The New Lotus

Your brother is a good writer, and, unfortunately, I agree with him. He is saying in clear and eloquent English what a lot of us are thinking but don't want to admit.

I want to play devil's advocate and stand up for my favorite car company here, pointing out that Chapman took the brand "upmarket" and built heavier cars 35 years ago (Elite/Eclat/Esprit), but the truth is that when Chapman did it, he still stuck to his lightness principles -- the first Esprits were a full 800 lbs (give or take) lighter than the similarly-dimensioned Ferrari 308 . . .

The part at the end -- about how Lotus was/is so perfectly poised to take advantage of the industry's turn toward smaller/lighter/more efficient but instead are blowing it and going the opposite direction -- is something I thought of, too. I fear that your brother's words will become prophecy.

But I don't want to start getting all stodgy like some of the (old) Lotus traditionalists; I accept that the company has to change with the times in order to survive and thrive. I just question whether the course they are taking is the right one.

- TK

 

The industry may be turning towards "lighter and more efficient"; however, it's the "smaller" parameter that has not been (of late) a tremendous sales success for Lotus Cars Ltd. This (smaller sports cars) is a very narrow market; as the Lotus sales numbers have proven. They need to move on to products (light and efficient) that more people actually want to put in their garages.

 

Ugh. Combining the worst of Lamborghini, Ferrari, Fisker and the Mazda RX8 while integrating none of what make Lotus stand out is indeed no great recipe. I feel sorry for whoever have to live with making this car a part of the Lotus legacy.

Making great looking cars is not a jigsaw puzzle, although somebody might want to float that theory to whoever is in charge of this garbage.

I apologize for a negative first post

 

Lotus cars used to be unique and individualistic in design. When you saw one on the street you knew immediately what it was. The new offerings look like a hodge-podge of borrowed design ques from everywhere else, imho.
Looks like the 2-11 was my last "new" Lotus purchase. I'll stick with the classics.

Dissapointed Lotus owner.

 

Saw this today, and thought it would add to the conversation.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/253233/



For the record, I like Lotus because they kept to the formula.
Small, light, no B.S.

That seems to have changed, and it is not for the better.
I never thought I would see the day when a Lambo would weigh less than a Lotus.

 

Which Lamborghini weighs less than these upcoming new Lotus cars ?

 

The new LP 570-4 Superleggera weighs less than the Evora.
That is not right.

It the LP570-4 weighs less than an Evora, I am willing to bet it weighs less then the new Elite also.

How? Carbon Fibre, and the desire to be light.
Lotus seems to have lost that.

I can not recall ever having seen a Lotus with an automatic trans, and yet five new models are released, and only ONE of them has a manuel as an option?!?

What the hell is going on here?

 

Unfortunately (and, I don't like it either)....... that seems to be the way all manufacturers are headed. The replacement for the Murci is scheduled to be manufactured ONLY in eGear; no more manual transmissions. So, I guess Lotus is going down the same path as Ferrari and Lamborghini; i.e. no manuals whatsoever, in future models.

 

Lotus offered an automatic in the Elite in the 1970s, possibly the Eclat, too. And in the Excel in the 1980s ("Excel SA" was the model). A four-seat, auto trans Lotus is nothing new -- it's just been a while!

 

Good call on those models, but I can count the number of pre-85 Lotus' I have seen on one hand.

Thats not just this year, that is my whole life.

I have honestly never seen an automatic Lotus.

 

I've waited for the new Esprit for years now. Unfortunately they did the same thing that McLaren MP12-4C did....

"Looks aren't important. We wanted to keep it under-stated"

Sorry guys, but for the money, I'm looking for some "art" in my next exotic car.

 

Well..Proton got involved in this...

 

ill be honestly suprised if these cars actually make it to market. I know the dealerships as a whole are struggling. I know of a few dealers who haven't even had one pre order on an Evora...

 

Don't you think that, maybe, this is because Lotus' current product line is really not wanted by the MAJORITY of the car buying public? Sure, the 'track oriented people' scooped up the little 'go cart style' cars (they currently manufacture) at the inception of production ...... but, they've run out of customers now. Time to go more mainstream, if they are to survive. JMHO.
(P.S. Most people that I know don't find the Evora a particularly handsome a sports car; maybe that's affecting sales.)

