Lotus Cars Heritage

[Autocross7]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEXJ566wjHA

Good watch if you have never seen it...

[WayneB]

They seem to have used alot of footage from Alan De Cadinets "Victory By Design" series on Lotus.:)

[Autocross7]

They seem to have used alot of footage from Alan De Cadinets "Victory By Design" series on Lotus.:)

I noticed that too... guess there is limited access to these cars or something and they saved a little $$$ too I am sure.

Cameron

[WayneB]

I am worried that now Mike Kimberley has left, Lotus wont be as interested in pushing the companys heritage /history and the long awaited Museum may never happen.

Seems that every sports car manufacturer in Europe has a museum now (even Aston-Martin has a display of historic roadcars at the factory), its way past due that Lotus don't have one of there own.

So many Lotus Enthusiasts from all over the world journey to the factory (at great expense) I have always viewed it as a major let down that the company couldnt be bothered to assemble a collection of past road (and racing) cars to illustrate and underline the companys rich history to visitors.

Im sure many owners of the rarer more expensive cars would be prepared to loan them to the company to display.

In the meanwhile, please drag the Active Suspension Esprit inside and do something with it before it moulders away to nothing.

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/images/otherstuff/gatherings/FactoryVisit_05/Active_Suspension_08.jpg

[Autocross7]

I agree. With Mike's departure I have a sinking feeling that the company is going to flounder into bad waters... again. Lotus is already apparently waffling around the Evora and trying to raise the price of the car. I have my doubts as to the Esprit ever really making it out of the box, and given the cars was apparently crap when Mike took over, it has the potential to fall back to that state. A return to sports car racing is going to be ignored and certainly a return to open wheel is not going to be considered at this point by the "works". I have my doubts at to how well the independents can pull it off given the events of the past year. A run at getting into the sports car game has been side lined and the FIA did not see fit to admit Team Lotus. The dealership support is not in place as it should have been and without Mike I could not begin to guess who will head this very real need to ramp up marketing and service aspects. The Evora might win over some Cayman/Boxster drivers, but if they cannot get service as they could with Porsche the game is up.

There are def. echos of the last days of the GM ownership and the "big plans" that were once the M100.

Cameron

[Mark B.]

Looks like they've filled Mike's position already: Clicky (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78234)

[WayneB]

That Dany Bahar gets around quite a bit doesn't he?

http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/2005/images/Zorro_1.jpg

Looks like some heavy duty major brand development is about to get underways.

[Autocross7]

I hope my fears are vanquished and Lotus charges to front as it does belong there! But we shall see... they do need some marketing, but the right marketing... and someone that knows about cars and not accounting.

Cameron

[GregWO]

Now that is great news! Horray Lotus! I hope Lotus gets the deserved brand recognition with Bahar at the Helm.

[WayneB]

I have a feeling the appearance of this chap was orchestrated by the Malaysian ownership of Lotus and was nothing to do with the guys in Norfolk.


I think its a clear case of not what you know ,but who you know..........he is not the kind of fellow I think should be running the company.:001_unsure:

[mario]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wapvsJy0D0w

[Martin]

Grazie per il video Mario!

Dany Bahar, never heard of him. What is his background before Ferrari and Red Bull?

[WayneB]

Apparently he started off working for the Fritz Kaiser Group (Financial)and was Fritz Kaisers assistant for a while. Interestingly Fritz Kaiser introduced Petronas of Malaysia as a sponsor to Red Bull which must be the Malaysian connection that parachuted him(Dany Behar) into the CEO job at Lotus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Kaiser

I guess he has many contacts in advertising etc and they plan to market the Sh*t out of the Lotus Car brand name by granting licences to companies wishing to use the logo on their products.

One of his deals whilst at Ferrari granted Acer the rights to use the Ferrari name and logo on some of their laptop computers.

Me, I would have liked an ex -engineer at the helm of my favourite car company.