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.
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?
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...
