Gold FFM mayevora Posted December 21, 2008 Gold FFM Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Thanks for the insight Mike and again Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2009. Quote Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk - that will teach us to keep mouth shut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucet Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 I still find it truly incredible that the Chairman of a major auto company responds to, let alone reads, the pratterings of a small group of owners of vehicles that have been out of production for four years now. Good on you, Mr. Kimberly!! And thank you for caring about the most devoted ownership group in the world. Merry Christmas to all of you, wherever you are! Bruce T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdgessler Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 WOW!! Being relatively new to this forum, I had absolutely no idea that Mr. Kimberley had an account on here!! I find it truly amazing that the leader of Lotus has time and care enough to 'fill us in' from time to time! Thanks for the updates Mike and a merry Christmas to everyone also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLStrange Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Back in 1980 I wrote Mike Kimberly with a question about my Esprit S1 AND HE REPLIED!!! It's great to have him back at the helm and also listening to his customers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Thanks for a great response Mike, all the best to Lotus for a great 2009. I'm looking forward to Evora spotting! Quote Just because you can, does'nt mean you should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony K Posted December 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Thanks Mr. Kimberley for the update, and for taking the time to address us! I'm excited to see what Lotus has in store for the future! Merry Christmas! - Tony Quote Tony K. Esprit S1s #355H & 454H Esprit S2.2 #324J 1991 Esprit SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonMasson Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 I still find it truly incredible that the Chairman of a major auto company responds to, let alone reads, the pratterings of a small group of owners of vehicles that have been out of production for four years now. Good on you, Mr. Kimberly!! And thank you for caring about the most devoted ownership group in the world. Merry Christmas to all of you, wherever you are! Bruce T Yup ...what Bruce said.... thanks for the message Mike and good luck leading the company through the hard times ahead. A great Christmas and a very good New Year to you and all at Lotus. Cheers Gordon Quote I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it. Groucho Marx http://www.thelotusforums.com/latest-news/our-news/lotus-esprit-first-and-last/ http://www.corgi.co.uk/lotus-esprit-s1-chassis-0100g-the-first-production-esprit-signal-red.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Thank you president Kimberley for posting in this forum to all Lotus fans! I hope that you stay at he helm of Lotus for many years again!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit350 Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 Thank you for taking the time once again to post Mr Kimberley, all the best for you and Lotus Quote The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. Friedrich Nietzsche find me on Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvis...mbers/espritguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeller77 Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 Cheers Mr. Kimberley! And many thanks for throwing a bone to the huddled and befuddled masses! New car design has probably never been more challenging than the current era what with the moving target due to economic, political, competetive, ecological, and technological wind gusts. I'll be not at all surprised if Lotus pull off the first 450hp turbo-diesel hybrid that'll pull 0-60 in 3.5s on biodiesel and setting new standards in handling, to boot. Glad Tony got you to post before all the likker took hold, or actually it was maybe a pity... Best Holiday wishes to you, yours, and The Company in the new year! Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydclements Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 That seems like a very open reponse from Mike, considering how close he has to play his cards to his chest, so stating the five year plan has to go to eight years, does mean that we have good reason for our confidence that Lotus is aiming to make the right choices, not just live up to what it said previously. For the sake of the economy we need people to keep spending, but it can't just be a few small companies spending and it needs others to do teh same, so hopefully that means Lotus will get orders (engineering rather than cars) coming in from other major firms. After all, if they want a car to be cheaper to run, that can be achieved by cutting the fuel needed, and you can do that by making it lighter. I think Lotus are used to doing that, as well as manking it handle correctly. Mike, thanks for taking the time to post, and I hope you have a great break over the festive season. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbers Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 And it's interesting to note that Lotus have a handle on things. As you know, being in the same industry, dad and I talk about the current market etc and they are currently the only company not to have lay-offs or enforced low paid holidays. As an example, Aston have laid of over a third of their workforce! Dad is adamant that he will try and protect the workforce and company to the best of his abilities. And I can say, hand on heart, that no one cares more about the company and staff than him. We were out in an SEV on Sunday and he told me what he liked and didn't about the car. Thanks Eric. My pleasure. Quote Possibly save your life. Check out this website.http://everyman-campaign.org/ Distributor for 'Every Male' grooming products. (Discounts for any TLF members hairier than I am!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 907 Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Kimbers - Sorry but what's a SEV? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbers Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Sorry. It's Semi-Electric Vehicle. What we'd call a Hybrid. Quote Possibly save your life. Check out this website.http://everyman-campaign.org/ Distributor for 'Every Male' grooming products. (Discounts for any TLF members hairier than I am!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAndretti42 Posted December 24, 2008 Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 Remember how we were all disappointed the Esprit replacement wasn't coming out unitl late 2009/2010? If it had come out on the original timing, it would have hit the recession and been a disaster. With the delay the chances are good that it will come out when things are well on the up and be a raging success. It's always a pleasure and honour for us when Mike posts on here. It's good to see that Lotus isn't sticking rigidly to its plan just because it has a plan. Here's to a long and prosperous future for the company. Quote S4 Elan, Elan +2S, Federal-spec, World Championship Edition S2 Esprit #42, S1 Elise, Excel SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talon Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Excellent point Trevor. The 'delay' would actually seem to play right into the current economic situation and positions Lotus for success as the market and consumer demand return to normal levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iconic Ride Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 The "new" Esprit will arrive in due course, when it's ready and when the time is right. As to its styling being "up to date" that's what designers are paid to do. Tweaking last year's or last decade's shape is but a matter of refining some keystrokes on a graphic's program or addding/subtracting the clay on a model. The people in Hethel do not operate in a vacuum. They are well aware of the competition's efforts, certainly what's already on the roadway, and more than likely what's behind the curtains. Have faith, my friends. In the meantime enjoy the present tense pleasures of owning and driving the current Esprit, a vehicle possessing incredible performance and handling, and still turning heads as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, an eternally timeless masterpiece of art. Quote Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 As with others. I was also stunned the first time I realised that Mike Kimberly himself had posted on a thread. I don't know of any other CEO that would bother. I wish that I would be able to afford a new esprit when it eventually is released, but with the way esprits get priced over here in OZ. it's unlikely. I will have to do as John said and be happy driving my S4. Only today got a huge thumbs up and the mouthed 'great car' from two guys in a SAAB Aero convertible. Always makes you feel good. Best wishes to Mike and his family and all the best to Lotus over the coming years. Michael. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. For forum issues, please contact one of us Moderators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 Remember how we were all disappointed the Esprit replacement wasn't coming out unitl late 2009/2010? If it had come out on the original timing, it would have hit the recession and been a disaster. But... Lotus do have the evora coming onto the market mid recession. It may not be the Esprit but i would assume it's success, or otherwise, would be vital for Lotus to go ahead and make the Esprit? The disaster you mention is too early to affect Esprit sales, just it's future production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAndretti42 Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 The Evora has a very low sales target (2,000 p.a.) and is cheaper than the Esprit replacement is expected to be. I would think the Esprit replacement's sales performance will be much more subject to scrutiny as it will be the replacement for such an iconic car while I would think it would struggle to get a hold in the high-end sportscar in the current conditions killing its reputation before it gets started. Quote S4 Elan, Elan +2S, Federal-spec, World Championship Edition S2 Esprit #42, S1 Elise, Excel SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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