Will Lotus ever build it?

[safrane]

Looks great, but we have seen all this before.

2,000hp Lotus Evija heads Stateside | Update

Lotus is taking its 1,190hp-per-tonne EV to Monterey Car Week ahead of a visit to Pebble Beach

www.pistonheads.com

 

[zagatoes30]

Debatable question but it does align to Lotus's approach, use what you can but lighten it.

I hope they do but not sure it will be financially viable

 

[Oneball]

I don’t understand why they aren’t putting the development money into an Elise or Evora replacement, it just seems like a return to the mistakes of the Bahar era.

 

[Andyk]

Same here. The Elise still may be a great car but looks wise it's a bit old now. Need a complete new body. This woul be a halo car that would push them up with the big boys but as I understand it there is a SUV coming first...Heavens above... Is it just me ....the front is very Ferrari. Think it's those front light shape maybe. Great looking car though.

 

[conaero]

I just wish Lotus would build the new Esprit concept I saw a few years ago...I would be all in.

 

[MrMickS]

Its a limited numbers Halo car. Its doing its job of getting Lotus in the magazines and showing that it is thinking about EVs. The engineering needed to do this will help them going forward. Its a win/win.

In a way its a shame Maserati hasn't done something similar. A limited, 20-30, run car to show off tech with a €2m price tag.

 

[midlifecrisis]

I just wish Lotus would build the new Esprit concept I saw a few years ago...I would be all in.

Agreed, test drove an Evora but they are just too small to be a two up tourer. My old Kawasaki ZX6R was better!

 

[Rwc13]

Many criticize Bahar’s time at Lotus, unfairly in my view. He was recruited from Ferrari to create a competitor in Lotus, created a buzz around the brand (which some of the traditional Lotus buyers didn’t like), and oversaw the early development of a range of new models and then, sadly, Proton pulled the plug on the funding. Unfortunately he ended up taking all the flack.

Hopefully, this time it will be different. Although the current range looks a bit dated, they remain outstanding performers in their niches. Watch Harry Metcalfe’s recent review of the Evora Sport 410......really made me want another. But with Geely’s financial backing and track record - look at what they have done for Volvo - perhaps this time the plan will be delivered!

 

[mjheathcote]

I thought Bahar was booted for taking the **** with his expenses?

 

[Phil H]

If I had £2m to spend on a car, or cars, the Lotus wouldn't be on the list. Stylish and good though it may be, I'm not sure that investors will hanker after a Lotus at that price when there's so much more on offer.

PH

 

[zagatoes30]

I think part of the problem with all these niche brands is the big boys are building niche models themselves. Audi & BMW seem to have every base covered in every sector which is a bit sad but it squeezes these palyers even more.

 

[Andyk]

Many criticize Bahar’s time at Lotus, unfairly in my view. He was recruited from Ferrari to create a competitor in Lotus, created a buzz around the brand (which some of the traditional Lotus buyers didn’t like), and oversaw the early development of a range of new models and then, sadly, Proton pulled the plug on the funding. Unfortunately he ended up taking all the flack.

Hopefully, this time it will be different. Although the current range looks a bit dated, they remain outstanding performers in their niches. Watch Harry Metcalfe’s recent review of the Evora Sport 410......really made me want another. But with Geely’s financial backing and track record - look at what they have done for Volvo - perhaps this time the plan will be delivered!

As a Lotus owner back then I'm with you. I saw the Bahar cars in the flesh and they looked great back then. I was disappointed that they never made production. Lotus needed something to drag other people to the brand as there are only so many customers that would buy an Elise. The Evora helped. All they seem to do these days is make the Elise/Evora and Exige faster and lots more expensive. 120k for a top of the range Exige or Evora just doesn't feel right no matter how good or fast they are. They don't look like a 100k car where as the Bahar ones did.

 

[Ryandoc]

Looks wise it’s awesome but hard as I try I just cannot get excited about electric performance cars in the slightest, the thought actually depresses me

 

[Wagons-Lits]

Its a limited numbers Halo car. Its doing its job of getting Lotus in the magazines and showing that it is thinking about EVs. The engineering needed to do this will help them going forward. Its a win/win.

In a way its a shame Maserati hasn't done something similar. A limited, 20-30, run car to show off tech with a €2m price tag.

Completely agree, Maserati has nothing to lose doing something similar

Unfort and in a strange way they are probably doing “too” well to push the boat out too far

 

[jluis]

Looks wise it’s awesome but hard as I try I just cannot get excited about electric performance cars in the slightest, the thought actually depresses me

The owners of horses at the begining of the 20th century probably felt the same thing when they saw gas powered vehicles entering the market.

 

[Ryandoc]

You have a totally valid point and no doubt when petrol era is long gone and EV is the norm it’ll be normal, but being alive not in the transition period and classing myself as a petrol head I just can’t feel it.

I’m not knocking EV it has its place and is needed, but for me the emotion and grunt and noise you get with a combustion engine stirs the soul. The noise is one of the top factors why after over 4 years of GT ownership I still can’t even begin to think of a change of car

 

[Vampyrebat]

Fcuk Electric cars!!................If this 'Area 51 Raid' happens, we may well be looking at magnetic levitation forms of transport!!!

 

[Dan!]

As a Lotus fan-boy, I approve massively of Evija. I hope they build it!

Whilst mere mortals will never own one, the car itself will an incredibly important car in the history and development of electric vehicles. It is the lightest (no surprise), fastest, will handle the best of any current EV and will define the future of these kind of hypercars. Therefore, shrewd investors with very deep pockets will snap up all 130 of them before they even go into production.

The good news is what this will do to the brand.

• Used values will continue to increase; S1 Elises in an unmolested state will be £30k+ in next to no time.
• Hopefully the trickle down to the rest of the range is what will give us the new and improved Lotus that'll be another iconic car worth having.

 

[conaero]

If I had £2m to spend on a car, or cars, the Lotus wouldn't be on the list. Stylish and good though it may be, I'm not sure that investors will hanker after a Lotus at that price when there's so much more on offer.

PH

MC12 and a Bora if there was enough change. Doubtful.

 

[Andyk]

You will be suprised Matt. For some only a Lotus will do. I was that person for many years. It has history and a passion in the same way the Maserati marque does except Lotus still are true to their heritage ....... Sorry I'll get my coat.