Lotus in the post DB era

[Exploded]

I heard that they were all long term died-in-the-wool Lotus employees of good standing who were just doing their jobs.

I remember some managers saying they were called into Bahar's office, in the early days when he was at Lotus, and then Dany and his team told what the (old) managers had to do. And Bahar's end phrase was always; and your either with us or with out us... Meaning they had to do, what he said or would be forced to leave...

This means they had a choice at that point and they decided their job was more important than their honor... It's just the way you look at it.

Edited July 23, 2012 by Exploded

[Bibs]

Do the billions of people in 'demeaning jobs' consider their 'honour' or just enjoy having some money to live? That's what a job is about, doing something you wouldn't normally want to do but on instructions from a superior level member of staff or business owner and getting given compensation for your time and inconvenience to do it, a salary.

Morals however, that's a different thing and you have to have strong ones to leave a (probable) six figure salary job over them. It happens, very rarely, but it happens.

[Exploded]

I agree Bibs, but as a manager you are paid a fair amount of money to carry the responsibility,which comes with the title, there are up sides and down sides to that. I'm sure they will be able to find another job soon, if they are cleared.

Let's assume they got a very big raise under Bahar's regime, to catch up with the new managers and they had to take a big pay cut now, as DRB Hicom wants to save more money, and then they refused to take the pay cut... Every one has to save in these hard times. Those a pure speculations of course, but what I'm trying to say, it's not because they are forced to leave, they are all bad managers...

Edited July 23, 2012 by Exploded

[Snoopy1969]

According to the story in Lotus magazine # 5 "50 faces behind the brand" I wonder if they are still selling this issue......(I think the online short version has changed a little bit....) and by the way: I am curious what the next issue of Lotus magazine will look like.....

[Bibs]

Invisible perhaps?

Gert, I know you're only speculating but to sack someone if they refuse a paydrop in the UK would bring back hanging, you can't constructively dismiss, it's illegal.

[Moxie]

Morals however, that's a different thing and you have to have strong ones to leave a (probable) six figure salary job over them. It happens, very rarely, but it happens.

I can't resist commenting, but I did just that once and never regretted it. Yes, most of us get paid for doing crap we'd rather not most of the time, but if your boss turns out to be a spineless and shifty prick that you've lost respect for and which is thus probably reciprocal, then walk. As far as Dany goes, when Tony K, Gordon, Brian Angus, and I were in the lobby at Hethel with Gordon's S1 100G--with no one else around--and Dany walked less than 2 feet by me eight times without even nodding at any of us, but rather gave us a fairly arrogant glare, my gut told me that you couldn't have paid me enough to work for him. If you have a gig and no other viable options, that's another thing, but all I know is that having previously spent some quality time with MJK, if it was him walking by we probably all would have been having tea up in his office.

Bah. Humbug. I mean Bahar, humbug.

[Bibs]

Malaysian analysts optimistic

[ramjet]

Gotta love journalists and quotes:

'quote' “The revised plan is likely to be much more realistic,” said RHB Research analyst Alexander Chia. 'unquote'

Of course it will be. It'd be a bit dopey to come out with an even more unrealistic one wouldn't it?

[NedaSay]

Well I guess DRB is just make space for their own guys. Not really surprizing beside if they have been with the company for a while their salaries are probably heavy while fresh blood is probably not that expensive these days even if it comes with highly regarded credentials.

Edited July 24, 2012 by NedaSay

[Bibs]

MJK Speaks

[Bee]

Any word on when DRB are making their statement about their new plans for the future? Kinda sounds like they primarily intend to push the Exige S in to as many territories as possible which should bring in some working capital. Also kinda sounds like they think Lotus is only ever going to be a niche specialist which will only ever mean limited sales ect. I was also hoping to hear something about DB's improved interiors (Goodwood rumour) - if every review notes the decade+ old interior then it must put off so many potential customers no matter how good the drive is.

I'll assume that - in line with their new policies - news about the Evora GTE will start when it actually becomes available.

