New Fashion Line for Lotus

[scannon]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/fashion/19lotus.html?_r=1&sq=&st=nyt&adxnnl=1&scp=1&adxnnlx=1293050345-SSQkNq9/+X/Fg4OgOwhzuw

 

At the end of the article Danny Bahar, CEO of Lotus admits he doesn't even drive a Lotus!

[slomove]

Given Chapman's "add lightness" creed this should be a swimsuit edition.

[Mondo]

Boy, that article doesn't bode well for real Lotus car guys.... he doesn't even have one in his garage!

And his focus is for the company to be in the clothes & trinket market... Hopefully, the article was just for the Fashion Section, hence all the focus on that junk. I guess he wants to copy the Ducati & Ferrari company model. But they race... I can't see people buying "Lotus" badged stuff without the company being in racing (and winning).

[Jim F.]

Aside from all the trinkets and stuff, it's a sad day to acknowledge that at my age of 68 I'll never have a new Lotus again, after owning 2 Europas, 2 Esprits, and 3 7's in various time periods since 1970. If what I read in the recent past is correct, the new Elise will be the least expensive (cheapest) Lotus available at $120K. A new Esprit at $180K? I'm wondering what demographic group they're targeting.........sure hope we haven't seen the beginning of the demise of the Lotus brand. I've loved Lotus' since I saw my first 7 while schooling at Ft. Sill, OK in the early/mid 60's.

[MoPho]

The Elise will be $55k

 

Chapman apparently drove a Mercedes in the later years

 

Supposedly Bahar has a 2002 Esprit V8 that was restored for him, but that was reported before this article

 

Lotus claims to be starting yet another Lotus F1 team, this one in the black and gold livery

 

They are targeting the automotive "lifestyle" crowd, i.e. the Ferrari/Lamborghini poseurs, that is where the money is.

 

The new Lotus magazine is more vogue than car magazine

 

I worked for Lotus at the LA Autoshow and the cars are absolutely stunning in person, but nothing there I could afford aside from the Elise which is the one I like the least (and it is going to be 2500lbs) and I want nothing to do with the lifestyle crowd.

[Boxologist]

I think i'e read where Proton has confirmed that the S3 Elise will be 2400#s. yes, this is no longer your fathers Lotus.

[Mondo]

As CEO of Lotus, I'd drive a more practical car daily as well.... but my garage would have at least one Lotus in it. Especially if I owned another competitor's car, like Ferrari.