Lotus adds models, raises prices

More price rises are on the way from Lotus in Australia as the UK sports car specialist continues to add models here – and contemplates whether it needs to remove any as well.

Having already announced an automatic version of the Exige – with a $6000 impost across the range – and an updated Elise S Club Racer up $1740 this year, the track-focussed Elise S Cup is set to be confirmed to join the 911-targetting Evora 400 (pictured) due late this year or early 2016.

But Lotus Australia boss Glenn Sealey told motoring.com.au there would be pain as well as gain for Lotus buyers as a worsening exchange rate forces substantial price rises.

"We are just going through some currency changes at the moment which is not making life pleasant I can tell you," said Sealey.

"Watching the Aussie dollar dive against the pound... It's proving difficult.

"It wasn't that long ago we were sitting at 68-69 [Aussie cents to the pound] and here we are today sitting at 52. That is a 30 per cent decline and none of us have 30 per cent in our cars.

"So prices will go up for Lotus."

He also forecast some rationalisation for the Lotus range in Australia to maintain balance between the model line-up and demand, which traditionally runs at under 100 cars per annum (61 sold in 2014 and 71 in 2013).

"I have never seen Lotus have so many new products on offer," he said. "We need to look at the rationalisation of the model range here in Australia.

"Certainly we know Elise works well here. We tend to sell much more of the higher output than the lower output, so we would always concentrate on the higher output Elise.

"So our focus will always be at that higher end of Elise and in terms of Exige it's the same scenario."

Considering that focus, the confirmation of the Elise S Cup for Australia makes sense. Based on the S Cup R racer, it produces the usual Elise S 163kW and 250Nm from its supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder but is faster on-track because of its added aerodynamic downforce.

"The Elise S Cup is something I really like and think would work well here," said Sealey. "That's a car I would love to see here and we are working very hard to get."

However, the Elise 20th anniversary, which is powered by the same supercharged engine won't make it to Australia.

"We most likely will not take the 20th anniversary car, as it's essentially here now as the standard Elise Club Racer," explained Sealey.

However, Sealey revealed any price adjustments expected soon won't include an announcement on the 298kW mid-mounted V6 Evora 400, which is the fastest Lotus ever and due early next year. It will be significantly more costly than the current Evora S, which starts at $152,990.

"Will Lotus stay with a low price positioning with that car? No it will go up significantly," Sealey said. "That will make any Evora out in the marketplace look pretty good."

Sealey said he was excited by the proposition the Evora 400 presented. It is the most significant new model offered by the company since former PSA Peugeot-Citroen president Jean-Marc Gales took the loss-making company over last year.

"To look at it is a sexy car," said Sealey. "It sounds terrific when you hear it, the performance is outstanding with 400 horsepower in a vehicle that is now lighter than the existing Evora.

"They have made the entry and exit that much easier; the interior has been lifted significantly and looks terrific; the external cues of the design make the car look far more aggressive."