Lotus the future

[Donels]

See attached presentation for where Lotus is going for the future. The first 5 minutes is in Chinese with subtitles then it’s all English.

https://drivingtomorrow.lotuscars.com/en/?contextKey=en

Dave

[HCA]

Well discovered Dave! Thanks!

Having managed to retire out of endless away-days listening to endless BS corporate videos, I just could not go all the way to the end of this one! I have often asked why CEOs with zero charisma insist on presenting hours of self congratulatory footage. These two guys should change their day jobs to be readers of stories to put children to bed!

The video is of course out of date as the Type 131 is now named 'Emira'. I do hope that Lotus will be looking at the customer in the Emira design, but I doubt it. Too much is played on weight, simplification and drivability and yes, this should continue with track cars that can be used as day cars - Elise and Exige, but they lost focus with the Evora and, maybe through cost cutting, left out a few modern tweeks that the majority of Evora customers might have liked and I do believe has been the result of the Evora not hitting the sales it wanted. The Evora should have been a day car that could be used on the track. It should have been the Elan+2 to the Exige in my opinion and given a touch more refinement.

I await with interest to see where the Emira is pitched. If, as is predicted by some, it becomes a replacement for the Exige, then it will lose a huge sales target in the form of us who are getting older, but as we might not be able to afford the Evija will have to look elsewhere.

[mbell]

The Evora should have been a day car that could be used on the track.

Very much agree. Imo the evora is a great car that didn't quite work for a large number of people for a few reasons that could have been addressed.

For me it's just not practical enough for a daily. I need a few more inches for the rear seats too be useable behind a tall driver.

The fact is my +2 is more suitable as a daily than an evora, if you ignore safety/reliability.

I really hope the do a more daily focused car, that isn't a SUV, as at some point I'll have to replace my 20 year old daily and the options available in the us currently really aren't very compelling.

[HCA]

...the options available in the us currently really aren't very compelling.

It is wonderful to compare individual thoughts! For me, you guys have all the options - like a V8 mid engined supercar (the C8..) that is cheaper than an Evora? If I could afford the healthcare cost, I’d be over there in a flash

[mbell]

The are plenty of options here for cheap fast cars.

However I have a very different set of requirements to the average car buyer here! First being must be a manual which takes you down to about 25 car options if looking at new cars.

You basically left with some hot hatches and the odd sports car (gt86). The reality is most of them would probably be good enough if I needed a new car but none of them inspire me enough to seriously consider them over my current car.

Basically I am looking for closest thing to a lotus with enough space to get the kids in the back easily enough for doing the school run.

[HCA]

Yes, I agree that a decent 2+2
Is not easy to find.

The Evora was never a 2+2 - even less so than the Elan +2. The only true 2+2 was the M50 Elite imo, and I doubt that will ever happen again, or at least whilst Geely call the shots.

Geely will, I think, hold Lotus to high performance two seaters and steer you to the sportier Volvo models - especially now they have Lotus joining up with Alpine to make an affordable Evija...

[mbell]

The Evora was never a 2+2 - even less so than the Elan +2. The only true 2+2 was the M50 Elite imo,

Agree. Kind of feel the evora rear seats were a marketing tick box against the 911 rather that designed to be actually useful.

Geely will, I think, hold Lotus to high performance two seaters and steer you to the sportier Volvo models

I'd love a lotus v60!!!! Could be close to perfect daily car.

Sporty volvo didn't exist over here. Everything is automatic and mostly suv. We have xc70 with the current t5 engine/8 speed auto as family car. It's nice car but drive train isn't the best for driving.

Personally I think lotus should have ~5 cars:
- exige equivalent track weapon
- elise equivalent road/track sports car
- espirt equivalent "super" car
- true gt/2+2 everyday usable car
- ejivia hyper car

Then add a few lotus tuned cars around the other geely brands.

[HCA]

Then add a few lotus tuned cars around the other geely brands.

Maybe someone should remind Geely of the past three success histories of Lotus making good cars better... Yes, a Lotus V60 could be a formidle car. Now surely Volvo must want something to put the RS3 and the ST back in their boxes, yes?..

[h20hamelan]

Automation is how you make an engine, not a car.
I appreciate the differences in hand built, and it gives one something to talk about!

[h20hamelan]

oh, and P.S
Lotus, nor Volvo (Gheeleigh) will allow {"Factory") tours!
All our Lotus, and Volvo come from & came from hand built and hand delivered!
AMG engine or not. Hand built, and hand delivered Sir!