world practicality and performance.

As far as I know, there is a planned VXR version of the Turbo VX, I'll be interested to see what it turns out like.

At one time there was speculation in the major car mags that GM would import the Opel Speedster as a Pontiac under the Fiero or Firebird name. Though I haven't seen any articles on this in quite a while.

Found at least of the articles on possible U.S. importation of the Opel Speedster as a Pontiac or Saturn:

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0011_opel/

Lotus Elise, 187-190 HP Toyota/Yamaha mid engine, uses a drive train almost identical to a Celica, under 2,000 lbs. 133 ft lbs torque.