A £2bn Investment Could Turn Lotus Into ‘England’s Porsche’
Lotus cars are often compared to Porsches. The Elise to the Boxster, the Exige to the Cayman and to a lesser extent the Evora to the 911. Until now, though, Lotus hasn’t had the development budget to match the Stuttgart brand in every way that matters to buyers.
A new – and huge – round of investment from new parent company Geely could change that. A rumoured £2bn chunk of cash from China is said to be aimed at turning Lotus into a true range-wide Porsche rival with a series of sports cars, executive cruisers and SUVs.
Firstly the money would transform the Hethel headquarters and add a second facility in the English West Midlands, with a host of new staff at both sites. As many as 200 more engineers could come on board, according to reports.
Geely is aiming to take on more than the 51 per cent stake it currently owns, signalling its desire to succeed with the English sports car maker. Better to buy shares now rather than wait until they’re more expensive.
Secondly, Lotus’ range, which has long been the butt of ‘new-but-not’ jokes, will get a complete overhaul, with further lines added. We can expect the hardcore, small-volume cars Lotus is known for to be dialled back slightly to widen their appeal in the face of Porsche’s more refined rivals. A new flagship is already due in 2020, with an SUV to follow a year or two later.
The SUV has already been targeted not-so-secretly at Porsche’s Macan. A Cayenne-sized big brother could join it later in the 2020s.
Source: Motor Authority
Comments
SUVs and executive cruisers are not what Lotus is about. As Colin Chapman said himself, “Simplify, then add lightness.”
SUVs and exec cars were not what Porsche was about either until fairly recently. But SUV’s sell and make it so they can afford to build better sports cars
Exactly, this is why Dany Bahar got sacked, for this very idea
A Lotus SUV? Colin Chapman is going to be hitting 9,500 RPM in his grave
Honestly while it seems dumb
It looks kinda nice I’m not gonna lie
Aw hell no! SUVs! Burn Geely with fire!
More SUVs = more money
More money = more employees
More employees = excelent cars
Excelent cars = too much money
Too much money = sh!t ton of sports cars and race cars
I have an idea, when Toyota is planning on making the new MR2, they should work with Lotus. Since Lotus was partly responsible for the MR2 and that they would have more money from Geely.
I’d buy a lotus SUV anyday even though I’m not the biggest fan of them
DO IT! I need model lotus
This is all very well but at one time you could afford a new Lotus if you were earning a modestly reasonable salary. Nowadays forget it, even at 50k plus per annum a new Lotus is way beyond affordable. With these new models there is only one way the price is going and it’s not down.
PLEASE DON’T make this reality…
Remember the cayenne brought in the money and spawned the Carrera GT. A new super fast lotus would be cool and personally I wouldn’t mind it if an suv came first to fund it
I really hope they bring Dany Bahar’s creations to life, they were so close before!