Future of Lotus

[Nathan Pitman 181]

I agree the back looks horrendous. It does however show how you could take the Evora, swap all the panels out, tweak the interior and engine and call it a new model (McLaren style). 

[C8RKH 5,696]

2 hours ago, Nathan Pitman said:

What’s the usual development time for a sports car leveraging an existing chassis? Feels like it’s been a loooooong time we’ve been waiting for a sniff of something, anything (vaguely affordable). 

I think we are all frustrated with the timescales and lack of information. My personal frustration with Popham et al is running fairly high.. At least Bahahahahaha actually got some designs and demo's out for crying out loudly like a crying baby.

[Jason is Chasing 62]

I have to wonder here, after recently driving a GT (Hi my name is Jason, If I'm out of bounds, please don't hesitate to send me packing)

I had some very distinct impressions that were quite lasting, firstly being here in the United States the average person didn't know what the vehicle was, which I can understand given it's a Petrolhead brand truly, but the attention it received was not something I was prepared for coming out of my 4C.

Secondly, had I not been looking for something that could create 'with' me a Driving experience I would have not looked towards Lotus myself, and I do wonder how many people would understand that they would feel like Absolute Legends behind the wheel of a Lotus.  

Thirdly, It had been wildly misstated and abused in much of the Motoring Press, and unfairly so; having not been a Lotus Owner myself it's impossible to speak to some of the Dealer/Manufacturer neglect tales I've read.

I seen reference to the C8, a little earlier in this thread, and I think that's a highly valid point, here in California, they're touching the price of the Evora GT but I think it's well known that the C8 was built with very little immediate profit margin in mind.  I haven't tested one yet, but I'm scheduled to, so I'll be curious as a former Vette apostle what will come from it.

In that, I'm quite curious about what I'm watching being referenced as "gamma", and putting me behind the wheel of the GT, I was absolutely sold on the driving experience, it was absolutely Brilliant.  It's unclear to me at this point if I should wait, or if I should pull the trigger on a GT (Bird in hand), I suspect whatever is coming would be pretty groundbreaking if it's built with the same sense of purpose Lotus obviously builds each vehicle with. 

I do however wonder what an actual release would look like, how difficult would one be to get in the US, when an official release date will come, truly it looks like they've created a convert in which they can only give one form of Communion, I'm not in a position where I would switch cars, every six months, I do hope they release something soon (Thats how I ended up here, looking for information :p).  

Have you guys seen any actual date on when or if it will make the US Market?  I'm starting to wonder if they're going to build the Space Shuttle with the rumors, 

 

Sorry for rambling on, I have a tendency to talk!  

On 12/06/2020 at 10:16, Bravo73 said:

 

Oh, dear. That is horrible. 
 

All that proves is that AutoExpress should leave car designing to the professionals. 

God I hope that's not it, it would be a disservice to the Brand indeed. 

[scotty435 885]

Sorry for the McLaren pic, a reliable source as said expect a exhaust similar to this on the next model.

[C8RKH 5,696]

So no boot then at the back. interesting. I do like that back end there, but then I did and still do like the original MP4 back end (well, all of it really)

[Jason is Chasing 62]

McLaren I believe knocked it out of the Park with styling (I haven't driven one), I was wondering if Lotus would follow suit or if they intended to recreate the Exige, or rebrand using the Elan.

 

I hope it's a proper manual transmission

Edited June 26 by Bibs

[au-yt 423]

 On the Future of LOTUS I’d like to see the availability of post purchase and have fitted factory approved options.
What I mean is things like carbon options, shocks Etc fitted by dealers and recorded against the cars official history. It would mean that mods become official., I know of no manufacturer who does this.  Yes it would be expensive but in the long term mean “officially” being able to update cars.

[C8RKH 5,696]

Isn't this what McLaren does in a way? For instance when you look at the original MP4 cars when future enhancements and upgrades came out they were available, and indeed often upgraded for free, for the older cars. Also Macca has the factory tuning options where you can add everything from exhausts to carbon bits all through the factory and dealers.

[jep 656]

This was a McLaren USP when they started car production in 2009/10. MP4/12c was circa 580bhp new, as this increased to 616bhp, all previous cars got the upgrade. Soft door closers were added free and various other items at your annual service. Many cars also seem to get upgraded info-tainment systems as the early ones were (so journo's said) not very good. Not sure if you had to pay for that, as some are advertised with the original system. 

I don't know if the 720S and newer models get similar FOC upgrades. It certainly made business sense for a new car company to improve a debut model to all vehicles as issues arose in service. 

Justin

[LotusLeftLotusRight 1,032]

During the 1980s Victor Gauntlet era at Aston Martin, dealers would basically bring your car back to new condition as part of the service. Dings, paintwork, wheels, under bonnet, you name it. I guess servicing wasn’t cheap, but the owners expected it. A sort of annual factory-backed detailing service, 25 years before detailing really became a thing.

[C8RKH 5,696]

Those would be the days when Dealers actually employed time served engineers and craftsmen rather than spotty young "technicians" who had trouble tying their shoelaces without their parent assistance, yet alone trying to sort out and tune carburettors? 

Or when people could actually afford the cars they owned and where not spending half their take home on financing a dream, so they could actually afford to look after the car properly?

