Photo: www.automek.com
Although the British manufacturer currently focuses on the road-legal version of the Elise S Cup R, Lotus might be cooking up a couple of new models - an SUV and a D-segment sedan. Mind you, the automaker never made such vehicles. In 2006, Lotus unveiled the APX Concept, which is basically an ugly curious looking crossover SUV thingy, while 2010 saw the debut of the better looking Eterne Sedan Concept.
Ah, Lotus enthusiasts might bring up the 1990s Lotus Carlton into the mix, but that was basically a souped up Opel/Vauxhall Omega, so it doesn't count. According to an Utusan Malaysia report, Lotus Group CEO Jean-Marc Gales attended a board meeting full of Proton higher-ups and presented an action plan.
According to unidentified sources present there, Mr. Gales announced that Lotus will develop the SUV and D-segment (mid-size) sedan, but did not provide any potential launch dates. Utusan Malaysia's curious report also informs that the SUV won't be aesthetically related to the 2006 APX Concept.
As for the D-segment sedan, the previously mentioned publication reports that Mr. Gales burbled something about prior experience with building such a vehicle - the 1990 Lotus Carlton we've mentioned above, a car that looks very similar to the Opel/Vauxhall Omega. Compared to the Omega, the Carlton could break 176 mph (283 km/h) thanks to its 377 bhp produced by a 3,615 cc twin-turbo straight six coupled to a ZF S6-40 six-speed manual transmission. For the 1990s, it was a pretty fast machine.
But when all is said and done, new models such as these two might be the right stuff to revive the Lotus sports car brand. Some purists will condemn this move as selling out, but don't forget that high-volume models such as those two would help Norfolk-based Lotus cut that £167.8 million net loss from 2013.
According to unidentified sources present there, Mr. Gales announced that Lotus will develop the SUV and D-segment (mid-size) sedan, but did not provide any potential launch dates. Utusan Malaysia's curious report also informs that the SUV won't be aesthetically related to the 2006 APX Concept.
As for the D-segment sedan, the previously mentioned publication reports that Mr. Gales burbled something about prior experience with building such a vehicle - the 1990 Lotus Carlton we've mentioned above, a car that looks very similar to the Opel/Vauxhall Omega. Compared to the Omega, the Carlton could break 176 mph (283 km/h) thanks to its 377 bhp produced by a 3,615 cc twin-turbo straight six coupled to a ZF S6-40 six-speed manual transmission. For the 1990s, it was a pretty fast machine.
But when all is said and done, new models such as these two might be the right stuff to revive the Lotus sports car brand. Some purists will condemn this move as selling out, but don't forget that high-volume models such as those two would help Norfolk-based Lotus cut that £167.8 million net loss from 2013.
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