scannon Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 (edited) Is Chapman rolling in his grave??? http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/lotus-confirms-suv-for-2019/32059 Perhaps worried we'd think the company was taking its eye off the ball in terms of sports cars Gales also announced that the replacement for the 2-Eleven track day special, officially called 3-Eleven, will be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show in September. He promised a target weight 900kg with the 400hp 3.5-litre supercharged V6 from the new Evora 400. Which sounds highly promising. Edited April 29, 2015 by scannon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 OMG, Lotus joins Rolls Royce and Bentley in the senseless pursuit of the lowest common automotive denominator, at the expense of heritage..... Will it never end? I'm now waiting with bated breath for Morgan to announce its own SUV from Malvern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemk1 Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I realize I will be in the minority here but I think Lotus offering an SUV is a very good thing. Mind you I will never buy any SUV regardless of brand but SUV sales very well could shore up the bottom line at Lotus allowing them to continue to produce the cars I love the brand for. I recall the uproar when Porsche announced their SUV and many said this would be the death of their sports cars but of course the exact opposite has been true. The SUV profits allowed Porsche to survive and continue to make the cars that sports car fans know them for. I think there is almost no way that Lotus can keep the lights on with the very small number of specialty sports cars they currently put out the door and if the SUV diversifies the product range enough to turn the bottom line from red to black that can only be a good thing. dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemtd Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Any ideas what it might end up looking like? I keep thinking a lotus SUV would be the size of an average sedan and include cup holders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Dave, I know that everything you say ls no doubt true, but ---- I still say, "Perish the thought!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Any ideas what it might end up looking like? I keep thinking a lotus SUV would be the size of an average sedan and include cup holders. This is what Google is turning up for me (two different versions, with the silver SUV being slotted to be built in China) . . . . ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 The above are too pedestrian to generate much sales volume (IMHO), esp since Lotus will want to charge 2-3x as much as the run-of-the-mill SUV, which those look like. But a sporty SUV can be pretty cool, even at the track. I just read a review of the new $50K Mercedes small SUV which generates track numbers similar to the Alfa 4C but for less $, and they toss in a back seat. And it gets 29 mpg on the highway. Like Dave, I think, if done correctly and it's not just some badge-engineered item, it could save Lotus from disappearing entirely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 . . . . a sporty SUV can be pretty cool, even at the track. I just read a review of the new $50K Mercedes small SUV which generates track numbers similar to the Alfa 4C but for less $, and they toss in a back seat. And it gets 29 mpg on the highway . . . . Kitcat, Are you thinking maybe there will be a 'revised' future event at NJMP; the all new, first annual USASUV get together? I can see it now; everybody is showing up with their 7's in tow only to unhook the 7's and hit the track with the windows rolled up and the air on. :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Shane: You nailed it! I'd love nothing more than a session (1/2 session?) out there on the track in our tow vehicles. My Touareg is pretty nimble and lends it self to my, er, "agricultural" approach to trackdays. I would enjoy seeing what kind of time I could post. Perhaps this could be an adjunct to the karting:)? Make it happen Croc/Tom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I took my beemer SUV on track in the middle of a monsoon when I decided the poor old Mustang had had enough spinning for a day. It was initially alarming and then ultimately entertaining once I modified my driving style to stop it producing bulk understeer and drive it more rally style by flicking it at corners and flooring it in AWD. I will say though it was very sudden at breaking loose on the limit!:ack: Still, I kept ahead of the chief instructor in his subaru STI for quite a few laps! 3.5L + supercharging and no sense of self preservation helped I guess? I think Mike's VW Tughead is about the best competition I have for a track race with our SUVs? The rest I have seen would be wallowing around corners far in our wake with their drivers redecorating their dashboards with sick from the roly poly motion? Tom's F150 plasti-chrome monster? Shane's backbreaker lardy pickup? Stevie's Chevy Mediocrity, Dave's custom van? Jeff's Datsun Armada? Someone else was driving a Vulva SUV. No chance guys...bring it on! :cooldude: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Hi Croc, Mine would be a GMC Envoy, with AWD if needed. If I can't beat you I'll crash you..LOL Dave's van would be the most fun on a wet track..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Hill Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Whatcha think Shane..... My Topkick motor home might not set fast time but if I get it parked just "right" (as in across the track) nobody could get around us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 I took my beemer SUV on track in the middle of a monsoon . . . . . it was very sudden at breaking loose on the limit! It's those blasted radial tires! :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Whatcha think Shane..... My Topkick motor home might not set fast time but if I get it parked just "right" (as in across the track) nobody could get around us! Paul, Having personally read your book on RV fabrication :jester:, I have to say that I have a slight advantage over most others here in absolutely agreeing with you.....she's a very big, very well built gal. And Paul, I think it's time to start a new thread so you can showcase your RV build talents. As for my 'weapon of choice' for an SUV/family wagon "Lightening" round at NJMP, I'd have to borrow the the wife's Sienna and swing by Wal Mart for a rattle can makeover; something like this . . . . . :cooldude: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 (edited) Hi Croc, Mine would be a GMC Envoy, with AWD if needed. But Stevie.....we all know that GMC stands for "Genetically Modified Chevy". Genetically modified means it was emasculated in its brief run down the production line before being foisted on some undiscerning consumer in PA. Honestly a minivan would have been a better sop to your masculinity! Have you considered getting a Kia or Smart Car? :jester: now if you painted it Scooby Doo Mystery Van colors then that might just save it? :hurray: Edited May 1, 2015 by Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Whatcha think Shane..... My Topkick motor home might not set fast time but if I get it parked just "right" (as in across the track) nobody could get around us! But Paul....you miss the obvious workaround. The brilliance with using the SUVs is that their entire circuit is a track. I can just dash around the outside of you onto the grass and slither four wheel drifting around and off into the distance all while you are still doing the Walmart RV parking demonstration exercise to block the track! And then I am gone....bye bye! You have to admit that my idea works - I have plenty of experience on grass! :driving::jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Hill Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Good thought Mike.... But if I block the track at pit-in, set the lawn chairs out under the awning with the brews on the picnic table and shrimp on the Barbi there will soon be a huge jam.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 I would not mind eating some shrimp off Barbi. Do you think she would mind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveD Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 If you will give extra points for each passenger carried around the course, I may actually have a shot at being competitive in my 12 passenger van. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I was on track 2 days ago with a run group that included a BMW X5 that was the 3rd fastest out there. I wasn't able to find him in the paddock to learn what, if anything, he'd done to his vehicle. I know he pulled me on the straights and hung with me incredibly well in the curves and was the only vehicle braking as late as I was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now