My experience of some Dealers (some, not all, as obviously there are very good and good Dealers out there too), particularly the mainstream ones, is that they employ the cheapest, least experienced kids they can get away with. They often do the bare minimum on the service (and not what they should be doing) and aftercare is something they only know exists as they saw the word on a bottle of their wives hand lotion! The Accountant is king!

[ChrisJ 1,370]

O/T Nothing to do with the future of Lotus, but a follow on to Andy's post.

Will be discovering what a Mazda dealer is like for servicing in a couple of weeks, but my local Peugeot Dealers service department are a disgrace.

Car in for a service. Called an hour or so later -

• them: you have 4% (or similar) water in your brake fluid, it needs replacing
• me : how much
• them: £30 or so,
• me: OK, do it,
• them: plus your tyres are down to x mm (can't remember the exact figure), we recommend x brand (insert a Chinese ditch finder brand of your choosing) at £90 a corner. 
• me: looking up the brand on black circles, £20-30 each. I said, hold on, what tyres are on the car right now?
• them: I don't know
• me: go and look.
• them (5 minutes later) Goodyear
• me: so a reputable make, why on earth would you offer me cheap as shit tyres at a huge mark up (OK I know why) instead of replacement tyres of a similar standard, like Goodyear, or even as you are a Peugeot Dealer, maybe Michelin as that is the recommended tyre (and also were about £90 a corner). No I don't want your shitty tyres I'll sort it out myself (I really lost it with him)

When I was offered the customer survey (I normally refuse as they want a 10 and they are never worth a 10), they got a 2 or a 3. I was phoned by Peugeot Head Office, the Service Manager, Dealer Principal etc. I think the dealer got a it of hassle for that.

But wait, it gets better....

About 3-4 weeks later, I had a problem with the car. Took it back in

An hour after got the phone call (same bloke)

• them: you have 4% (or similar) water in your brake fluid, it needs replacing
• me: Hold on a minute, have you looked at the service history, you told me the same 3-4 weeks ago, Now either you didn't do the brake fluid change, there's a bigger problem with the braking system which you should have highlighted, or you tell this to every single person. It went downhill after that.
•  

They got another 3 or 4 on the survey, more phone calls, the guy refused to deal with me the following visit.

I no longer own any Peugeots.

 

 

[jep 656]

The Aston Martin business model (pre-Ford) was very Stella Artois: Reassuringly expensive. Owners seemed to relish getting big bills for servicing. No repairs or upgrades were free. 

I find the whole Aston Martin 'thing' rather amusing and the recent share price collapse from £19 to bankruptcy in under 2 years somewhat sums up the 'smoke and mirrors' business it has long been. 

Long live Lotus! Or to be up to date, Lotus Cars Matter. 

Justin 

[NedaSay 809]

The Aston Martin business model of former CEO Andy Palmer, did remind me of DB's plan, a product blitzkrieg funded by a loan with low interest and a market floatation. It could have worked, had the market stayed up and confidence stayed high, but the product planning and expenditure looked pharaonic. The market induction was poorly timed and Palmer should have known that from that moment on that he was on borrowed time, the guy planned a brand new factory, a new V12 and a V6, an SUV, 3 mid engined hypercars & supercars, relaunching Lagonda and propping RedBull to the tune of 20m USD per season for the past 4 years... 

I actually like the fact that Lotus is keeping it all secrets for as long as they can. it may be too slow and not proactive enough but better slow  than too soon, too fast and poorly executed...

[NedaSay 809]

on an unrelated not how about that for a last ICE motorsport hurrah.

https://www.carscoops.com/2020/06/lotus-ultimate-track-car-concept-is-all-about-aerodynamics/

 

Edited June 27 by NedaSay

[au-yt 423]

Cannot say I am a fan of all of the design.

https://www.carscoops.com/2020/06/lotus-ultimate-track-car-concept-is-all-about-aerodynamics/#lg=1&slide=6

[NedaSay 809]

One thing us for sure the future will not be presented at Geneva 2021: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53216329

[Bibs 10,526]

Next time you buy some parts, here are the posh new boxes they'll come in! You can't see them here but they'll also have nice new 'genuine parts' holograms on them too. 

[Mark Blanchard 1,544]

I recon that concept looks cool.  Nice lines and aggressive.  Looks the business.

[stephenwhyte 1,778]

Jeez - if the next Lotus could possibly look anything like this......I’m in!....I’d take it in Fire Red please....although plain red would sit nice alongside the Turbo - one can but dream!

[Jason is Chasing 62]

2 hours ago, stephenwhyte said:

Jeez - if the next Lotus could possibly look anything like this......I’m in!....I’d take it in Fire Red please....although plain red would sit nice alongside the Turbo - one can but dream!

 

I'm quite sure many wouldn't appreciate that, but I definitely do, that's artwork a beautiful display in my opinion.  God I hope it's something like this, in manual transmission.  

[Choppa 204]

Q would be able to modify those exhaust pipes to fire mortars at chasing baddies with ease. My worry would be what happens when its parked and they get full of rain water.

 

[Jason is Chasing 62]

Okay that's hilarious!  Asking for a friend right?  

 

[Choppa 204]

Q = character who makes all the gadgets  in the Bond movies

 

[C8RKH 5,696]

Okay, that really is hilarious.

About the exhausts, well, it doesn't do the Macca Senna any harm...