REACTIONS!

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 07:42
I think it is great .... had me going for a sec - CS

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 07:37
You had me for about 10 seconds. Then I remembered what day it is. Thanks for waking me up this morning :)- JB

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 09:00
Hi Kiyoshi,
Just made a call to Lotus, 'full steam ahead' was the comment. Don't worry Lotus are working really hard to get you the Elise.
Best wishes - RP

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 10:29 AM
HI Kiyoshi --
I'm EuFOURic!! Just what I need to tow the Silverado with. I'm sending in my deposit today... - BW

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 1:31 PM
Kiyoshi & USA Lotus fans everywhere,
You might remember that today is April 1st or better known as April Fools Day. Lotus and America need this kind of car too much not to bring it across the pond! I would be suprised if this is not a hoax. - DL

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 00:38
Hi, Not sure if you guys have the tradition over there (or anywhere else in the world for that matter), but here in the U.S. we have something called "April Fool's Day" every first of April, whence pranks, parody and put-ons are the order of the day. Kiyoshi's announcement of a Lotus SUV to replace the Elise would appear to be exemplary.
Cheers, - JC

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 09:36
Very Funny! :o)~ - IO

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 06:02
Great picture attached to the GGLC "exclusive" - JK

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 14:07
I'm led to believe that the origins of April Fool's Day track back to France at the end of the 16th century. The tradition eventually spread to Britain in the 18th century and later to the American colonies. In France the tradition is known as "poisson d'avril".
Cheers - PL

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 08:22
Hey, at least it looks better than the Porsche Cayenne! - DM

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 10:33 AM
Wow Kiyoshi,
What great news. A Lotus I can use out at the horse farm! I just hope Park Place will transfer my first in line status! - MG

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 4:09 AM
It is early so all I am able to confirm is todays date. - RLM

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 2:39 AM
It would have to be a recent change - I had dinner with an old Lotus friend who's very close to this project two weeks ago, the conversation was very positive. That's all I know!
cheers - CR

Tuesday April 02, 2003 00:02
Please search for 'April fools day' on the internet and you will find out all you need to know... :-) MG

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 4:53 AM
Good one! - HF

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 6:01 AM
As a matter of fact, I *did* look at the calenar this morning. - PE

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 12:02 AM
And the date is? - IC

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 6:44 AM
April Fool!? - SV

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 2:34 AM
Is there a race to see who can build the ugliest SUV? The Honda Element has to be the most fugly thing I've ever seen. This Eufouria makes me wish Giugiaro would come to the rescue. Knowing Lotus it's probably 10 out of 10 for functionality but esthetically...... Maybe beauty is in the eye of the beholder. - MLV

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 3:56 AM
Happy April-Fools Day,
I see you are having some fun ;-)
So, can we just call it the "E2" ?
cheers and blessings to you and yours, - KR

Tuesday, April 01, 2003 12:29 AM
Hahaha.... Nice try, guys! :-)
Do visit the Golden Gate site and have a look at the euFOURia car, link below. Never thought I'd have a SUV, but if Lotus should ever consider going into this market I'll sure give it a second thought. - PB

Tues, April 1, 2003
This abortion of a "doctored" picture should embarrass the members of the Golden Gate Lotus club into disbanding their club, or at least drag the IDIOT that even dared to post this over the proverbial "hot coals" The person who posted this on the website should be put in the stocks and have old car parts thrown at him. Shame on anyone who believes this rubbish before all the posts start coming in. - DS

Tues April 1 - 2 minutes later from DS
OK - you got me for a second - DS

Tues April 1, 2003 00:02
On the other hand, "EUFOURIA" has a nice ring to it. - SL

Tues April 1, 2003
Dude. Might you notice that it is April 1st? - GT

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 07:42
I just can't beleive, that Lotus took all of my suggestions, and will be putting out a car, to go head on head with the new Nissan Murano. It should drive rings around the Nissan, and for my money, love the looks.
I will be putting down a deposit, real soon at my local Lotus dealer.
Finally, a "Family Style Lotus". And Yellow Too.
Can't wait to drive it. - G

April 1, 2003
I think they more than got you... with that response that you sent :) - GT

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 04:19
Kiyoshi,
Check the date on the website. I think you've been stung by an April Fool's joke. - BS

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 08:00
The Date today is April First. Get a grip! You Been Had ;-)
Cheers - S

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 08:57
Oh come on guys! Kiyoshi is way too bright to have "fallen" for this silly prank with such a ridiculously fake picture.
Didn't it occur to any of you that it was him that was pulling the prank on you? - KFM :-)

Hi Kiyoshi,
My curiosity is getting the better of me! Have you gotten any threatening messages today by chance? :-)
Regards, - KF

Tue Apr 1, 2003 1:46 pm
That's a pretty cruel April Fool's joke, Kiyoshi. Evil. - AH

Tue Apr 1, 2003 3:12 pm
This has to be true.
I love this car, (Mine will be the hatchback).
I already went down to my Lotus dealer, and put my deposit down. Although, I'm not quite sure, why he insisted on cash, and seemed to have some packed suitcases behind his desk. - G

Tue Apr 1, 2003 2:51 pm
Good effort anyway Kiyoshi, I was stumped for an idea :-( - MC

Tue Apr 1, 2003 11:20 am
And a shameless plug for the GGLC site - didn't you look just in case? - RG

The Golden Gate Lotus Club (GGLC) took it's traditional April Fools Chapman Report issue on-line in 2003.

Web-Editor Kiyoshi Hamai crudely created a fake photo of the "new Lotus", posted it on the GGLC web site and then told the Lotus forums that he was "DISTRESSED" that Lotus was killing the US Elise and building an SUV to sell in the states.

The ruse caught a number of readers off guard. Some quickly realized it was April 1st, but then told Kiyoshi that he shouldn't distress over the rumor because it was April Fools, thus completely missing the fact that it was he that created the hoax in the first place!

The good news is that the Elise is still coming to the US!

THE ORIGINAL FORUM POST FROM KIYOSHI:
Subject: Lotus Dumps Plan for US Elise!

I'm DISTRESSED!!! According to the GGLC Lotus is dumping the US Elise!!!

I'm not sure what the story is, but the GGLC web site is reporting this as more than a rumor and showing a photo of something called a Eufouria!

www.gglotus.org

Can anyone confirm/deny this? I'm calling my dealer today to check on my deposit.

Kiyoshi

Below is the EuFOURia web page from the GGLC website

April 1, 2003 - The Chapman Report has learned that Lotus has DUMPED the US Elise. Dealers are being told to return deposits to customers.

So, what is Lotus doing? Are they pulling out of the US market?

Inside Lotus the word is that they've been studying a new model. Of note is the success of the MBZ M-series and the BMW X-series. The C/R has learned from secret sources inside Lotus Cars and Lotus Engineering that Lotus will introduce the "euFOURia" in September at the Frankfurt show.

The "euFOURia" is planned exclusively for export to the US; the SUV market is considered too small in other markets.

The euFOURia will use Elise chassis technology and extend the lightweight concept to off-roading. The euFOURia will likely be called an SUV, but Lotus will insist that it is not an SUV, but a high performance life-style vehicle suitable for both on and off-road use.

The C/R was unable to get information on the power plant, but expect the power to be in the 300 hp range. AWD will be standard with a target weight of less than 1800 pounds. A composite body of glass and carbon fiber will be used. Lotus is said to be looking into the cost of using the seemingly abandoned active suspension technology of the early 90's.

The C/R was able to snag this undisguised rendering. Note the family resemblance to the Elise II. Expected delivery to the US is in late 2004 as a 2005 model.

Specifications: