Lotus is Over: The Exige Now Available Automatic Transmission

"Money Hustard" (moneyhustard) 10/25/2014 at 08:10 • Filed to: None

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Actually, Lotus was already over, but wtf is this? Have some dignity as you float off if into the dark night of which you've been headed to for some time now, Lotus.

Unlike a lot of folk around here, I actually appreciate the occasional automatic, when it fits the car. This is just stupid, though. Why would you buy a Lotus and opt for an automatic? Why are you buying this car? You wanted all the minimalism and shitty ride of a track car, but forwent the one of the only fun parts of all the shitty you're enveloping yourself in?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 08:50

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They're desperate to grab sales. Buying in an auto from toyota is probably the cheapest way to change anything. The whole company is in trouble really.

Saf1 > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 08:59

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Not cool but if it lets them survive so be it - AS LONG AS A MANUAL IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 09:02

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I read it will be a conventional torque-converter autobox. You'd think a builder like Lotus would use a DSG-type trans..

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 09:03

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Is it regular auto or shiftable/flappy paddle? If flappy paddle it actually makes sense because it probably shifts faster than most people can and given its designed to be a trackdaycar (#bro) that means more time with two hands on the wheel.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Saf1 10/25/2014 at 09:04

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It's not going to let them survive.

Money Hustard > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 10/25/2014 at 09:07

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If you actually want to go fast get an actual track car. I'm sure there are some sort of paddles, but it's a conventional torque converter, so the shifts are not going to be all that fast.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 09:34

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Was trying to find an article or some numbers on the speed but all I could find is that there is paddles and the 0-60 was .1 second faster than the manual. So they must be pretty damn quick.

dogisbadob > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 09:44

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The Elite and Eclat had automatics in the 70s, and so did the 80s Excel that wasn't sold over here.

And also, the Evora is available with one. I just wish the Evora's manual transmission would be available on the Camry and ES350!

Fun fact: in Europe, the Elise is available with the 1ZR engine from the Corolla! (1.6L, 132 hp) and before that, you could get the 1ZZ from the previous Corolla. They should've sold the 1ZZ/1ZR Elise over here. That would give it a lower price and more sales. Not sure if an automatic is/was available on it, though.

Now the question is, *what* automatic transmission are they pairing the supercharged 2ZZ with?

Money Hustard > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 10/25/2014 at 09:48

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Even A lot of CVTs are faster than their manual counterparts these days.

I guess my confusion comes from wanting to be attached in anyway for a car that transmits every little thing that it touches or influences it in anyway. Get a GTR if you wants to go fast.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 10:08

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I can see that. I think it opens up the options of someone wanting to use their track car as a DD since they only get to track a few times out of the year.

I'm a fan of a well equipt flappy paddle setup but even that being said CVTs just don't do it for me. I like the idea a d the concept but you need revs and drops (the fake cvt revving is just a no)

Money Hustard > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 10/25/2014 at 10:16

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I've actually been rather happy with the paddles on my CVT Maxima. If I'm going into a corner or having to slow down for a tollbooth or something, it's very useful. And since it can more gradually make those shifts, you aren't giving everyone in the car with you a heart attack/whiplash. But they are definitely worthless outside of those scenarios.

CVT's aren't all bad, they are just typically engineered to improve MPG. In the case of the Maxima, though, in which I average just 14.5MPG in city driving, it's actually a very light, very responsive transmission. A DSG would prob be a little faster/better feeling, but it get's to 60 in 6 flat, which I'm ok with in a large sedan.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 10:20

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14mpg city and 6 second 0-60 ain't bad at all. How many actual gears does it simulate for you as the driver? I know the cvt itself is near infinite but having shift points there must be a defined set of rations programmed in.

Money Hustard > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 10/25/2014 at 10:24

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6-speeds, but you only ever use the first 3. I like it because it let's you shift in and out of manual mode without ever taking you hands of the paddles. I'd love a CVT that just gave you a nob or could be adjusted by paddles like a slider. The problem with just 6 gears, is you can't compete with how well the CVT does its job when you're going flat out. It only has utility when you know something the car doesn't.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 10:54

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Not every can drive manuals. I've met a lot of people who spend more time on the track than I have spent in a car ever that are missing part of their leg or have a condition where they can't drive a manual.

Just food for thought.

Money Hustard > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/25/2014 at 11:03

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Look, I'm 6'7" 350 pounds, you don't see me going around condemning or commending cars based on their ability to accommodate me. Bizarrely the law says my BMI makes me disabled as well, and an auto would make this car more driveable for someone my size, it really isn't the point though. Sure the auto will net them more sales, sure it's faster, but when you say something is "over" you're talking about the idea of fashion. Lotus, continues to murder itself, fashionably speaking, at least in my (and a lot of car enthusiasts) minds.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 11:10

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Sure, but what about the guy who's left leg got blown off in Afghanistan that wants a fun, light, and affordable track car? I work at a place where I see this quite often. I'll hope in an automatic E36 M3 with taped numbers on the door and all sorts of stickers from track days and auto crosses to find the owner handicapped in some way.

Money Hustard > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/25/2014 at 11:30

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Yes, everything fashionable is also amputee-friendly.

For $70-$90K, I don't see how these are affordable track cars. So many faster, more affordable track cars out there.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Money Hustard 10/25/2014 at 21:15

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Used they are pretty affordable.

Money Hustard > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/25/2014 at 21:22

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I wonder why:)

Saf1 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 10/26/2014 at 02:26

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It's gonna help atleast a little!

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Saf1 10/26/2014 at 06:35

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Yeah, they might sell one or two.

Opposite Locksmith > Money Hustard 10/27/2014 at 10:13

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If they have to sell auto exige's so keep selling the barebones manual cars i really dont gaf. i just wont buy one, ELITISM

Opposite Locksmith > Opposite Locksmith 10/27/2014 at 10:13

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to keep*