I hope this is some kind of joke.Lotus has always adhered to founder Colin Chapman’s mantra of ‘lightweight and simple’, but the British sports car maker will diverge from that ethos as parent company Proton looks to make the automaker more profitable.
According to Autocar, Lotus is in the process of changing its slogan from ‘lightweight and simple’ to “Tomorrow’s luxury sports car, today”. What that means is a radical shift from cars like the Elise to up-scale models that can compete with Aston Martin and Ferrari.
Under Proton’s new scheme, Lotus vehicles will jump from their reasonable pricing structure of to today to a starting price of about $120,000. Proton will justify that price by cramming future Lotus vehicles with the latest in-car technology, including a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, active aero packages, continuously variable dampers and alternative fuel options such as hybrids and electric range extenders.
Despite that hefty price increase, the plan calls for Lotus to up its annual sales from about 2,000 units to 8,000 units. Part of that gain will be made from expanding Lotus’ global footprint from 30 countries to 55.
Although the plan will move Lotus significantly up-scale, there are also plans for cheaper niche cars. A rival for Aston Martin’s Cygnet city car is said to be in the works, based on Proton’s EMAS concept. Like the Cygnet’s close relationship with the Toyota iQ, Lotus’ city car will close mirror Proton’s version – including underhood – but the Lotus version will sport unique interior and exterior styling.
FFFUUUU- Lotus next in line to be ruined by trends & gadgets
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FFFUUUU- Lotus next in line to be ruined by trends & gadgets
http://www.leftlanenews.com/lotus-ditch ... antra.html
1986 Mazda RX-7 sport - slowly returning to the Earth
1986 Mazda RX-7 base - Project car, ???, In pieces, turbo parts around.
1986 Mazda RX-7 base - Project car, ???, In pieces, turbo parts around.
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- Master Standardshifter
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Re: FFFUUUU- Lotus next in line to be ruined by trends & gadgets
This is like going to Colin Chapman's grave and taking a huge diarrhea-y dump on it and spitting on it after for good measure. Oh and puking up last nights Taco Bell on it before leaving.
- beowulf80
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Re: FFFUUUU- Lotus next in line to be ruined by trends & gadgets
NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
- FDSpirit
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Re: FFFUUUU- Lotus next in line to be ruined by trends & gadgets
^ I second this. Is the car gonna gain about 2500lbs as well?
2000 Honda Civic Si- Slightly faster than your grandmomma's grocery getter......slightly.
- Tups
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Re: FFFUUUU- Lotus next in line to be ruined by trends & gadgets
Additions to the shopping list: Reduction gear, generator and a shovel. Someone will be spinning in his grave, so why not extract some power...
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1982 Ford Escort Mk3
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Re: FFFUUUU- Lotus next in line to be ruined by trends & gadgets
Tups wrote:Additions to the shopping list: Reduction gear, generator and a shovel. Someone will be spinning in his grave, so why not extract some power...
Maybe they can make all the new Lotuses hybrids that run off the power generated by Colin Chapman's spinning corpse . Maybe they can even use the drivetrain from the Prius, like how the newer Elise uses a Toyota 4-cylinder .
This is the direction cars have been going in for a long while. And I haven't liked it, bloat and gadgetry don't make a good car. I won't be buying anything new anytime soon .
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Re: FFFUUUU- Lotus next in line to be ruined by trends & gadgets
Uhhh, April isn't for another 6 months... this was published a liiiiiitle too early...