 

Most people I know Love the look of the Evora but there's a few things hurting Lotus sales.

1. The same thing that's hurting sales for ALL manufacturers, the economy
2. Lotus hasn't had a lease program and when they finally came out with one, it's nowhere near competitive.
3. There's no automatic for the 1st model year Evora

Say what you will but Porsche, Lambo, Ferrari etc. sell more automatics than they do sticks. Heck, Some dealers won't even order stick for inventory unless there's a specific order for one and now some of those manufacturers are deleting sticks from certain models.

 

I see your 3rd point and it is valid. Most people are wanting a dual clutch... however, I would tend to think that people who are geniunely interested in a lotus... which typically has bare aluminum floors and is awkward to get into... im pretty sure those clients would prefer the 3 pedal set up... But im sure there are some who wouldn't mind the F1 or PDK style set up. Im just saying... at the end of the day if you are interested in the lotus its typically because you want the manual feel every sensation steering, the light weight, the sparse only what is nessicary interior... the "added lightness" you know... the usual sales pitch and brand identity lotus has had.

Personally where I think lotus has lost there sales is in the engine compartment. People do not want there sports car to be powered by a celica or a camry. If they were borrowing AMG engines, or M engines or porsche engines or more importantly had an engine of there own... I think they would be far more successful. Its hard to take a car manufacture as a serious candidate when you don't have any/many of the US saftey standard equipment and you get by on a limited production pass from the government... you have bare aluminum chassis in your interior, manual steering in some of your models (which I see as a plus) not much in the way of techno-wizzard-ry, awkward ingress and egress, rough rides, poor interior materials as well as ergonomics. Non adjustable seats except the driver seat moves fore and aft... a terrible stereo, a bad track record for reliability even though you based your car on a reliable car... horrid A/C... and on and on and on...

lets face it... they build a toy. Not a piece of transportation. Maybe its good that these new models are coming. I would say that a majority of the people are looking for both in one car... which is why i feel the 911 has been so successful. After all who doesn't want to take there toy with them everywhere???

I loved my elise... but no one else did... I think it takes a different breed to really like the old lotus. I also think its a dying breed... or a breed with thinning to few numbers. After all, Lotus has been selling the elise for almost 14 years I think... there are plenty of used ones on the market that are 20k less than a new one.

Now don't think that in the near future I won't buy an exiege S.... I love that car and when the garage frees up/ gets larger... you will find one in my garage.

but here is hoping that lotus goes more mainstream and gets the clients and revenue they need to stick around. Besides, you know they are always down for making a unique track day special for the rest of us...

 

Technom3,
People should try to remember that Lotus did build 'non-sparse cars' for a span of over 25 years when they were producing the Esprit, Elite, Eclat (1977-2003). So, they haven't always produced the small bare-bones "toys". But....I think the general public, as you inferred, thinks of them as a track-toy car builder.

 

I agree... but how many people have ever even seen an Eclat. I have seen one... When I saw it people would have thought I found the crown jewels LOL... Also, the 2nd elite which I assume you are reffering to... was in my opinion hit with a massive ugly stick and again... find someone who has seen one in person...

The Espirt was a cool car... but they were extremely quirky. The saving grace was that they had there own engine. I think the engine is the heart of the car for many and it had honest roots. I think the Espirt was a great car and still have my heart seat on a green special edition, a chrome orange car... or a first year dark blue twin turbo V8 with the ivory interior... just like the first one i fell in love with in either road and track or motor trend...

 

Technom3,
This 'old geezer' has driven all of those dinosaurs, lol. I've owned 3 Esprits in the past (1977,1986,1990SE). I can't wait to actually try the new Esprit 'R' version; if it turns me on...... I'm in again !

 

ohh for sure!

I love the lotus brand and personally I think the italians and the brits make the cars that make my heart actually beat... they make my heart beat fast when I see them, drive them etc... and most especially when they break! LOL. Every trip is something special you are either shocked how fast you went and how great it felt or you are shocked you actually made it. bottom line never a dull moment and full of character.