Will VW Gain Control of Lotus?

Bowing to public pressure and the looming collapse, Proton is once again in talks with VW and is considering giving approval for the German giant to take a controlling stake in the company. It was previously announced that the Malaysian government has given the green light for a foreign company to take 51% of the voting rights in Proton’s manufacturing arm, with a focus on control. Proton has reportedly been in talks with China’s Chery Automobile Co., India’s Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, and France’s Peugeot Citroen PSA Group.

Less than a decade ago, Proton was in much better shape. The company produced several major models and even managed to acquire a significant stake in UK’s Lotus. Together the two companies developed some amazing vehicles such as the APX crossover concept and the old Satria GTI that also had a helping hand from Mitsubishi.



Full 2006 SEMA Auto Show Gallery link

2006 SEMA Auto Show Photo Gallery

We've also added more photos to our Paris to Bejing rally photo gallery so be sure to check them out!

Mercedes-Benz Paris to Bejing Photo Gallery

More photos in our show photo galleries...

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries


Read Article

Homer008 - 11/9/2006 4:15:38 PM

-1 Boost

looks like a Mexican beer bottle cap.

sheepdog

UPshift - 11/10/2006 2:15:28 AM

+1 Boost

*GASP*

AmazingBimmer - 11/9/2006 4:47:44 PM

-1 Boost

VW cant manage its crappy brand in its home market, just fired their ceo. yes, thats right.. its time for an acquisition!!!. well done. Great Strategy.

S4cabriofox - 11/9/2006 4:55:10 PM

+2 Boost

Even though they've already acquired (in order) Audi, Skoda, SEAT, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti?

Interesting...

Another great POV by you...

DallasMR2 - 11/9/2006 6:03:51 PM

+1 Boost

i just really hope Lotus doesn't fall to the wayside. the Elise and Exige are amazing and i'm sure the new Esprit will be too.

S4cabriofox - 11/9/2006 10:32:14 PM

+1 Boost

I think this would be another great project with them. Evidently, they're fantastic at reviving troubled or old names. They could give Lotus a fresh, new, British product-- and it would form the underpinnings for the rumored Audi lightweight sportscar.

2JZSoarer - 11/9/2006 10:46:25 PM

+1 Boost

It will be a black day for Lotus if VW owns them!!
I guess the Elise will no longer have a Toyota (2ZZ-GE)engine,it will probably be replaced with a VW engine,there goes the reliability!!

S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 12:15:35 AM

+1 Boost

It's not the engines that give VW bad reliability, dumbass. I have a 2.0T in my winter car (A3) and it's had nary a single problem. It's just that VW's cars in general are not reliable, and this wouldn't affect Lotus.

The 2.0T would be an ideal engine for a new Elise. 200+hp in a light, frugal, and very fun package. VW is also good at giving all of their brands a unique image (except Skoda)- they would not lose Lotus's odd styling details.

2JZSoarer - 11/11/2006 2:57:49 AM

+1 Boost

WOW S4 don't ruffle your panties!!Your probably the only one here that thinks VW is a unique company!!
VW engines will never come close to the reliabity of a Toyota engine!!

2JZSoarer - 11/11/2006 2:59:59 AM

+1 Boost

WOW S4 don't ruffle your panties!!Your probably the only one here that thinks VW is a unique company!!
VW engines will never come close to the (reliability) of a Toyota engine

S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 5:22:19 PM

+1 Boost

"VW engines will never come close to the reliabity of a Toyota engine!!"

And Toyota engines will never come close to the driving fun of a VW engine.

Like I said... it's not the ENGINES in VWs that aren't reliable- it's the CARS. Get the picture? I have a VW ENGINE in one of my cars, and it's trouble-free.

UPshift - 11/11/2006 11:57:54 PM

+1 Boost

Forget the engines, I'd hate to see the shared platform strategy take over. Lotus has been famous for its chassis design, especially backbones, and it would be a shame to see a such a common platform under its cars.

Lotus ought to tune more production cars to help its parent, like they have done with the Lotus (Ford) Cortina and Lotus (Vauxhall) Omega.