Save Lotus

[Steve J]

With Lotus on its knees and no different new models on the horizon (no the v6 exige doesn't count) they need to produce another company saving model. So as it's Christmas and you'll all be bored over the next few days. How about saving them the cost of designing a winning car and come up with your own design for a Lotus that would see you get rid of the current one and buy the new one.

Lets see how realistic expectations and costs are with its current fan base.

[Martin 111S]

Just iron out all the niggles / build quality that come with mine, sorted. If you didnt have to put up with some crap they have then they would have a decent rep. and probably more people would buy them. BUT would this then be a good thing or not ?

 

The age old problem is if you sell quanity you would lose appeal as they would be common as ..... To sell less quantity you have to up the costs to keep the business but you know this already. Perhaps help after seales by not trying to rip the owners on sales etc. might help.

 

I dont own mine because its a Lotus - I own it because I like the car, it helps that its a bit exclusive too.

 

The future models they rolled out as concept drawings etc. the other year, to me were terrible. To look at them, they all looked the same and were very similar to other cars already built or in the pipeline. They really need to still be distinctive on the road and to make people look turn heads, then question what is it ? Not to say is that an X or a Y as they look similar.

 

I like this design from a few years ago, will never come to production and I could never afford one if it did.

[DeanB]

A brand new Elise. Not another re-hash. A brand new chassis with bigger door openings and a little more cockpit room, greater torsional rigidity, new but sensational styling, and as light as the s1.

Done right, it would do everything a little better - accelerate, brake, corner, handle, steer.

Less leaking, creaking and banging would be good too.

 

And as per usual, a more hardcore Exige coupe version.

 

That would tempt most of us on here, I reckon.

[John FISH Curtis]

Two cars I would like Lotus to launch.

 

New Elise...

 

 

New Esprit ....

[Steve J]

Sadly for Lotus I won't be buying another unless it is a proper 2+2 so I can fit the family in or at least take both kids.

Something like the canned Elan would have been nice if interior and build quality was a high standard.

Now I think if they can get a very low weight and high efficiency car they may be able to beat the other manufacturers if its launched in the next 3 years. After that I think that niche will be swallowed up by all the majors.

 

So must be no more than £60k new with space for 4 without crushing legs, better than 35mpg and 69 in less than 6 seconds.

A mini DB9 for the poor people if you like.

[jonnyfox]

I think we need to ask what we want from Lotus and what Lotus should do..... We seem to want Lotus to do what they have always done and that's make cars that make no money! The money is in 4x4s and all that mainstream stuff we read about and want to also own. I see no way to bridge that gap to keep a company of Lotus size a float. Look at Aston Martin, that's where DB wanted to be and they are nowhere but in a similar but slightly better position. This isn't rocket science, in todays global market it needs to be swallowed by a big boy and do a Maserati who already had a better back catalogue of mainstream stuff and are very likely to sell shed loads of 5 series Gibley's (whatever lol) on name alone, and a 4x4. So to sum up all IMO of course any mainstream model from a Focus to an S Class will sell for one reason as long as its based on another manufactures mainstream platform. But it'll take years, maybe too late by then, or is it too late now. History repeating itself like the 80s and our kids will be where we are unless it gets sold to someone like Hyundia who need a big name to really stretch there legs...... All in a global market of course. Lotus ix35 anyone lol

[Steve J]

So a Lotus 4x4 would see you spending money or are you a lost cause customer?

[jonnyfox]

You have got to be kidding me......

 

Edit. Do you think the 308 rep posted above is the answer? The only hope Lotus have is its name and you stick it on something that will sell and do it right, it may gain momentum.......just my option Steve but you have to look at the global market, and quickly.

[darryl]

Light weight Elise using the Skoda/Audi 1.4 vRS engine / drive train (7 speed DSG 1.4TSI 180PS) the 7 speed fully auto/sequential/paddle shift is good

 

If Lotus are still doing engineering work for (present owners) Proton then turn the existing hatch and/or estate into a Lotus "super hot hatch/estate" circa Lotus Carlton of the 1990's = 4 or 5 seater family type car, I suppose for you jonnyfox a 4x4 or SUV version would be good

 

Proper Evora S (GTE or what ever Lotus want to call it) with 1225kgs & around 400/425bhp in a 2+2 arrangement

 

Yes IMHO Lotus still need to bring out a proper V6 Exige Cup using carbon to reduce the weight not taking everything out, leave that for the "race" version and yes they need the new Esprit to rival the R8 / McLaren MP4 12C and in 2013

 

Then if Lotus are still building cars in 2015 they could look at a proper 4 seater or 5 series Gibley's for jonnyfox

[fentuz]

Being totally dreamy... Let's reuse the audi TT bi moto concept....

Since the Evora chassis was initially done to be "mecano" approved for front wheel drive and rear wheel drive... What about a lotus Bi Moto with on the rear, the elise configuration, 1.6 toyota and front, the 1.6 toyota ancis powertrain???? 8 cylinder total, 3.2L total, 4x4...

And an optional eco version with a electric front wheel drive version...

 

Now, let's be realistic... A potential bread and butter... Since the exiges S and cup are out to push for the V6, why don't they reuse the Cup Kit in the current elise to make a "descent" track car, elise 1.6 maybe SC with exige cup cage, geo, suspension, wheels etc... A road legal race car for less than £30k (price of a Ginneta G40R)

[Steve J]

So far no-one has said what car Lotus could make that would mean they would chop their existing Lotus in for it. Perhaps that's their problem. Those with Elises are not interested in getting rid for a new model so Lotus has to go after new customers.

 

1. Simple, very light and fuel efficient 4 seater ~ £15k

2. Stripped out light Elise replacement for track and fast road (nothing other than heater) ~ £25k

3. Lotus fettled mainstream owner cars (top sports versions badged Lotus)

4. 2+2 coupe better looking than the Evora with more room in the back (4 stroke engine) ~ £40k

5. 4 x 4 for Jonny ~ £50k though I don't think Lotus have much exerience in developing them

6. Esprit ~ £80k

 

The only one that may help make a decent return is 3.

[GCCK]

Back to basics.

Don't try to compete with Porsche, let alone Ferrari or McLaren.

Would mean decimating the current company and relaunching with an infrastructure & overheads one would associate with building a maximum of 2000 very specialised, stripped out little racers for the road. An infrastructure capable of building 10,000 or 20,000 cannot be sustained by a company whose market is only 2,000.

 

When Porsche launched the Cayenne and stretched brand values, they did it from a position of strength - their reputation & profits were sky high. Lunging into a new market when the brand is tarnished and you're losing a fortune (the Bahar strategy) is suicide.

 

So re-invent the Elise S1: 800kg, 200bhp, with all the airbags, electrickery & crash safety you're required to have, and sell it for £45K to 2,000 people a year. If that works, then a coupe, roofless track car and a proper 2+2 (Evora + another 12" in the wheelbase) could follow one day.

[Steve J]

Would you buy one then Graeme?

[jonnyfox]

I thought Porsche was saved by the Cayenne (I could be wrong) and as much as I'd love the idea of an 800kg car with all the bells and whistles it just can't be done in this day and age, I know I've been trying for years lol. I reckon the nearest you'd get is a GT86 at little over 1200kg, that's what they should have done instead of the Evora. I genuinely hope the doors don't close, it'll be criminal to go the way of Rover.

[Phil S1]

45K for a replacement Elise S1! I certainly wouldn't be one of those 2000 customers!

For me personally and the way things are going I think they need to concentrate on what they're good at, lightweight, fuel efficient and fun cars for sub 30K