Lotus-developed V6 and V8 on the way for new Esprit?

[Wimbledon]

http://lotusenthusiast.net/2010/12/lotus...nd-v8.html

Lotus Enthusiast Wrote:In response to negative enthusiast reception to Lotus’s plans to fit the new range of Lotus models with Toyota engines, Bahar has acknowledged a new generation of Lotus-engineered powerplants may be on the horizon.


Speaking with Autocar, Bahar conceded, “In the mind of sports-car enthusiasts, Toyota power might not be good enough”.

“We have done three engines for other manufacturers; why not do it ourselves?” he said. “The engine is the heart of a sports car; we should do our own product.”

Lotus is currently conducting a careful study of the financial requirements necessary to build its own V6 and V8 for the new range. If given the green light, a common architecture for both engines will incorporate shared parts and help to reduce costs.

Bahar revealed the final decision will take place sometime near the end of January.

“The decision then will be purely financial,” said Bahar.

[Vman455]

For the market they want to get into, with the cars they're planning on releasing, I think Lotus will have to have its own engine lineup. The current Elise/Exige are already priced too high for being Toyota-powered, IMO, and with all their cars moving upmarket, I don't think that will fly anymore.

[stadt]

I just don't like the styling direction they're going in.

[sonicbob83]

So, it would be a Lotus car with a Lotus engine. Could this be the British car industry trying to make a comeback?

[Wimbledon]

(12-20-2010 07:34 AM)Vman455 Wrote:  For the market they want to get into, with the cars they're planning on releasing, I think Lotus will have to have its own engine lineup. The current Elise/Exige are already priced too high for being Toyota-powered, IMO, and with all their cars moving upmarket, I don't think that will fly anymore.

I have to agree with you regarding Lotus needing its own powerplants for the new, higher-priced cars. To most buyers, in the case of even the relatively lower-priced Evora, the Toyota power is definitely a blot against the car.

Even if the motor may perform adequate and sound fine (as is the case with the Evora's Toyota-sourced V6), buyers at these price levels are looking for the extraordinary. Lotus will certainly deliver the extraordinary in every other aspect of the new cars, so why not the engine as well?

Bahar mentions funding as the main reason holding Lotus back, but if that is the case then why not put one of the model lines on hold and divert that money to bespoke engine development? What will really advance Lotus -- the Eterne sedan or its own line of world-renowned engines? I bet the latter, and I think Bahar is beginning to agree. This is all assuming that the money is even there in the first place to implement the new Lotus grand vision...

All of this said, I do not think the Toyota engines have had much of an effect on the credibility of the Elise. If anything, I'm sure some buyers at the Elise's relatively lower price point find solace in the reliable history and low running costs of their Toyota motors, whilst still retaining all the other characteristics of the Elise that make it such a modern classic.

[bmw_phil]

Lotus is going through an interesting (and very risky) rebranding/revitalization effort right now. Like many small manufacturers, they're feeling the pressure of being an independent and very low volume manufacturer. They've come up with a "get big, quick" plan as their way to survive, but if it fails it could ultimately put them out of business.

They now have Bob Lutz working for them, and I read an interview last week where he said that they had a "60% chance" of success with their plan and that it also had significant risk.

[sonicbob83]

(12-22-2010 04:17 AM)bmw_phil Wrote:  Lotus is going through an interesting (and very risky) rebranding/revitalization effort right now. Like many small manufacturers, they're feeling the pressure of being an independent and very low volume manufacturer. They've come up with a "get big, quick" plan as their way to survive, but if it fails it could ultimately put them out of business.

They now have Bob Lutz working for them, and I read an interview last week where he said that they had a "60% chance" of success with their plan and that it also had significant risk.

So, what you're saying is Lotus could be the new Apple (whom I f*ckin' hate. HTC Desire FTW!)

[Wimbledon]

(12-22-2010 05:39 AM)sonicbob83 Wrote:  

(12-22-2010 04:17 AM)bmw_phil Wrote:  Lotus is going through an interesting (and very risky) rebranding/revitalization effort right now. Like many small manufacturers, they're feeling the pressure of being an independent and very low volume manufacturer. They've come up with a "get big, quick" plan as their way to survive, but if it fails it could ultimately put them out of business.

They now have Bob Lutz working for them, and I read an interview last week where he said that they had a "60% chance" of success with their plan and that it also had significant risk.

So, what you're saying is Lotus could be the new Apple (whom I f*ckin' hate. HTC Desire FTW!)

They're really trying to be the "British Porsche" according to CEO Dany Bahar:

http://lotusenthusiast.net/2010/10/bahar...rsche.html

In other news, some great h-res photos of the Esprit:

http://lotusenthusiast.net/2010/12/new-e...geles.html

[Vman455]

Looks like what the Gallardo should have been. I like it.