Future of Lotus

[Sparky]

13 hours ago, internets said:

Talking of which I have just picked up one of these sweet numbers 😉 

Looks curiously similar to mine...

[C8RKH]

You need to switch the "tracker" on on Tracey's phone. She's been moonlighting @Sparky!!!

[Sparky]

As long as she charges enough...

[Chillidoggy]

21 hours ago, internets said:

Talking of which I have just picked up one of these sweet numbers 😉 

If I were you, I’d check the gusset before strapping it on.

[ramjet]

I believe that is where they hide a pair of socks, yes?

[Bibs]

 

[C8RKH]

Lovely package. Looks quality. Will make any Lotus owner feel even more special. Very nicely done!

[Barrykearley]

All we need now is a new car for the poor folks 👍

[DarrylV8]

On 04/08/2020 at 11:32, stephenwhyte said:

You won’t see anything until the Summer of next year Andy - expect a launch at the GFOS👍

According to the latest statement from Phil Popham via Autocar, said new car to be unveiled end of 2021 with customer deliveries 2022

[mg4lotus]

@Jason is Chasing see above

[webfoot]

5 hours ago, DarrylV8 said:

According to the latest statement from Phil Popham via Autocar, said new car to be unveiled end of 2021 with customer deliveries 2022

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/how-lotus-ceo-phil-popham-shaping-firms-future

[Bee]

'Popham says there will be versions of Lotus’s new car that can fit all of the company’s existing price ranges, depending on specification, starting at today’s £55,000 and reaching £110,000 for the best-equipped and fastest.'

 

That's quite a spread of pricing for the one car, even factoring in a premium for an electric-hood convertible. I wonder if this means versions with different engines...

[Nathan Pitman]

55k-70k: Base spec, 4 pot, 2+0 with removable/retractable hood (Elise replacement)

70k-90k: Comfort spec, v6, 2+2 with fixed roof and all mod cons (Evora replacement)

90k-110k: Race spec, v6, 2+0 with fixed roof and all mod cons removed (Exige replacement)

???

Edited August 15, 2020 by Nathan Pitman

[mdavies]

Guess the plan to cover the New Car being late - or always planned? - and to maintain current sales, even after launch of the New Car, is to persuade enthusiasts that there is still life in the old dogs (no offence!) and will be for a good while yet.

To attract the “new customers” the launch of the New Car will likely emphasis the soft aspects - not the best attraction for enthusiasts. Only after the launch period done with can enthusiast aspects be stressed and perhaps slightly harder versions be introduced. But with existing engine, likely heavier weight, the current dynamics hard to improve, and comparable pricing, only the appearance and soft stuff inside will be very new, surely. So I guess the plan is to give the enthusiasts time to adjust and by e.g track tests, of perhaps minimum weight versions, build confidence in the New. Then see how sales develop across the range for old and new before deciding when to drop the current cars.

Suits me - patience for the New Car snapped and anyway think the dogs are great.

Edited August 15, 2020 by mdavies

[NedaSay]

3 hours ago, Nathan Pitman said:

55k-70k: Base spec, 4 pot, 2+0 with removable/retractable hood (Elise replacement)

70k-90k: Comfort spec, v6, 2+2 with fixed roof and all mod cons (Evora replacement)

90k-110k: Race spec, v6, 2+0 with fixed roof and all mod cons removed (Exige replacement)

???

This car is/was part of JMG's expansion plan that is the only other thing that Popham took forward. It was supposed to be an Exige replacement strict 2 seater. so smaller than Evora but roomier, so more room for the niceties. Not designed to replace Evora, as it is supposed to soldier on as the other global car of company. The new car would replace the Elise at the entry level potentially with the four cylinder and go beyond the performance level of GT430 at the top end.  That was my understanding of it. the new platform was designed to spawn multiple cars originally, I guess the model will have to serve that function until all the EV come around.

[yeller77]

4 hours ago, webfoot said:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/how-lotus-ceo-phil-popham-shaping-firms-future

Interesting in its absence is any reference whatsoever of the "Lotus SUV" which appeared to have momentum at one point and now appears to have ingloriously died on the vine. All the while, and conspicuously attached to the above article, the DBX is released to fairly uniformly enthusiastic reviews, most claiming it the best performing and handling SUV yet. Pity Matt Becker couldn't have been kept at home to allow him to work his magic to a Lotus product rather than doing so on what many are saying could/should be Aston's salvation. 🤔

[Stubox]

1 hour ago, yeller77 said:

 Pity Matt Becker couldn't have been kept at home to allow him to work his magic to a Lotus product rather than doing so on what many are saying could/should be Aston's salvation. 🤔

Er..... Gavan Kershaw...🤔

[NedaSay]

Yeah there's very little love or consideration given to Gavan Kershaw, I understand the lineage behind the Love for Matt and Roger Becker. But Kershaw joined the company at that same time and he is still here knocking the dynamics of the Lotus cars out of the ballpark...

[Bibs]

Gavan is incredibly knowledgeable and a thoroughly decent guy too. Hell of a racer as well, best driver I've ever been in a car with

[yeller77]

No disagreement about Gavan. All other points apparently missed. Sorry. Oh well.

20 hours ago, Stubox said:

Er..... Gavan Kershaw...🤔

 

[geartox]

Any news regarding the new Lotus car model ? Volvo engine ? 4, 6, 8 cylinders ? release date ? It seems that the dealership network will change drastically with the new strategy. This is the feedback I got in France without more details.

 

 

[Bibs]

From the article in Autocar...

Quote

Popham says there will be versions of Lotus’s new car that can fit all of the company’s existing price ranges, depending on specification, starting at today’s £55,000 and reaching £110,000 for the best-equipped and fastest. Existing models will be phased out in the medium term but will overlap “for a while” as Lotus monitors and shapes demand for the new car. It’s not yet clear whether a four-cylinder version will be offered, but Lotus looks certain to use the Toyota-sourced, Hethel-supercharged 3.5-litre V6, presently good for up to 430bhp, from current models. Popham says Geely’s willingness to allow Lotus to use rival group engines is “surprising” but very welcome.

 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

We knew a while back that it would be a V6, but I think the market will be a bit underwhelmed if Lotus sticks to the old “Toyota Camry” unit for the next generation of cars. I would have preferred a Geeley Group in-house engine and gearbox. Now that we are told it will be the Toyota V6, are we safe in assuming another transverse layout? Again, I hope not. Otherwise it will probably just be regarded as a re-body of the already long-in-the-tooth existing products.

[geartox]

I hope that Lotus will always consider their old/legacy customers with their old Toyota engines (4 or 6 cylinders). 🙂

My experience with the Lotus service network in France is not really "outstanding". It's complicated, more than I expected, to find qualified technical guys. 

So my concern is what will happen with the new Lotus strategy 🤔 

 

[C8RKH]

Is not the issue in France the "volume" of cars sold and numbers of owners in that it is very small so how will/can the dealers / independents survive?  It's an issue even in the UK with some dealers probably struggling to sell 1 new car a month!