Anyone else think the death of Lotus is coming?

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
11/03/2014 at 10:02 • Filed to: Statement with a lack of facts to back it up, lotus

Abysmal sales, a lack of dealerships, hardcore only models, and no one has really ever heard of it. Competition from Alfa and Porsche are also an issue. I love the little Lotus. I love the idea of simplify and add lightness but it's a dated idea. People want technology and Lotus doesn't really offer it. I fear they will be dead sometime in the near future.

DISCUSSION (27)

Brian Silvestro > JR1
11/03/2014 at 10:03

It's pretty much already over in America.

But I did see a Lotus commercial during COTA qualifying on Saturday, which was weird.

EL_ULY > JR1
11/03/2014 at 10:04

yes!!!!

-Lotus employee at the dealership with the largest inventory (which is not much)

JR1 > Brian Silvestro
11/03/2014 at 10:06

Yeah but I wonder if it will be over across the pond soon as well? And yes I agree that was a weird commercial.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > JR1
11/03/2014 at 10:09

Honestly, I think it would be awesome if Toyota bought them, or at least a large stake. Akio-san wants Lexus to be the performance-luxury brand. The RC F is just crazy good, but it's still not BMW-good.

The RC F weights 300 pounds more than the M4. That's a lot. With some Lotus expertise they could make their 'F' offerings much lighter which is good for everything.

E92M3 > JR1
11/03/2014 at 10:10

They tried to go up market with the Evora but that didn't work either. I think they need something a little softer and more luxurious to compete with corvettes and the like. Something just a hair more daily driveable. You can't survive just offering trackday cars. Unless they are ungodly fast and twice the price.

boobytrapsandtreasure > JR1
11/03/2014 at 10:14

I definitely have the sense they are circling the drain.

JR1 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
11/03/2014 at 10:33

That is an interesting idea. Toyota needs to breath some life into the brand as well. It doesn't get much more pure than a Lotus.

JR1 > E92M3
11/03/2014 at 10:35

The Evora needs more power and a little more luxury. I was always surprised that car didn't sell well. It looks great and handles great it just lacks power.

djmt1 > JR1
11/03/2014 at 10:47

Nope.

They're like Aston Martin. Stuck where they are until they get some real investment. Also their sales aren't "Abysmal" they are average which isn't great for a company that needs investment however their sales are improving dramatically from 2012 which was an all time low. Considering how they have dropped out of the States it will interesting to see how their foray into the far east turns out but so far it looks good but they really need to update their range but yet again that needs investment. Hopefully the Malaysians sell up as they have seem to have lost interest in Lotus and I reckon there are plenty others who happily take over.

Cé hé sin > JR1
11/03/2014 at 10:59

Sales are (I'm told) up this year although from a low base.

Lotus have been on the skids for most of their existence and they're still here.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > JR1
11/03/2014 at 11:00

They were in just as dire straights back in the last days of the Esprit. I was in the industry back then. The marque is too important. Someone will revive it even if this current iteration of the company folds.

Thunderface > JR1
11/03/2014 at 11:09

I honestly hope not

ranwhenparked > JR1
11/03/2014 at 19:21

Let's see, during the first decade of the 20th century, the UK auto industry lost Metrocab, Reliant, TVR, LDV, and MG Rover and the warning signs for all of them were very similar to what's swirling around Lotus right now, albeit on different scales depending on the size of the company.

Unless someone with huge pockets comes forward to buy the company and inject a ton of cash into it, or DRB HiCom/Proton decide to make some serious investments, Lotus' days are indeed numbered.

JR1 > ranwhenparked
11/03/2014 at 21:49

Poor UK so many car companies have died there over the years. I feel for the enthusiasts there. Granted they have world betters like Mclaren so it kinda equals out.

ranwhenparked > ranwhenparked
11/03/2014 at 21:58

That should read *21st* century BTW.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Brian Silvestro
11/05/2014 at 16:45

There was a Lotus Evora commercial immediately after the race on NBC, too. I jus'bout dropped my drink.

Sally O'Broder > EL_ULY
11/07/2014 at 22:12

Wait, you work for Lotus?!

Awesome.

EL_ULY > Sally O'Broder
11/07/2014 at 23:46

Yes :] Ex tech, current parts guy

Sally O'Broder > EL_ULY
11/08/2014 at 00:08

M100 .

EL_ULY > Sally O'Broder
11/08/2014 at 00:20

ah yes those :] Most older Lotus get serviced by the owners or at independent shops. Most of the parts though are discontinued unfortunately. Here, we mostly take in Evora and late Exige and Elise. But mostly Evora for warranty stuff and service. We still have a couple 2012's and 2013's upstairs for sell. We even have one 2011 Evora with $16,000 off. They just put up Alfa Romeo down the street from us. Our sales will take an even harder hit. Next weekend is the Ferrari Festival in town. I am working it along with our Lotus saleman which we'll park an Evora at the entrance so people have to see it lol :]

Sally O'Broder > EL_ULY
11/08/2014 at 00:22

First Saturn, now Lotus?! I'll have to Saab over this and eventually try (and fail) to comfort myself with more general motors if this happens.

Then I'll just buy something like a Hilux and drive to the moon.

EL_ULY > Sally O'Broder
11/08/2014 at 00:25

Love the plan buddy. 100% Because Racecar!!!!

Sally O'Broder > EL_ULY
11/08/2014 at 00:29

Well, because Hilux. I'm not sure any other vehicle could actually survive the moon, except that is a Geo Storm or some kinda Saturn.

Sally O'Broder > Sally O'Broder
11/08/2014 at 00:32

...Now I need to make an image merging a Hilux and Sailor Moon.

EL_ULY > Sally O'Broder
11/08/2014 at 00:32

agreed. I'm a big fan of these legendary solid vehicles. My e34 made it to 416k miles :]

Sally O'Broder > EL_ULY
11/08/2014 at 00:35

Once, I rear-ended a truck in the Storm. I hit the hitch, so the guy didn't car and no reporting was done.

...Even with that focused amount of force, there was no damage to my car either. "Don't build them like they used to" is an understatement here.

EL_ULY > Sally O'Broder
11/08/2014 at 00:43

agreed! Those tow hitches always make me nervous. My W210 got totalled by one. No damage to the truck of course. But yeah im a big fan of those random 80's and early 90's superhero cars.