Stirling_Villeneuve 105 Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 Interesting, it would certainly cash in nicely on the Lotus/Renault F1 situation. I'd like to think out of that bunch Lotus would be the best fit, Merc lack the image and specialist expertise Lotus could give to the project and Caterham haven't really made anything other than shopping trollies for the past 40 years. Either way it would be amazing to see some cash pumped into Lotus, or just to hear some good news! Quote Currently having an illicit affair with another marque, be back in the fold one day... Link to post Share on other sites
Guest surferphil Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 Lotus would be the only logical fit. Best Lotus save their marketing cash until they have a new product to market. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stirling_Villeneuve 105 Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 In the meantime an e-mail to a few press bods wouldn't cost a penny and it may well do a HUGE amount for goodwill. Quote Currently having an illicit affair with another marque, be back in the fold one day... Link to post Share on other sites
Guest surferphil Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 If they want to tell you something they will and to be frank, I have never seen them in the press so much as they have been during DB's management. You haven't heard anything from them for a few months, that's all, it just seems like a long time compared to DB's circus. I should imagine if they had a strategy or plan to tell you about right now; it would have been badly researched and thrown into the press on a whim with little thought or consideration. They have a complete change of owner who is trying to figure out what Lotus are and how they can work as a car manufacturer. Give them time to understand, quantify and plan a future for this troubled company. The fact that they attended Goodwood and let the press into the ride and handling development of the Exige is more than enough for a tiny car company fresh from a whirlwind of turmoil. The only thing that should matter to Lotus right now is the most important thing to their survival and that is Product. Put everything into getting it right, that will do a HUGE amount for goodwill. Until then I'll just be admiring what they already made sitting outside. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DanR 69 Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 (edited) I reckon this looks wonderful... Hope Lotus, Renault and Nissan do it. Edited September 26, 2012 by DanR Quote DanR Link to post Share on other sites
Iconic Ride 267 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 "Ei ole! Ei ole! I cannot finalise my purchase of Lotus until after the racing season is complete. Now go away, please." Quote Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose. Link to post Share on other sites
Gus82 0 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 We'll probably find out if the rumors are right soon enough. The Renault press conference is at 9.30 this morning. You can watch it online from Renaults website. Of course it is possible that there will be no announcement at all if final terms haven't been agreed or contracts signed. However it would be a good news story for Renault at its home motorshow if they could announce something like this. Surferphil - It does seem that Lotus would be the only logical fit, but odd things can happen. Mercedes AMG are wanting a smaller sports car below the SLS to rival the 911, so it's not impossible that the two cars could be twinned. It would make the Alpine very expensive for a car wearing the Renault diamond though. However Caterham could be seen to be a good option for Renault if they just want the development cash more than technical input. We'll just have to wait and see..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonb 12 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 The whole package could suit the Nissan Renault alliance IMHO (Proton) and even the now sanitised and rebranded F1 team has lost it's "cheating" association. Could see Lotus all being swallowed into Alpine brand though Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gus82 0 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Just watched the Renault webcast. Nothing exciting either way I'm afraid. Only chat was about the new Clio and a general explanation of Renaults "brand reinvention" etc. I guess there could still be a press release later on, no point in making a big song and dance about it when there is no concept or production car to show yet! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest surferphil Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 I can't see Caterham being much of a partner, what could they contribute? They make the 7 (a 40 year old Lotus cast off). Lotus are the biggest/best engineering consultants in the automotive industry. Merc can offer production line but Renault already have that. Lotus can make sports car chassis, design drive trains and are the ride and handling experts. How many mid engined merc's have you seen? Looks like the concept was built on a Lotus chassis. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gus82 0 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 (edited) Just did a search for news on the baby SLS Merc are planning. Your right Phil the original concept was for it to be a mid engined V6 car, but last year they changed their minds and told Autocar that it would be front engined with a V8 instead. The Alpine concept was built on a chassis from the Renault Megane Trophy car (it's a "silhouette" mid-engined racing car). Apparently it's no good for converting to road use. My point with Caterham is that Renault may just want to take the cash from Tony Fernandes and let Renault engineers complete the work and hand the chassis back to Caterham to build their version. That way Renault would be able to dictate exactly what they want, rather than compromising to the wishes of Lotus engineers/management. Thanks to TF Caterham also have deep pockets that Lotus currently may or may not be able to match. Obviously Lotus have a lot more to contribute though, and the work for sister brand Infiniti seemed to go down well. Edited September 27, 2012 by Gus82 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gus82 0 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Then again..... Rumor is that a joint Renault/Daimler/Nissan conference tomorrow could be used to announce the new Alpine (which would suggest Lotus isn't involved?). http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/paris-motor-show-2012/paris-motor-show-alpine-rebirth-imminent I give up trying to call it! Will just wait and see what happens! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest surferphil Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 I see where you are coming from Gus; go for Caterham for Fernandez investment potential and Caterham could do with a product with wider and global appeal, that they could use to grow and expand their business in the Pacific market. I think Renault would probably be better off with a chassis engineering company that can design sports cars from the ground up, where Renault perhaps are lacking. Either way they go, Renault could always just buy in Lotus engineering without the need for Lotus Cars to be involved or Lotus engineering to be anything other than development engineers. If that is the case they may not announce the link, like most clients of Lotus engineering. Looks quite good for a Renault! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gus82 0 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Sh*t (if true) http://news.sky.com/story/991453/exclusive-fernandes-in-250m-alpine-deal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mdavies 74 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 (edited) Sh*t (if true) http://news.sky.com/...50m-alpine-deal Are none of the expert/industry/Lotus-linked commentators here pitching in on this story? I'm waiting, hoping to be informed as to the implications. Would the likely potential product(s) compete with the Elise/Exige or the Evora? Or, given the two parties, one for each? How about Lotus being involved on the engineering? Or even a chassis? Is it all over for us? Informed comments please! Edited October 1, 2012 by mdavies Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,167 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I can ask but I'm sure 'no comment' will come from the factory. Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest surferphil Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 It's a Renault! It will either be cheap or as in the last time Renault tried to take on Lotus, fail horribly. From that article it looks like Renault are trying to get into the eastern market, where Lotus aren't so well known. Probably be engineered by Lotus if it's going to be any good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,167 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest surferphil Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Lotus engineering customers are often un known to the general public. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stirling_Villeneuve 105 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I can ask but I'm sure 'no comment' will come from the factory. Factory? What factory? DRB can't possibly comment on those sorts of rumours. Quote Currently having an illicit affair with another marque, be back in the fold one day... Link to post Share on other sites
hedgerley 440 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Picked up by Autocar also. http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/alpine-berlinette-be-developed-caterham-and-renault Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DanR 69 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Then again, TF might end up owning Lotus as well. Maybe sooner than later too... Quote DanR Link to post Share on other sites
Guest surferphil Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Havn't we had enough of Malasians Fuking up Lotus! I'm off to buy a jag. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stirling_Villeneuve 105 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Funny I was just chatting to a chap about the F Type, he sent me the configuration so I specced one up.... £90k.... and it's still 400 kilos heavier than the Evora. I don't get that total rip of the Maserati 'mouth' too... isn't that copyright? Quote Currently having an illicit affair with another marque, be back in the fold one day... Link to post Share on other sites
NedaSay 835 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 (edited) That's quite a coup for Caterham and now I understand why Mike Gascoyne moved away from the team to take care of CTI. So Lotus is working with Infinity on the E-merge while Caterham is working with Renault on the new Alpine. Nissan will use the Evora platform, Renault will use Caterham Elise killer platform! I don't want to read to much in this but really this is quite a coup Caterham pulled! Edited October 2, 2012 by NedaSay Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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