Lotus To Take On Ferrari/Lamborghini: Can Lotus Be Seen As a Big League Player?

Relying on the strong heritage of the past, Lotus plans on taking on Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati


New Lotus CEO Dany Bahar plans to build on the Hethel firm’s strong heritage to bring it back to successes enjoyed in the 1970s.
Bahar, who recently joined the firm from Ferrari, said the Lotus name had massive potential and its strengths lied in its iconic brand, its long history in car-racing and its reputation as a manufacturer of exciting, innovative and light sports cars.
“Lotus was mentioned in the same sentence as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati in the 1970s-1990s,” he told Malaysian reporters. “Then, it got closed into a corner. We believe it's the right time to bring Lotus back to where it was.
Read Article

dlin - 10/10/2009 11:27:24 AM

+1 Boost

Too bad HONDA didn't join this bottom-up supercar bloom lead by NISSAN, LEXUS, & MCLAREN. Mercedes cannot be included since they're already familiar w/ it. AUDI seems to show the intention, but with Lambo and Bugatti in the same family, Piech just won't green it.

Can HONDA produce a "practical" 9000 rpm V8? Their V6 redline is 800 rpm lower than Nissan's. MPG is probably the reason Jap don't push it... and why BMW is ditching it as well.

kuvakas1 - 10/10/2009 11:44:38 AM

0 Boost

I hope they can do it but IMO, they will have to have their own engines. The upper echelon buyers will not take them seriously if they continue to outsource their engines from Toyota.

DinamoR - 10/10/2009 4:11:54 PM

+1 Boost

the new Lotus Esprit will have the V10 engine from the Lexus LF-A. I yeah, people will take it seriously.

inspirion7 - 10/10/2009 10:18:03 PM

+1 Boost

If that is the case, then Lotus has nothing to fear. This company has had its hands in almost every company helping them get the right on the road feeling. The V10 will set them correct. I can see this over the LF-A.

BobbyJ - 10/11/2009 4:57:29 AM

+1 Boost

No.

WorldofLuxury - 10/11/2009 8:03:52 AM

+1 Boost

The people working in there have amazing minds. Their work with other auto companies are always great. Those who leave Lotus always seem to have great potential. Whoever bases their new prototype base model on a Lotus always seem to have some potential too. I almost forget that they are a small company that used to be much smaller (I think).

Agent63 - 10/11/2009 4:48:07 PM

+1 Boost

Lotus has potential to be like Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini. All the brands just mentioned has showcased some stellar automobiles and is surely capable no matter what markets they try to capture.