What is a Lotus?

Danny Behar is clearly taking Lotus in a new direction. The cars on display in Paris appear to be derivative and lacking in individuality. Lotus used to stand for something. The brand wasn't for everyone, but you knew a Lotus when you saw it on the street and you knew what the product advantages (and disadvantages) were. It seems that Behar's strategy is to move upmarket by copying others rather than by establishing a new, fresh perspective on what a supercar should be. We don't need another Ferrari or Lamborghini, do we?

Recent articles about the possible dumbing down of Porsche under VW make me believe we are about to see a couple of legendary brands become shadows of their former selves or die altogether. I don't believe Lotus will thrive trying to be like others, but they may surprise me, just as Porsche may double in volume under VW; but the end result may be that these legendary brands will lose their identities and become trim packages or badge engineered appliances. Is a Lotus SUV lurking on the sidelines?

I am glad to see Proton funding new product development, but it begs the question, why now? Is the company being positioned for sale, are they being pressured by investors to build cars the stockholders want to buy, or is the quest for profits more important than the brand itself?

Danny Behar's experiment may just end up as a case study on how to destroy a brand.

 

I agree. I'm not particularly impressed with this new lineup, although I am impressed that a specialty manufacturer can release five new models at once

I think you are correct, they are positioning Lotus for a sale, but to whom?

 

I agree that they are all very similar with a common styling theme, but I have been very impressed with the lineup. I don't think that building all five will be possible, but it definitely provides a strong road map for the brand.

 

I'll admit I haven't paid particularly close attention here, but are all 5 cars just concept cars? or will some def. be built and others are just "testing the waters"?

 

As long as it's under 1500lbs with a full tank, it fits my criteria!

 

Personally, I think it's about time they finally changed...13+ years of being unprofitable and something had to give. If nothing else, at least it has people talking about Lotus once again, good, bad or indifferent, people are talking.

 

Random Lotus question... Why does every car's name start with an "E"???

 

Because after using numbers (think of the famous "Seven"), when Chapman got to "eleven", he liked the way it rolled off the tongue. So from then on, Lotus road cars got names starting with E. That's all.

Eleven
Elite
Elan
Europa
Esprit
Elite (again)
Eclat
Excel
Elan (again)
Elise
Etc. . . .

 

Still to come:
Lotus Explorer
Lotus Econoline
Lotus Edge
Lotus Expedition

 

For me a Lotus is a car that is over the top fun to drive and easy to own. The formula of using a "mass produced" (hard to use this term for the LFA powerplant) motor and ultra light weight chassis was and should continue to be a home run. Everyone loves to drive a sports car, few are willing to pull the engine and transaxle every three years to do it. These are good looking concepts and I'll look forward to seeing some real figures on weight and chassis compliance.

At the very minimum the Esprit cures the one major Lotus problem. Search YouTube for "LFA brutal exhaust" to find out what the new car should sound like.

 

Thanks for filling in a "trivia hole" that I had wondered about as well - just like when
someone here posted the number scheme for Porsche.



Jedi

 

I don't really like the design of these concept cars... too generic, too Japanese. A lot of LF-A not only under the hood, but also in the design.

 

These will weigh more than that without the engine.

 

The line up reminds me a bit of Aston, all the models look VERY similar. I understand a brand having its own unique design language, and Astons are gorgeous, but they're close to identical.

These new Loti appear the same way. Maybe it's just the pictures aren't doing them justice, I hope so as a Lotus fan.

Also, don't seem to be as raw and unique as current Elise/Exige. Upmarket = lbs.

 

perhaps testing the waters for a sale to Toyota? they already have numerous "alliances"....

 

You forgot the Lotus Excursion

I love my Exige and wish Lotus can keep making these lightweight race cars for the street for us enthusiasts but the reality is they are not making money if they follow this path. If this change will turn them profitable then I say go for it.

 

This would be great - especially if it allows them to keep building the lightweight cars

In terms of the complete lineup I understand the Elan and Esprit are closest to production (which is great because I want that Elan!!!)

 

There is no mention in the official releases I have found connecting the 4.8L LFA engine to the Esprit despite the rumors. Everything I've been able to decipher has the 5.0 L ISF engine in it with a KERS system to equal approx 620hp. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. This is a big disappointment for me at a 150K + price point.

 

The car is still two years off ..... anything ( LFA ) is possible.

 

Right! That's why these are cars using the "Lotus" name and not the Colin Chapman concept.

 

Yeah, I think Mr. Chapman would have gone this route years ago had he still been alive.

 

Good Lord. I can not keep all these new models straight in my head. There seems to be a tremendous amount of overlap with these new models, both from a styling and functional perspective. I agree with the others that these seem to have lost a lot of their "Lotus-ness". There is nothing bad about any of them, and I think they are attractive enough cars, but you could remove the badges and ask ten people to guess who makes them and you would probably get ten different answers.

I think it helps to see them all listed together. I threw in the current Evora as well. Not sure how it fits into their future plans, but I would assume the new Elan would be replacing the Evora. Credit to LOUTS1 for the specs:

Elise: 2 seats, I-4, 350 BHP, £35-45,000 (??)
Evora: 2+2 seats, V6, 276 BHP, £50,000
Elan: 2 or 2+2 seats, V6, 450 BHP, £70,000
Esprit: 2 seats, V8, 600 BHP, £100,000
Elite: 2+2 seats, V8, 600 BHP, £135,000
Eterne: 4 seats, V8, 600 BHP, £120,000

So preseumably they will have a 4 cylinder lightweight track-oriented car, an entry level V6 2/2+2 to replace the current Evora, a 2 seat V8 mainstream supercar in the Esprit, a 2+2 version of that mainstream supercar in the Elite, and a 4 door to compete with the Rapide/Panamera/Quattroporte.

 

My fear is that the days of Lotus building a 2000lb car are sadly over.

 

That is exactly what Chapman DID DO in the mid-seventies when he went 'up market' with the original Lotus Esprit.

 

So it's safe to assume he'd do it again if he was still here with us