Europa S(hite)!
Is it a Lotus, no it's a plastic pig
Story from home page.
The original Europa was a classic car in every sense of the word. A mid engine 2 seater with styling that turned heads where ever it went. I remember seeing that long low flat engine cover for the first time when I was about six years old. The image and the enthusiasm have stayed with me ever since and turned me into a life long enthusiast. But the Europa 2 doesn't deserve to carry the name. It isn't ground breaking, it isn't pleasing on the eye and it represents a return to the mistake made by the company in the 70's with the Elite and Eclat.
There are many better cars for your money
Satirical news would recommend above the Europa S. Mazda RX8, Honda S2000, Mazda MX5, Toyota Celica, Auston Metro.
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The original Europa started life with a Renault engine and was latter fitted with the Ford DOHC unit. Light, fast and prone to overheating, it had Chapman written all over it. The car will for ever be associated with the JPS F1 cars of the era when the likes of Hill, Clarke and Fittipaldi swept all before them in the glory days of Lotus.
The horrible Eurpoa S
The Europa S uses the 2.0L Vauxhall turbo engine and 6 speed box, the VX220 chassis with a cut down sill and the Scalextric track Federal Elise interior. The cut down sill designed to aid entrance and exit from the difficult Elise is pointless as the sill is not cut down for the full length of the door opening. This may aid the swinging in and out of the trailing leg, but it means your hip is resting on the lump caused by the change of section just in front of the B post. However, it's not all bad news. The Vauxhall engine is a peach and is uprated since it was in the VX220. That might off set the extra weight but this car is softer than the VX so it might go well on the straight but it's not as nimble round the corners. But the real problem is, it's uglier than a Crossfire! If you really want a Lotus, get a Turbo VX. There fantastic and cheap now.
The Lotus Europa S uses hand layed GRP body panels made in Malaysia. The car was originally designed as a Proton sports car and only became the Europa when Proton realised no one would spend Circa £30K on a Proton. Proton even set up a production line and built 7 prototype cars before shipping the whole thing back to Hethel. So not only does it look ugly and weigh too much, not even the company that paid for it wants it.
The Austin Metro. A better choice than the Lotus Europa S.
