New Esprit Project Dead?

[karmavore 2]

I just heard from a great source that the next generation Esprit is being shelved due to lack of money. thats not good.

this source comes from a Motor and chasssis engineer that worked at Lotus UK and has recently taken a position as an engineer at Multimatic .

isnt it like Lotus to tease us like they did with the M250 then shelve the project.

man, that makes me mad.

I now wonder if the Elise project is enough to carry Lotus.

Brian

88 turbo Atlanta

In a way I'd be OK with it as it would preserve the uniqueness of the origional Esprits.

[Bibs 11,167]

I wouldn't listen to any of these rumours that are being bounded about presently. Lotus has invested a 'huge' sum of money in this car and it would be a bad commercial decision to shelve it therefore it's not true.

My aunts cousins brother works for Lotus and told me that by the way!

[Kimbers 1,794]

I wouldn't listen to any of these rumours that are being bounded about presently. Lotus has invested a 'huge' sum of money in this car and it would be a bad commercial decision to shelve it therefore it's not true.

My aunts cousins brother works for Lotus and told me that by the way!

Ditto.....

You don't spend

[karmavore 2]

Are you guys kidding?? Projects routinely get canceled after investing lots of money every day in every industry. It

[lotustt 0]

I doubt that rumor is true. If that were true that news would have spread like wildfire. Lotus is spending the money, they gotta keep going on now. To much testing and so on going on.

[WayneB 2]

I get all my confedential top secret Lotus info from Gladys the Lotus factory tealady.

She says the new Esprit project is still going, and once they get Giugiaro in to fix the styling she is sure it will be well received.

Edited September 14, 2006 by WayneB

[Mario 1]

I don't believe this is impossible...Proton help strongly Lotus to development new Esprit......

[M Blur 1]

but it can happen - history is littered with still-borns - but hopefully all is on track and I reckon a small # of guys on here would have given at least that away if it was the case..

[Kimbers 1,794]

Come on guys,

You get this sort of info almost as it happens, and you haven't had it so don't believe it, the speculation does nothing to help Lotus's current situation and if the Esprit was cancelled then, believe me, there would be no point in continueing. No new models = no Lotus = MG Rover!

Lets talk about something else!

[Lowtus 0]

What current situation? They must be selling more cars at a better profit then ever before.

Elise brand has plenty of life in it so things are nothing like as bad as when the FWD Elan bombed and the ageing Esprit was the only car left in the line-up.

From where MK sits it's entirely understandable if Elise replacement becomes a higher priority then a new Esprit. However, I've not yet given up hope of a new Esprit in 2008.

There is no comparison whatsoever between that former maker of outdated saloons known as MG Rover and a specialist car builder like Lotus. MG Rover was dead in the water as soon as the Honda relationship was broken.

The biggest problem Lotus have got with a new Esprit remains specialist Audis and Lambos now built in bigger volumes at

[M Blur 1]

The Japanese have shown you can build a world beaing supercar and sell it for

Edited September 15, 2006 by M Blur

[Kimbers 1,794]

What current situation? They must be selling more cars at a better profit then ever before.

Elise brand has plenty of life in it so things are nothing like as bad as when the FWD Elan bombed and the ageing Esprit was the only car left in the line-up.

From where MK sits it's entirely understandable if Elise replacement becomes a higher priority then a new Esprit. However, I've not yet given up hope of a new Esprit in 2008.

There is no comparison whatsoever between that former maker of outdated saloons known as MG Rover and a specialist car builder like Lotus. MG Rover was dead in the water as soon as the Honda relationship was broken.

The biggest problem Lotus have got with a new Esprit remains specialist Audis and Lambos now built in bigger volumes at

[Mario 1]

What current situation? They must be selling more cars at a better profit then ever before.

Elise brand has plenty of life in it so things are nothing like as bad as when the FWD Elan bombed and the ageing Esprit was the only car left in the line-up.

From where MK sits it's entirely understandable if Elise replacement becomes a higher priority then a new Esprit. However, I've not yet given up hope of a new Esprit in 2008.

There is no comparison whatsoever between that former maker of outdated saloons known as MG Rover and a specialist car builder like Lotus. MG Rover was dead in the water as soon as the Honda relationship was broken.

The biggest problem Lotus have got with a new Esprit remains specialist Audis and Lambos now built in bigger volumes at

[M Blur 1]

It's great also that Hethnel getting back into GT - I hope that will lead to a fully supportted privateer team into GT1 or GT2 with the Esprit... it sounds like it'll be suited perfectly.

BMW V8 - can only think the opportunity for a GT2 or GT3 model - Sport500.. salivating already.

Best rgds to all.

[DVR 1]

I am surprised reading this but want to add the following :

I spoke to a British Lotus supplier which I know fairly well and he told me the following

-The Elise is not doing well at all in global sales since some time.

-Lotus wanted to lay of (rapidly) some hundreds of factory workers but is blocked by the union so they keep paying them although they have no money.

I told him "Lotus is owned by Proton so they should survive" , he replied that they (Proton) have pulled out all of their staff out of Lotus engineering (around 150 people)

and he was really worried. I do not think I have to tell you why he was worried being a supplier. They lost already a fortune on MG Rover and he is afraid.

I hope and wish Lotus will survive ! I want to have a new Esprit !

[lcharter 0]

I think the fact that they have been feeding the press snippets is a good indication that they do intend putting the new esprit into production.

If they are having financial problems it's quite possible that the esprit could be their solution. It would reincarnate the lotus name to a greater degree then the elise and exige and if proton is serious about selling off the brand they need to have a flagship model to market it.

[WayneB 2]

Is there a car company on the planet that isnt having problems ATM

[rydning 1]

I have only one thing to say.

Lotus do get a lot of good advertising for free with all this treads with different rumors they leak out...........................Good for them.

[[email protected] 0]

Is there a car company on the planet that isnt having problems ATM

Honda Apparantly! doing very well, just brought out a line of luxury Jets!

I had heard similar things about Lotus too.

Edited September 15, 2006 by Skidz

[dodgy 26]

What? Lotus making Jets

[[email protected] 0]

What? Lotus making Jets

No Dave, Honda.

[karmavore 2]

especialy as the US are falling in love with the brand again.

I'm not so sure about that. I'd be surprised if the availability of the Elise has chnaged any minds over Lotus.

[M Blur 1]

quick - we need to find another rich Russian petrolhead to buy in and work with Mike to come up with the car we all want to see...

[[email protected] 0]

I'm sure Proton can see the benfits to them of pushing Lotus forward.

[andrem 0]

Well "where the is smoke-there is usually fire"

I would not be surprised if the company changes hands in the near future.