【相場急騰】ロータス・エリーゼ、エキシージ。今乗らないともう乗れない？＃中年と中古車

Lotus is synonymous with lightweight sports cars. It depends on your age, but if you're from the supercar generation, the Lotus Europa is definitely what comes to mind. It's a sports car that covers up its weak power with an ultra-light body, and it's really all about skill. A famous racer once said, "A man's technique is shown in bed and in his car." How cheesy. Lotus has now announced the Emira as its next model. The launch model will be equipped with a V6 supercharger inherited from the Exige. Later, it will be equipped with a straight-four turbo made by Mercedes-AMG. It's no longer possible to expect a car weight of less than 1000kg. The Elise and Exige, which have been struggling as current models, have also ended orders from the manufacturer on the importer's official website. However, it seems that there are still a small amount of stock at each authorized dealer base. Those looking for a new car have no choice but to search all over Japan. Lightness is the key to a lightweight sports car. Will it become impossible for even Lotus to produce a car that weighs around 1000kg, has three pedals, an H-pattern transmission, and allows the driver to play sports? Following on from the last Caterham Seven, we interviewed Garage Shimaya, an authorized dealer that carries the Lotus Chiba sign. From what I've heard, the market price for Elise and Exige is skyrocketing, and it's very rare to find one circulating at auction. "The market price for used cars of both models is soaring, but the Elise S with a 1.8L supercharged engine is especially popular. Of course, it depends on the condition of the car, but it is currently exceeding the price of a new car," said Shimakage, the company's representative. When I visited in August 2020, the market price was stable, but it has skyrocketed in just one year. If you hesitate, you may not be able to get your hands on the Lotus you've always dreamed of. The situation is different from that of the air-cooled 911 and 90's Ferrari, so it's a consolation. However, the only lightweight sports cars in the world that can be used daily with air conditioning are the Elise and Exige. Lotus Elise and Exige. Let's take a test drive and see if they are worth the decision. We have prepared the basic model "Elise Sport" with a 1.6L inline 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine, and the other model "220" with a 1.8L inline 4-cylinder supercharged engine, which is the most popular model in the market (both 2016 models). It's been a while since I've driven an Elise, but the moment the tires rolled, I knew it was "Wow, it's so light!" It's an aluminum chassis that Lotus is particular about, as expected. Moreover, it comes with the minimum equipment such as air conditioning, airbags, and ABS, so there is no inconvenience in daily use. The car is light, so the brakes are loud, and although the entry model has a modest 136ps, it has a direct acceleration feeling that is really pleasant. There is no power steering, but since it is a mid-engine car, steering is light and parking is not a problem. If you remove the soft top, you can drive in the open air, which is something you can't experience with the Exige. Next, we'll take a ride in the Supercharger, which is revving up. This car is a customer vehicle of Garage Shimaya, who cooperated with us in this interview. They usually use it for commuting, and perhaps that's why the engine is in great condition. I was so impressed by how smoothly the engine ran that I wanted to check, "Is this a four-cylinder?" It's amazing! We'll explain the previous models next time, but considering the current soaring market prices, it might be a good time to look for a new car. For your reference, we'll roughly compare the Elise and Exige. ●Elise Cup 250 (1.8L inline 4 S/C engine) Body size: Length 3800 x Width 1720 x Height 1130mm Wheelbase: 2300mm Weight: 931kg ●Exige Sport 350 (3.5V6 S/C engine) Body size: Length 4080 x Width 1800 x Height 1130mm Wheelbase: 2370mm Weight: 1125kg If you consider size and weight, the popularity of the Elise is understandable. The Targa top is also a privilege of the Elise. If you compare these two cars, the characters are different, so the user base is probably different too. It's not a simple question of which is better, but what do you want? This is the evaluation axis. Comparing the Exige models remains a task, but there is no doubt that these two cars, along with the Elise, are cars that will enrich your life. Middle-aged people, be ambitious! And become wolves! ! Video: Yoshihide Shoshima Video Edit:: Airi Harumi Text: Seiichi Norishige [Vehicle inquiries] Garage Shimaya (Lotus Chiba) Address: 209-4 Naganuma-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba TEL: 043-286-2444 Hours: 10:30-19:00 Closed: 1st and 3rd Mondays and Tuesdays "Humor is a gentleman's hobby." FORZA STYLE supports the lifestyle of men. Please subscribe to the channel 🚘 Watches →    • 【イケオジの時計選び】ロック福田の腕時計魂   Cars ...