It appears new Group Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales has a few cards up his sleeve for the Proton-owned British sports car manufacturer, as revealed in a recent interview with Top Gear Magazine UK.
First up, the former PSA head has proclaimed that “any car we launch in the next two years will be lighter and faster than its predecessor.” The new Evora 400 is the fastest Lotus ever and is 22 kg lighter than before, setting the precedent for similar updates to the Elise and Exige – the latter also receiving the new 400 hp supercharged Toyota V6 – over the coming years. Additional track-biased Evora variants are also planned.
“They might lose some of the ride comfort they have now, though an Evora will still be comparable to a Porsche 911 in ride comfort,” said Gales. “But the Evora 400 will gain massively on handling compared with now. I sleep very well at night knowing the engineers who sign-off the handling.”
But it won’t be entirely about lightness – there’s also an Evora roadster set to be launched within the next two years, and we’ve even heard rumours about a crossover version in the works! On the other end of the scale, a successor to the ultra-lightweight 2-Eleven is in the pipeline as well, again with 400 hp and weighing under 900 kg, and Gales promised that it will be “the fastest road car around the Nürburgring.” A bold claim indeed.
Gales also said that the company has fixed the basic problems that have long dogged it, including opening dealerships in critical cities like Paris, Berlin, Monaco and Abu Dhabi, as well as implementing a customer database. It seems to be working – sales in the second half of the last financial year shot up by a massive 49% over the previous half to 1,114 units, its best six months since 2008/09.
Timing has also been improved since Gales arrived on scene – the new Elise S Cup was launched on time for the first time in the company’s history, and the Evora 400 was completed ahead of schedule, something he said was unheard of. The latter will take 20% less time to build than the previous Evora; its parts also cost 10% less, and it will be built to a higher standard of quality.
Lotus Evora 400
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Another bogus plan to cheat Malaysians and the world at large.
This guys really knows how to fix Lotus. He beefed up the core models first, fixed production efficiency problems, commence extensive parts/RnD sharing with Proton and trying to find some more market before going upmarket. Unlike Bahar with his 5 rushed overhyped cars that might be outdated (compared to other recent supercars) by the time they roll off the factory.
If Gales is able to complete the Lotus turnaround, will he be moved up into the parent company? Proton could use a LOT of help, if they can swallow their foolish pride.
However, with all the political issues with Proton, I doubt he can do much to help. He’ll probably have to step on some crony directors & vendors toe. That would make a lot of “important” people unhappy.
Jean-Marc Gales should do so with the parent company. Oh wait..Tun said Malaysian are stupid to take helm on enterprise. (MAS case) Even Tony Fernandes only done well with Air Asia, but Air Asia X? Also not forgetting QPR.
Have you seen any low cost long haul airline making profit? None because that kind of business model doesn’t work for long haul. What Tony did is merely copy the Ryanair business model and apply it to AirAsia.
as long as bolehland cronis is there…they keep changing CEO every 2 years and said-to-have new cars every 2 years..keep counting..
All Lotus looks the same!!!
And you can hardly see Lotus on the roads anywhere.
If it is owned by Proton, how come the price is still so exorbitantly high?
Lotus is like a dead horse already, STOP beating the dead horse.
That ass is wicked..compared to the front..
If he can do wonders to Lotus within 5 years, I hope he will do a ‘Carlos Ghosn’ to Proton after that.
I hope this strategy is only part of the transition plan.
Lotus needs NEW, and the right cars to compete the big boys. Although 400hp is more than enough for a Lotus, the competition has gone to having 600hp with the new 488GTB.
Lotus needs to aim at the 488GTB, F12 Berlinetta, and if possible, the LaFerrari, to once again be a member of the “Cool Club”.
I’m in eager hope to see Lotus succeeds. All the best, Lotus!
Only 1114 units, total?…bleeding and spending a lot, getting a bit increase in sale!!!…still survive. They must be making a big profit from each car sold.
Yes they are. You think they mass produce car like Proton?
Koenigsegg makes like 2 – 3 cars per year and they still makes a tonnes of profit from it. That what a sport car maker do. Sell sport car at a really expensive price.
hmm….maybe this is the best thing that happened to proton group since DRB bought over the company.
to bad they not going to use the V8 engine wolfgang zimmmerman developed..
If and only if the engine is actually ready.
Mr. Gales pointed out when he first step in Lotus office, there’s only 1 engine prototype and it’s not even put to any test mule or the imaginary new Esprit.
Clearly the engine is not even ready and given their current book balance is in red, it’s not even a feasible option to continue.
Especially after Mr. Bahaha spent the huge loan appointing Mr. Swizz Beatz as VP of creative design and opening a Lotus lifestyle merchandise shop in London that sell… shirts.