Automatic and topless... Way to go!

Today, I see that the Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales announced a new open top Evora is in the works. He said that for the first time in many years Lotus will be profitable!
This taken from Autocar,
On Lotus’s finances, Gales said: “We will be cashflow-profitable in this financial year and profitable in the financial year beginning 1 April 2016 for the first time in 60 years.”

This is a pic I borrowed from a comment on Pistonheads in July 2012, by a person using the name Hedgerley.

I have to say, I think it looks really good. Sadly, my opinion on styling aesthetics do not carry much weight.
Apparently, this was ready for sign off under previous CEO Dany Bahar.

Years ago, I remember seeing a TV programme called (I believe) Nuts and Bolts. The programme was talking about the demise of the British car industry. I remember a Union guy saying that the then Rover group had sent one of its sport car models stateside with a six gear manual box and a hardtop. Apparently, it didn't sell...

Having lived in the USA, I can tell you that selling a manual car to the average man in the street is very difficult. Most people have never driven a manual. Selling a sports car with a hard top is possible. IMO selling a car that is a soft top/T top with an Automatic box is a potential winner.

In my younger days, I had a metallic gold Trans Am with black T-tops. In the Detroit area the speed limit was 55mph. The roads were in a grid system. So even though it was a waste of time owning a sports car from a performance point of view, it was great in the Summer for slowly posing about town. Nothing wrong with that. Salesmen are generally quite happy to sell cars to posers!

I hear a lot of people asking in Forums, but what would Colin Chapman do? As I don't pretend to be a psychic I don't know. However, if he followed the six gear/hard top philosophy I would have to say it would be a disaster from a USA sales perspective.

Remember, Colin was happy for anyone to buy a Lotus in a Kit form, and build them anyway they deemed fit anywhere in the world. Why??... I assume, being a pragmatic businessman he thought he could sell more! Caterham and Westfield do the same to this very day.

I'm very happy to see Lotus are producing an Automatic/Soft top version of the Evora. I'm sure they won't stop making the hardtop/manual for those who want one.

Good luck with it!

Happy Birthday Proton and its Chairman, plus a few idle thoughts...

I see in the Malaysian press that the Prime minister has congratulated Proton on its 30 year birthday. The Company (Proton) Chairman has his 90th birthday tomorrow (Friday 10 July 2015).
Presently, the Proton chairman and the present Malaysian PM are at loggerheads, and making lots of headlines in their very open spat.
I am hoping the issue can be resolved soon. Rather selfishly, I'd like the Chairman to put some of his energy into getting my project approved, and possibly help with funding!
I nearly always put a picture with my posts...
So I thought I'd add my ECDL cert...(no relevance to the post).

 

Just a couple of idle thoughts to finish.

Lotus F1 team are having financial problems. Rumours are that it is for sale.

 It would be a lovely fit with my educational proposal.

https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2015/07/08/lotus/

I also saw on facebook a link to an old article saying the Nurburgring was for sale.

Again this circuit would work with project!

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1083059_its-official-the-nrburgring-is-for-sale



As I said, just a couple of idle thoughts!

My friend and sometimes mentor has lost her Mum (passed away)

I sometimes add a bit of personal stuff to this blog. My road to getting approval and finance for this project (MUM) has led me to Malaysia on many occasions.
I stayed in Red Palm. Sofie pictured her with me and Tilo used to run the guest house.

She is a really nice and helpful person. Her Mum died today.
Sofie invited me to her Mums house local to KL for a Raya meal some years ago. Her Mum was lovely.
Sofie is originally from Alor Star, but was educated in Penang and lives in KL.
I offer her my heartfelt condolences.

Exora based Lotus SUV?

I see Lotus are to produce an SUV.
They will use the Proton parts bin. Picture borrowed from Paul Tan.

I have to assume it will be lighter and faster than the Porsche…

Porsche uses a combination of steels and aluminium. Pic borrowed from Topspeed.com
I suppose Lotus could do the same, perhaps adding some carbon.
Zenos, a new car Company based beside Lotus Hethel and run by ex Lotus employees has recently built a new car.
It gets good reviews and uses ‘cheap’ carbon.

Here is a portion of a review. www.motoringresearch.com
It’s made from an extruded aluminium central spine, to which front and rear subframes are bolted. A carbon fibre composite cockpit is fixed to this: if it sounds familiar, it’s because it’s similar to how the original Lotus Elan was made. That used fiberglass though – Zenos’s recycled carbon fibre (with thermoplastic honeycomb core) is a brand new material that’s light, affordable and still seven-tenths as strong as F1-grade carbon fibre. Ingenious.

The Exora has been set up as a hybrid and an electric vehicle as a running prototype. Lotus have obviously produced the Evora in hybrid form.
http://www.lotuscars.com/engineering/evora-414e-hybrid
So a light hybrid version of a Evora based SUV would not mean entering into the unknown.
Engine wise Proton have the Campro, which is in production, and has a turbo charged version. It doesn’t get glowing reports though.
Alternatively, Proton own the (Petronas) E01e which has been in development for about 15 years and has never been productionised.

Proton paid RM63 million (about £11million) for this in 2012.
I assume it was bought with a view to put it to some use?

Police only doing as they are told... I'm sure Dr. Mahathir was quietly amused (bemused)

If you read my blog/webpage you will know I have met some of Proton's management, past and present.
Proton being a Malaysian car company. They own Lotus (Hethel).
I have briefly met Dr. Mahathir. Now Chairman of Lotus and Proton.

I presented at ASLI with his Son (a former Lotus board member) and Tengku Mahaleel (former CEO of Lotus).

Before we went on both gentlemen let me know they would not appreciate it if I publicly embarassed them in any way... Keeping face in Asia is a big deal it would seem.
So I am not suprised to see this video appearing on youtube. Obviously, a VVIP was apprehensive about being publicly humiliated and took appropriate action.
The Police are only following orders.

I remember in my younger days having contact with the Police in America. I was arrested several (3)times for drink driving. The Police did what the Police do. End of.
The last time, I had an argument at the bar with a Man who was rude to the bar staff (gave him the wrong brand of beer). The person I argued with felt it necessary to call the Police after I left, apparently he got a pay rise from 'our' company for this.
I got what I deserved, a ban, a fine, lost my house for six months, and had a black mark against my name...  Fair enough.

In Dr. Mahathirs case I imagine he was escorted home/elsewhere. No harm done...

Corporate help from a Punk

I have a visitor due to visit me in July.
Tilo and his wife Curtney are friends I met in Malaysia. I attended their wedding.

Tilo helped me produce a video (along with Herry - Thanks Herry) for my ASLI presentation.

He also helped me with some of my promotional material and co-ordinated and Uploaded to Amazon the Charity book.

 Apart from my Slideshare presentation, he never asked for any monetary renumeration.

Check out his work here: www.samasama.de

The video I used at ASLI is no longer available. However, Tilo and his group are reforming, so I thought I would give him and his band some free publicity!
His Mum told me they (fifty50) were the best Punk band in Leipzig!
Judge for yourself!

I am still hopeful that I can get support from more corporate type resources for my project sooner rather than later!

Until then Anarchy rules... I suppose?

Video of a sports based University

This is a promo for a Football based Uni. It is based around a Football ground.
My proposal is essentially the same.
Obviously, with Motorsports Engineering/CAD/CAE  would be added to the mix.

I see this project has the support of some high level repected people. I'm hoping that people of similar ilk throw their weight behind my proposal.