TVR to be made at Lotus....???
Discussion
Anyone add any light to the rumour that TVR are in talks with Lotus...??
I've heard they are looking at the possibility of using the spare production line capacity available at Lotus to be the much needed high tech production facilities TVR are currently looking for. I hear Lotus are courting Morgan/Chaterham on a simliar basis. Would be a wonderful solution to the fortunes of TVR and would strengthen the brand of british sports cars no end.
I've heard they are looking at the possibility of using the spare production line capacity available at Lotus to be the much needed high tech production facilities TVR are currently looking for. I hear Lotus are courting Morgan/Chaterham on a simliar basis. Would be a wonderful solution to the fortunes of TVR and would strengthen the brand of british sports cars no end.
Edited by spwheeler on Wednesday 17th January 09:36
A friend who works in Lotus has got wind of it who isn't your average gossip munger.
It seems a fantatsic idea to consolidate some very sound brand names into an uncertain market for niche sports cars. I would imagine there is some truth in it...??
I've asked the question to see if anyone out there has heard anything simliar. Would be too good to be true I guess................
It seems a fantatsic idea to consolidate some very sound brand names into an uncertain market for niche sports cars. I would imagine there is some truth in it...??
I've asked the question to see if anyone out there has heard anything simliar. Would be too good to be true I guess................
spwheeler said:
Anyone add any light to the rumour that TVR are in talks with Lotus...??
I've heard they are looking at the possibility of using the spare production line capacity available at Lotus to be the much needed high tech production facilities TVR are currently looking for.
I've heard they are looking at the possibility of using the spare production line capacity available at Lotus to be the much needed high tech production facilities TVR are currently looking for.
I heard it was Mclaren???
Perhaps you should be looking more towards Noble. A unnamed investor bought a big share of them a few months ago. Their bodies are built by Superformance in South Africa. Workers at TVR reported seeing boxes addressed to there being dispatched as the factory shut. Anyone know who the investors is? Could NS be the mysterious investor?
Last i heard on this before Christmas was that the Lotus possibility had been canned. The reality is that they have totally different production methods (alloy tub +VARIP body at Lotus vs welded tubes and hand laid glass fibre at TVR) so the synergies weren't there. Plus, I'm told that Lotus MD and NS had a bit of a falling out....... 
If that's the case then it's a real shame. It seemed a very powerful combination and would have had real market strength.
The production methods are very different but once the tooling has been designed and built then the lines run independantly of each other.
Oh well it was nice while it lasted......
The production methods are very different but once the tooling has been designed and built then the lines run independantly of each other.
Oh well it was nice while it lasted......
andymadmak said:
Plus, I'm told that Lotus MD and NS had a bit of a falling out.......
With the receivers coming in and taking charge, it wouldnt matter if NS found the Lotus MD shitting on his persian rug as he has no control anymore
Mind you, if that is the case it always brings up that old chestnut:
TVR or BA??????
bloody hell this is confusing
From an observers point of view my ownly concern with all of this, forgetting the fact that the 280 strong workforce have just been sold up the river is that the same people are still at the top at TVR and that worries me alot regardless of the proposed 'partnership'.
From the past years events public credability of N.S and D.O is marginally lower than a big brother contestant. If they cant get their act together at the top, 'shit rolls downwards' as they say..
From the past years events public credability of N.S and D.O is marginally lower than a big brother contestant. If they cant get their act together at the top, 'shit rolls downwards' as they say..
This is one of the most interesting proposals I have heard on here for a long time. I'm convinced that Lotus and TVR appeal to the same market - indeed I have always had a big desire to own an Esprit which if memory serves is glass fibre isn't it??? I would have thought bringing TVR and Lotus under one roof would make a great deal of sense in terms of shared marketing, design, inventory/parts, development of a common platform etc. That would be very exciting indeed.
Saxon
Saxon
andymadmak said:
Mr.Chips said:
If it is the case, why does the PH home page have speculation about Lotus being taken over by GM?
Errm, because Lotus is owned by Proton, and GM might be buying Proton? Given that GM owned (and sold) Lotus once before I'd imagine that they'd sell it off anyway.
Andy
Thanks Andy, that was exactly my point. Why would Lotus want to take on TVR if their own position was not particularly certain. Not that I'm saying Lotus are in the same sh1t as TVR, but if you have the protection/investment/security of a large parent organisation taken away, it is not the best of times to take on another potential liability.
I'm reliably informed this was being discussed in December 06...??
The logic of the union is compelling. There's mileage for TVR keeping production in the UK with one, if not the iconic British sports car brands thus pleasing/keeping it's bulldog pedigree client base, which is a foundation not to be ignored. Most importantly securing a 21st century production capability which, lets face, is crucial to the long term survival of the brand. The advantage for Lotus is to widen it's sports car stable and appeal to other areas of the market sector further securing it's place and brand image. If they have any aspirations in going back into the independant market.
The logic of the union is compelling. There's mileage for TVR keeping production in the UK with one, if not the iconic British sports car brands thus pleasing/keeping it's bulldog pedigree client base, which is a foundation not to be ignored. Most importantly securing a 21st century production capability which, lets face, is crucial to the long term survival of the brand. The advantage for Lotus is to widen it's sports car stable and appeal to other areas of the market sector further securing it's place and brand image. If they have any aspirations in going back into the independant market.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff