Thursday, June 24, 2010 |
05:35 - Semi-colin
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/250659/
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Well, I suppose this was inevitable:
Lotus is planning a radical shake-up of its heritage as it pushes upmarket to take on Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin as part of what it is calling "the dawn of a new era".
The radical restructuring includes dropping founder Colin Chapman's 'lightweight and simple' ethos for all new cars, instead using more complex, more expensive and more upmarket manufacturing techniques.
. . .
The average car will cost £80,000-£110,000, the prices being justified by the use of technology including seven-speed twin clutch transmissions, active aerodynamics, continuously variable dampers, hybrid and range extender systems, heads up displays, and the option of more alternatively-fuelled variants.
'Course.
Because that's what you do when you make a killing selling the Elise for ten years to people who adore the traditional and unique design philosophy: throw it away and do what everyone else is doing!
Well, wait:
While Lotus has refused to divulge its vision for the company's future until the Paris motor show in September, company owner Proton has held a briefing in Malaysia outlining its plans to make Lotus profitable within five years. Lotus has not made a profit for Proton since it bought it in 1996.
Hmm. Well, all right then. Mm-hmm.
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