Anyhow, I'm not meaning to sound miserable or pessimistic; I feel fairly sure the Esprit is still coming (and hopefully with a Wolf Zimmermann developed powertrain). I can only desperately hope they see a future for my beloved Elite, too - fingers crossed!

[Bibs]

Any day now is the last I heard in the middle of last week.

[Moxie]

Kinda sounds like they primarily intend to push the Exige S in to as many territories as possible

The US would be nice considering many people over here are clamoring for it.

[Moxie]

[richardvg]

@Moxie ....DITTO

@Bibs ...thank you for the info .

MJK was and is a legend.If anyone speaks about the man with disrespect he should not be encouraged to enjoy our company !!

[Moxie]

Or they could be invited to enjoy our company so we can pummel them.

[fmxa]

Won't be coming to the US for street use (track only) as it can't pass many of the safety and emissions requirements

[Moxie]

All I know is I was told by my dealer who was told by Lotus USA or Group Lotus (not sure which) that it would cost $6M to get the car certified for the US, including everything--safety, emissions, etc. So it's certainly doable. Not sure how many they'd need to sell to make up the wonga, but over a few years on that platform I'd think it would be worth it in the bigger marketing picture, particularly since the car is so strong. All it's doing right now is pissing off American enthusiasts--and probably a fair number of potential marque converts--that they can't drive one at Sebring, Mid-Ohio, or Lime Rock, but they could in Cyprus, Estonia, and Oman.

[TBD]

Not having the Exige S may p**s off some of the greatest Lotus fans, but probably lose only a handfull of customers. The Exige S will always remain a specialty car, not a car that will open up new markets.

Lotus would do better to continue devloping the Evora to improve its quality. The car has to become a serious option for those who are buying Porsches et.al. and who may not be spending every second weekend on the track.

[Bibs]

Moxie, is this not an issue which could be raised with your legislators rather than private enterprise? They're the ones who make up the prohibitive and often bullshit rules. Smart airbags indeed!

[Gus82]

Autocar today has two pieces on Lotus.

1. Basically reporting what we have read elsewhere that the plans have been slimmed down, the Esprit will likely survive but the unique engine and gearbox is likely dead.

2. A panel including Bob Bell (of Bell and Colvill), Jay Nagley (a respected industry analyst), Simon Saunders (of Ariel) and a few other autocar writers plot a future strategy for Lotus. They reveal some interesting things. Bob Bell for instance when asked about how many Esprits he thinks he could sell suggests that "maybe a dozen" (I assume annually) and Jay Nagley querries if this is really enough for the project to be a success given he is one of the top Lotus dealers in Lotus' biggest market. They also discuss the fact that the original Elise was better than the S2 as its components cost £10,000 and it cost only a little over £20,000, making it easier to get in and out of the Elise would give the car wider appeal like the Elan M100 had and the original 'new' Esprit project with the bought in engine would have sold for approximately £80,000 and therefore might have a better chance of succeeding. Food for thought.....

Moxie, is this not an issue which could be raised with your legislators rather than private enterprise? They're the ones who make up the prohibitive and often bullshit rules. Smart airbags indeed!

Could they get around this in the US with racing harnesses instead of standard seatbelts and airbags? A bit awkward but wouldnt cost hardly anything to do and could bring in some sales?

Edited July 25, 2012 by Gus82

[Trevsked]

£80K for a new Esprit would be music to my ears and many others I suspect but I seem to remember them talking about another £100k on top of that. Also a sensible comment about making the Elise easier to get in and out of to broaden the appeal, spot on. I also see a great deal of mileage in making the Evora higher quality although the 2012 feels much better than earlier cars.

Trevor.

[Bibs]

[softlips]

To be honest I'm more interested in the Esprit if it has a proven drive train rather than a new one built in house. If the price was £80K I'm sure it would be a huge hit.

Is the £123K price with the new engine or a bought in one?

[jonwat]

Autocar report : Lotus reins in ambitions