So, you hated Dany Bahar and his vision of Lotus fighting Porsche and Ferrari

"El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!" (lightningzone)
08/20/2014 at 17:39 • Filed to: None

Well kids, you will hate !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! even more, as the company is cooking up a sedan and a SÚV.

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What could've been...

"Miss me already?"

DISCUSSION (16)

CRider > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/20/2014 at 17:41

I almost forgot about ol' Dany. And Lotus. Is that company even still around?

GhostZ > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/20/2014 at 17:43

This I'm not so opposed to. A lightweight sedan would be a great car.

It's more that under Bahar, they were going to be making cars that were objectively inferior to their counterparts, and clearly not in the spirit of a sports car. They were going to make fat sports cars.

Instead of making fat sports cars, this is a lean sedan , which is very different. Honestly, if this thing was like the old Acura RSX, it could sell very well in the US.

I imagine a RWD, rear or mid-engined sedan with about 200 n/A HP and a 2800lb curb weight could, hands down, be one of the best sedans on the market right now.

And, throwing all of that aside, let's focus on what this really means: They might be able to return to the US.

PatBateman > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/20/2014 at 17:44

Did anyone else read that meme in a super thick French accent?

djmt1 > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/20/2014 at 17:44

A Lotus tuned Rapide is something I can get behind so I'm cool with the saloon. The SUV looks a bit short for an SUV so I say lower it and make it a M135i rival.

Alfalfa > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/20/2014 at 17:52

I'm not so against a lightweight sedan. As for the SUV, that could have potential. If it's as tiny as the one pictured with that great Lotus handling, it could go nicely alongside the likes of the Vehicross and Juke.

Manuél Ferrari > CRider
08/20/2014 at 17:56

Seriously. If they are alive it's just barely. When is the last time you heard of somebody buying a new Lotus?

For Sweden > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/20/2014 at 17:56

Lotus Sedan Best Sedan

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > GhostZ
08/20/2014 at 17:58

That's just silly and it's like saying that if you can't compete in the whiskey industry, even if you are famous for low volume but great quality whiskey, you should be trying to produce one of the best light beers in the world.

CRider > Manuél Ferrari
08/20/2014 at 18:30

I haven't heard anything out of Lotus in a long time. I'd assume they're either dead or dying, and Jalopnik in't even saying anything about it.

Manuél Ferrari > CRider
08/20/2014 at 18:31

Maybe we can buy what's left for $1K and move them to OC

Montalvo > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/20/2014 at 18:42

Yeah because sedans from Lotus are probably complete garbage right? If they have to sell a POS SUV (who knows it may actually be decent) to a ton of people so they can bring this to market well then let them. If they can bring a successor of the Carlton I will physically walk up to their dealership and toss money at them for one.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/arc…

CRider > Manuél Ferrari
08/20/2014 at 18:52

Yeah, right next to Fisker.

I'd like to see Lotus become like Local Motors, and get around government regulation by making you build the car yourself. Keep them lighter that way. I think the kind of person that buys a Lotus would do it.

Manuél Ferrari > CRider
08/20/2014 at 18:54

Haha we could combine them! Ultra lightweight hybrid... nevermind.

Self assembly is the way to go.

GhostZ > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/20/2014 at 21:51

Only if no one else was producing light beers.

Lotus is very good at designing and selling lightweight cars. That's they specialty. They do that better than anyone else. Given that there's a huge hole in the market for a medium-market lightweight, sporty sedan (when was the last time you saw a moderately powerful sedan under 3000lbs?).

I definitely don't think they're going for volume sales or anything, it's not like they want to build a Honda Accord. Whatever they produce will be cross-shopped with the 1/2-series M, ATS (V?) and WRX.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
08/21/2014 at 06:18

If you look at Lotus' history, they have had a hell of a lot of success producing fast saloons as well as lightweight sports cars. Usually in conjunction with other manufacturers, but Lotus cars nonetheless.

Personally, I'd love to see a Lotus 3-series competitor and perhaps a Lotus hot hatchback. In addition to lightweight sportscars of course.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Alfalfa
08/21/2014 at 06:30

Now that you mention it that could be absolutely kickass. Think of a lightweight hatchback, jacked up on offroad suspension and big wheels, long-travel suspension and reasonable-sized box-flares, AWD with a screaming Toyota twincam (perhaps even a tuned-up BRZ flat 4).

Something closer to an offroad racer/rally car than the soft-roader Juke and Vehicross. Something with respect.