Proton’s Group Lotus now has a new CEO – Dany Bahar, a Swiss national. Some of you may notice his face is quite familiar, in fact he appeared most recently on this blog on one of Ferrari’s promotional videos of the new 458 Italia.
This is because Dany Bahar was the Senior VP of Commercial & Brand for Ferrari SpA where he oversaw sales, aftersales, marketing, licensing and merchandising for the prancing horse.
Now of course, he is in Group Lotus. Let’s hope he will do some good for Lotus, as ultimately their performance affects Proton.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Wow Encik Bahar looks very young. His previous Ferrari's experience should do good for Lotus.
En Bahar look alike Kimi Raikonen at 40.. ;)
en.bahar can challenge the lambo ceo en.winkellman in term of stylish-ness!!
I think Jean Todt fullfil his promise to Malaysia..
I guess he will focus on brand building for Lotus. while engineering side, there will be not much surprise to come except the Eagle/Esprit replacement. But hope Lotus could re-position its product-line. They have Elise, Exige, Europa, Evora, 2-Eleven..and coming Eagle/Esprit, but branding seems going no where for the past 5-7 years. They're helping Jag's XE development but not themself.
Good Luck Encik Bahar!
Mr.Bahar is an Israel?
paul , on the F1 offcial website , thrs a rumour that the malsyian G is interested in making its own F1 team , mite be buying outgoing bmw sauber team or a new team from scratch , and this guys name , dany bahar , is somewhere in the setup…anyting regarding that?
The previous CEO, Mike Kimberley…Old School, no nonsense and full of historical passion. Very suitable to stabilise a sinking ship.
Now stable, Dany Bahar…young, modern, full of innovation and ideas. Seems to be suitable appointment to bring the company forward.
The Proton management seems to be doing sensible things right now. Hopefully this new development will be a success.
i tend to agree. the previous experiment of putting malaysians there seems not to work.
david duchovni ceo for lotus? oh sorry…
well, there's also rumor that proton going to sell lotus to potential buyer.
:-P
Rumours of Proton wanting to sell of Lotus have been going around for years.
Biggie, which Malaysians did proton put in Lotus? Wasn't aware that there were any.
Jimme, Lotus have been helping many other car manufacturers on engineering consultancy. It's something very well known within the auto industry.
According to reports in the domestic press, the Malaysian government is interested in forming a national Formula One team.
The state owned oil company Petronas is already a sponsor of BMW Sauber, who following the announcement of BMW's withdrawal from F1 is currently looking for a buyer.
"Nothing has been finalised and there's nothing to comment. I'm not confirming, neither am I saying otherwise," Malaysia sports minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek told the Malay Mail.
It is reported that a consortium of Malaysians with the backing of the government has made a bid to own a team, and an announcement by the prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could be pending.
The sports minister added: "Then let's wait for the PM to make the announcement. Who knows what will happen after the Singapore GP.
"
It is also rumoured that the Malaysia consortium might see its route into F1 not via BMW Sauber but with a start-up operation, with Dany Bahar and Mike Gascoyne mentioned as possibly involved in the project. Bahar was the head of Ferrari's Global Brand Department, but is reported to have left the Maranello outfit to run Lotus. Lotus was involved with Litespeed's bid for an entry next year, as was Gascoyne.
The Malaysian government is already involved in F1 also through the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur.
Mat Saman said,
September 4, 2009 @ 7:49 am
Mr.Bahar is an Israel?
—
No he is not.. he is a switz
++
Let me create rumours too…
or say it prediction.
Lotus will entering F1 next year.
That's why litespeed rejected to use Team Lotus.
The Big plan. Petronas, they might be take over Sauber team.
however, bmw said they not involved in any next year,
even suppliying the engine. Not any.
Now
What the engine will be dump into f1?
The Lotus + Proton 'Phoenix Engine" project one.???
F1 .. the Legendary lotus team that's won too many F1 with and without their engine is BACK!..
Proton + Lotus + Petronas = Marketing & Branding wise…
Branding for the world.
well.. it should be like that.. huh!
Let me create rumours too…
or say it prediction.
Lotus will entering F1 next year.
That’s why litespeed rejected to use Team Lotus.
The Big plan. Petronas, they might be take over Sauber team.
however, bmw said they not involved in any next year,
even suppliying the engine. Not any.
Now
What the engine will be dump into f1?
The Lotus + Proton ‘Phoenix Engine” project one.???
F1 .. the Legendary lotus team that’s won too many F1 with and without their engine is BACK!..
Proton + Lotus + Petronas = Marketing & Branding wise…
Branding for the world.
well.. it should be like that.. huh!
———————————-
There will be lots of noise from Malaysians
Tiadaid said,
September 4, 2009 @ 11:49 am
There will be lots of noise from Malaysians
+++
Sure! of course!
well.. I know how tipical malaysian are.
they are don't even know what is branding, marketing and… investing .
all they know is.. everything a waste tax payer money hahaha..
with that attitude…
we will not going to anywhere. :)
Paul!..
Did you know.. The 1st unit of Lotus Evora just delivered to the 1st owner few days already. :D .. and there is currently too much demand for that car. :D
I wish you can make a post about it too. :)
Unlucky for any of the driver of the new Lotus F1 Team, he cant get out of the car simply bcoz the power window got stuck again.
Johnny Boy said,
September 4, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
Unlucky for any of the driver of the new Lotus F1 Team, he cant get out of the car simply bcoz the power window got stuck again.
Read more: http://paultan.org/2009/09/04/new-lotus-ceo-ferra…
Johnny= hahahaha…Thats a good one !!!! ROFLS
Johnny boy, since when F1 cars has window……pls use you little brain lah…..when commented
wah, so handsome!
Hmmm…quite doubtful about his ability to steer the company. Lotus is far different animal from Ferrari. Looking at what he has done before it may seem impressive but is it relevant or good enough to steer Lotus. Working in a company whose products sells by itself doesn't mean you know how to sell products from a company that is always in precarious waters.Lotus is a very traditional British company – maybe thats is why they are always in trouble but like or not that is the culture and that is what makes them special. This guy's experience looks fanciful but no real substance in sales and products. I feel a CEO should have 1) excellent feel for the market they are in i.e. build the right product 2) sales experience. Essentially, know what products to make and how to sell it. Looks to young to have gone through battles and wars and worn the scars of maturity and experience.
takeo1070, pls flashback 50 years earlier, then u know F1 car got window or not……..
Johnny Boy said,
September 4, 2009 @ 12:50 pm
takeo1070, pls flashback 50 years earlier, then u know F1 car got window or not……..
—
So you're still living in 50's eh?
no wonder..
Johnny Boy said,
September 4, 2009 @ 12:50 pm
takeo1070, pls flashback 50 years earlier, then u know F1 car got window or not……..
————————————————
50 years ago F1 cars also DON'T HAVE windows! A Le Mans car with roof only have WINDOW FLAPS…
x-ferrari means more dough is exp from Proton. Hope he realises this sooner than latter and not live in lala land. FYI, he is a german-turk not a swiss.
Just becoz the guy is from Ferrari doesn't mean he can do wonders with Lotus. Mike Kimberley was awesome with bringing Evora in less time and less money than expected. Reading the Evora review in EVO just brings jitters up my spine. We finally got a Porsche beater.
The new guy has got a lot to work up to. Being not from the Island has added problems. Motoring is just part of the whole culture. He need to tread carefully.
hahahahaha
johny boy. u made me laff
even back at 50's, there is no window for F1 cars. not yet to mention the availability of power window back in 1950's
u want to be sarcastic, trying to bash proton, but in the end, u show the stupidity of yourself.
tell me man, at what planet did u watch the 1950's grand prix? mars?
Mike Kimberley left a legacy car to us..he left us the exceptional EVORA!!…lets see if this ferrari boy can up the ante…
Alright, proton has no involvement with Lotus except being the parent company. Lotus in turns lends its expertise with proton road cars. We cannot call lotus as ours as it is jst owned by proton. alot of the decisions are done there and not here. As for malaysia owning an F1 team, possible, but it doesnt need local talent. It just purchases everything from bmw, which includes factories and their human resource. like Team India. apart from owner and sponsers, the majority of the people running the team are British.
Do most of the people comment here for commenting sake? wanna be funny but really, who bashes their own country? dont like something, why not work and try and make it better, instead of jst sitting down and bitching? really, its the attitude which makes alot of this terrible here. whine and whine and whine.. no one wants to take action..
there goes a Proton 360 Modena!! wish to see dat…
Encik bahar comes to give an idea to develop the next proton putra.
gues only.. hehe..
Congrat lotus, lets improve.
If kementerian sukan nak buat team F1, guna enjin campro je lah. Kasi tune cantik. More cheap. And hired Fisichella as our driver.
forget alex yoong..
genius wei
what u describe on your post is just a typical malaysian mindset. do live with it, sometimes it enlighten my day to see some jackass trying to be supercarexpertsalwaysblameothersespeciallyBN but in the end, it shows the level of those fellas thinking capabilities.
there way too many negativity among us malaysian….
Why isn't the govt putting all that money and effort supporting A1 Team Malaysia which is already racing on behalf of Malaysia?
1malaysia is only about the NAME malaysia..they want malaysian names to be famous,money streming in,tourist pouring in…the locals or the RAKYAT usually comes dead last…that's why la F1, not A1..
WTH malaysia want to have own F1 team…..why want to show off the "MALAYSIA BOLEH"
Waste tax money again…..better use the money to plan for better public
transport and help the poor or giving out more scholarship is better interest for all malaysian
PROTON will never qualify into F1, with a restriction of 600kg of gross weight + driver, PROTON F1 car will exceed the restriction with it famous (in the 90's) add on accessories!
waste money…..
teamsleepnine said,
September 5, 2009 @ 1:14 am
there way too many negativity among us malaysian….
========================================
The issue is WTF Malaysia have to do with F1? Usually the manufacturer will participate? They should use the money to help poor people.