by "TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
Published 01/14/2017 at 22:55
by "TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
Published 01/14/2017 at 22:55
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STARS: 8
Lotus gets that sweet, sweet Benjamin. Toyota gets race engineers and a good sports car platform. I’m thinking upmarket MR2 revival to rival the 718 Cayman.
Plus a Lotus with Toyota reliability.
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
01/14/2017 at 22:59, STARS: 2
I thought they’re owned by Proton, and in turn by the Malaysian government?
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
01/14/2017 at 23:00, STARS: 14
Toyota should buy Malaysia.
"scoob" (scoobsti)
01/14/2017 at 23:02, STARS: 0
What’s weird is I read “Lotus” as “Proton”, but it actually says “Lotus.”
"Viggen" (viggen37)
01/14/2017 at 23:04, STARS: 1
It’d be a good move.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
01/14/2017 at 23:06, STARS: 0
It’s even deeper than that, Lotus Cars is owned Group Lotus plc., which is owned by Proton who in turn are owned by DRB-HICOM, an automotive conglomerate.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
01/14/2017 at 23:09, STARS: 1
So long as they keep the plan to bring the new Elise/Exige to the US in 2020 I don’t have a problem with this, though if anything a new MR2 would probably end up slotting below the Elise because people would be more inclined to pay Cayman money for a Lotus than a Toyota.
"e36Jeff now drives a ZHP" (e36jeff)
01/14/2017 at 23:16, STARS: 0
An Elise with an FA20 mounted amidships would be pretty awesome.
"Orange Exige" (OrangeExige)
01/14/2017 at 23:19, STARS: 1
According to Car & Driver, Lotus sold the least cars in 2016 of all automakers - 126. But somehow that still ended up being an increase from the previous year XD
I like it that way - nobody knowing what a Lotus is. Being the nichiest of niches.
I’m not sure how I’d feel if they got turned into an everyday brand. I definitely want them to succeed and keep doing their thing - even if we can’t get their thing in the US :’( -though I suppose, even if say, Toyota bought them and had that in their plans, it would take many years for it to happen. And as long as they kept to the Lotus mantra of less is more, then it’d continue to be a natural niche, regardless of how much and how well Toyota marketed and sold them.
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
01/14/2017 at 23:24, STARS: 0
I mistyped it, then saw it immediately and edited it. Blame Kinja.
"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
01/14/2017 at 23:24, STARS: 2
Yeah I need a massive pay raise before 2020.
"Viggen" (viggen37)
01/14/2017 at 23:29, STARS: 0
126 cars in the US or globally?
"facw" (facw)
01/14/2017 at 23:32, STARS: 1
Probably the US. Looks like the sold more in Europe according to this site: http://carsalesbase.com/european-car-sales-data/lotus/ Doesn’t have 2016 US numbers, but shows them as selling 120 in 2015.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
01/14/2017 at 23:33, STARS: 0
Must be in the US,
Lotus themselves say they sold ~1500 cars in the first nine months of 2015 and sales have only increased in 2016 (couldn’t find any solid production numbers though).
"wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
01/14/2017 at 23:37, STARS: 1
no, no - Malaysia is a POS financially, we just want Lotus. Honestly, I’m surprised ‘yota hasn’t tried it - it’s a great idea. Maybe they have...
"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
01/14/2017 at 23:39, STARS: 0
Toyota didn’t offer the Mr2 Spyder with the 2ZZ, and they stopped offering a Camry/Solara coupe, and no more V6 manual. Probably because of Lotus, they didn’t want to steal sales from the Elise and Evora :(
Lotus offered the Elise with the 1ZZ in Europe, but we never got it here. Too bad because it would be so fun and more livable in daily driving, and of course like 40 mpg is good too. But it would’ve cannibalized the Tesla Roadster.
"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
01/14/2017 at 23:44, STARS: 0
Given how they want to -F brand to rival M sport it would be a good move.
"wiffleballtony" (wiffleballtony)
01/14/2017 at 23:57, STARS: 0
I thought those already had Toyota engines...
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
01/15/2017 at 01:01, STARS: 0
Where’s the shitposts? This is a high quality car related post!
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
01/15/2017 at 01:01, STARS: 0
But is it though?
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
01/15/2017 at 01:04, STARS: 0
I mean, it’s a good idea.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
01/15/2017 at 01:07, STARS: 0
But is it though?
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
01/15/2017 at 01:08, STARS: 2
Then again, what place do I have to determine what’s a good idea for a major automotive company?
Damn you HondaBro and your Socratic methods!
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
01/15/2017 at 01:09, STARS: 0
Lotus already uses Toyota engines. Toyota couldn’t actually come out ahead in this deal. If they really wanted “race engineers”, I’m sure they could just get their own. Hell, I’m sure they have some.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
01/15/2017 at 07:57, STARS: 1
I’ve been saying this for two years.
"Orange Exige" (OrangeExige)
01/15/2017 at 22:17, STARS: 0
Glad you got those other answers because I didn’t know for sure and they didn’t specify. I would’ve assumed that it was US because that’s a damn tiny number and seems entirely unsustainable for non-luxury automakers.
"Viggen" (viggen37)
01/15/2017 at 22:34, STARS: 0
Agreed. I assumed US, but wanted to be sure.
"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
01/16/2017 at 00:20, STARS: 0
Mmmmf. If there was a decent MR2 revival I’d buy one tomorrow. I’d much prefer it not be upmarket, but I’ll take what I can get!
Unfortunately, all signs point to Toyota being well aware that a range of sports cars is not a good idea :( Lotus aren’t exactly rolling in cash either.