Geneva, Lotus and Tun Mahathir.

Since my invitation to meet the then CEO of Lotus Mike Kimberley some years ago, I have not been to the Geneva Show.
I never did meet Mike, although a year or two later we sat a few feet from each other at a conference. We never spoke.
Today, Lotus have a CEO called Jean-Marc Gales. A European with an Auto Executive CV.
This week Lotus Unveiled their updated/new car. An Evora 400.

Jean-Marc has appeared in many online media outlets this week.

CAR asked him the following:

There’s no real link between the Lotus F1 team and the road cars. But how beneficial do you think the F1 connection is?

'I think people can over-estimate the link to motorsport – there is no synergy between the race cars and the road cars.'

I have to agree with him. However, Lotus are certainly well served by the Marketing of their name by F1.
Their cars are at the end of the day 'Sports Cars'.
F1 has a Red Bull team. They make soft drinks, and obviously see some benefit in being associated with successful sport franchises.

Anyway, I saw this video on the Lotus forum and thought I would share it.

You will notice that Jean-Marc pulls the cover back with the Lotus Chairman, Tun Mahathir.
I have briefly met Tun.

And I have contacted him on several occasions about my proposal.
One I am sure he will throw his support behind it.
Success is never guaranteed, however I would be very disapointed and suprised if I let him down.
I believe in the project, and myself.

Lotus Evora sales. Caterham Engineering Centre. My Project.

The last few days have been filled with reports of Group Lotus being sold to Genii, strongly denied by Proton.
Parallel to this there have been articles on the companies car sales.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/259509/

In the UK, Lotus sales are struggling, with just 272 cars registered in the first eight months of 2011, compared with 358 in the same period last year. That’s 24 per cent down in an overall market that’s down six per cent.


Another article by Richard Hammond.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/advice/motoring/latest-news/2011/10/07/lotus-blossoms-with-improved-evora-s-115875-23471292/


This is the new 2012 Lotus Evora S, which the company says has 143 ­improvements. Is it wise to ’fess up to this?
I would imagine that if you had bought one of the earlier cars you’d be pretty miffed that Lotus had found 143 things it felt it had to change for the next version.


These days, a £62,450 sports car has some pretty tough competition.

Finally I read.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/markets/article-23996840-expanding-customer-base-helps-n-brown-fill-its-niche.do

The perfect City trader's car: it's flashy and unreliable...

The first thing you should do when you collect your complimentary Lotus Evora for a stylish weekend away is this: check the train timetable. And pack light, you'll be carrying the luggage home.

At least that's how it was for me. Twice.

It's just bad luck that a nearly new supercar should conk out two weekends running - statistically unlikely, you might say - but no one I asked who knows about cars seemed that surprised. (The first loan was a gift. The second loan an apology for the first. The third will be, I hope, of an entirely different car.)


Lotus is struggling.

Oh well I'm sure they can always get some Engineering work.

Speaking of which, Caterham have opened their car design centre on the Hethel Campus. I mentioned this yesterday in my blog.

I wonder if they will allow non descript OEM's to use their name with abandon in order to get work?

http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/new_team_lotus_firm_to_create_sports_car_line_1_1086044

Caterham are opening a Technical area in the Hethel Engineering Centre!
I wonder where they think they will get their engineering staff from!
Here is a portion of the article:

“The new shareholders are committed to investing in an exciting range of global products over the next 10 years,” he added.
The new firm will also work for external automotive and aerospace companies.
The company’s new sports cars will be inspired by what it describes at the “lightweight, minimalist philosophy” of Caterham’s famous cult sports car the Seven. It will draw on the technology and materials of the group’s Team Lotus Formula One and Caterham Team AirAsia GP2 motorsport operations.
Mr Shute. who will be head of road cars, said creating the next iconic Caterham was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
“The core principles and ambitions of CTI have enabled us to attract some of the brightest and most respected talents in their fields.”
Caterham Cars’ chief executive, Ansar Ali, said: “To meet the challenge, we knew we needed to invest in a new operation that would have the scope, experience and vision to deliver.”

One of the campuses for my proposal is the Hethel Engineering Centre. So it would mean that Group Lotus Engineering Plus Caterham Engineering and a UNI would all inhabit the same geographical space!

Isn't life grand!

Lotus to unveil a new E(vo)ra in Paris? Mahindra have been to Lotus Indonesian HQ?

I see Lotus Media are teasing people with their proposed new "New Era" at the Paris Motorshow.
Traditionally, Lotus cars start with an E. If it is to be a bona fide launch it may well be a convertible version of the Evora.
I have to assume the convertible was designed in parallel with the hardtop.
Lets see what transpires...
Maybe Dany Bahar will announce a total commitment to revolutionising the brand and bringing it to the forefront of motorsport education across the globe!

Motorsport University Malaysia

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Bernama have just reported:  Proton Hopes To Transform Group Lotus Within Five Years
Proton's group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said one of the main strategies under the five-year plan was entering into a premium sports car segment alongside Porsche and Ferrari.

Sadly no mention of Global Education leader leveraging it's hardware and software capabilities to touch students and future customers world wide, whilst making a positive contribution to the world.
A noble and economically viable plan!..
These guys need to hire me!




Recent reports on Mahindra and Mahindra refer to a visit to the Lotus/Proton manufacturing facility in Indonesia??
I have think that people are copying an incorrect article.
Certainly, in the case of Lotus I am sure they only assemble in the UK. They do have a global "Engineering" presence.