Miata Mailing List: December 1993, Message #119
sponsored by



     


   From: Eric Fancher <75230.1445@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: bugatti/lotus
   Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1993 20:58:27 -0500

Did anyone see the December 13th edition of Autoweek?  On page 8 is a small 
article in which Adrian Palmer, managing director of Lotus Group is quoted:

        "....Lotus is also studying a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Miata    
 beater, which will debut in two or three years alongside the 2+2.      The 
small car will be composite-bodied and powered by a Lotus engine,       not an
Isuzu.  If built, it would be U.S.-bound.
                "The car would be aimed at the same market as the Miata, but  
 it has to be different," Palmer notes.  "Toys we don't build.                
 Engineering masterpieces we do."

Well, it seems that Mr. Palmer has never seen a Miata up close. It is an 
engineering masterpiece.  If Mr. Palmer and Lotus consider the recent Elan to 
have been a success after selling only 546 units (using very large rebates) in
the U.S then what should we expect from this new "Miata beater."  It will 
probably have a plywood firewall like the Esprit.  I would be willing to bet 
that whatever they build, it won't come in below $40k and won't perform or be 
as reliable as our "toys."

Eric Fancher
Texas Miatas
Austin, Texas