Lotus GT "Possible"
Discussion
Lotus works on new GT sports car
17 August 2004
CHRIS STARKIE, EDP BUSINESS EDITOR
Car maker Lotus has admitted it is working on a new GT sports car in a move that could expand production at its Hethel headquarters.
A prototype of the new car, which looks like a larger and more powerful Elise, has been spotted on a test drive in the lanes near the Lotus factory.
The new car, which could mean the revival of the Excel or Elite names, would be more expensive than the Elise and Exige, priced at around £40,000.
A four-seater version of the new car is being considered, which would make it the first car with rear seats to have been produced by Lotus since the Excel.
The company is currently evaluating the prototype and will decide soon whether to put the car into production.
Lotus is in the throes of recruiting another 100 workers to cope with increased demand for the Elise, which is now on sale in the US for the first time.
As well as the Elise, Lotus also manufactures the Exige as well as the Vauxhall VX220 and Opel Speedster, and makes advanced composite structures for the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish.
But if a new model was to go into production, more jobs would almost certainly be created.
Lotus spokesman Alastair Florance said: "Yes it is true that we are looking at a GT-style car. At this stage it is just a concept car and we have not decided whether it will go into production.
"It is likely to be more touring and less track based. It is in the very early stages of evaluation. We are looking at the market and whether it fits into our long term ambitions."
The car is likely to be wider than the Elise, giving it a more roomy and comfortable interior for longer journeys. It would also have greater luggage space at the rear, adding to the versatility of the vehicle.
The company has yet to decide which engine will power the car, but it is likely to be sourced from Toyota as the two companies have a good working relationship.
Lotus is placing great emphasis on how lightweight the car would be, with a glass fibre body designed to keep weight to a minimum. The model is likely to feature a sporty new chassis, using the same bonded aluminium structure as the Elise.
A GT model would face fierce competition, not least from the Noble M12, a lightweight GT car which is produced by the Leicestershire-based Noble car company.
Lotus is aiming to make the GT a world car – available in markets around the world, including the US, Japan and Mexico where the Elise is now on sale.
The first US-modified Elise was delivered to its new owner just four weeks ago and the company is hoping to sell more than 2000 cars a year in the US.
Plans for the GT are in addition to the development work which is under way at Lotus on a successor to the Esprit, which ended production earlier this year.
Design teams at Lotus are in the early stages of design on a family of mid-engined super cars, which would sell for close to £50,000.
Interesting!!
m
17 August 2004
CHRIS STARKIE, EDP BUSINESS EDITOR
Car maker Lotus has admitted it is working on a new GT sports car in a move that could expand production at its Hethel headquarters.
A prototype of the new car, which looks like a larger and more powerful Elise, has been spotted on a test drive in the lanes near the Lotus factory.
The new car, which could mean the revival of the Excel or Elite names, would be more expensive than the Elise and Exige, priced at around £40,000.
A four-seater version of the new car is being considered, which would make it the first car with rear seats to have been produced by Lotus since the Excel.
The company is currently evaluating the prototype and will decide soon whether to put the car into production.
Lotus is in the throes of recruiting another 100 workers to cope with increased demand for the Elise, which is now on sale in the US for the first time.
As well as the Elise, Lotus also manufactures the Exige as well as the Vauxhall VX220 and Opel Speedster, and makes advanced composite structures for the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish.
But if a new model was to go into production, more jobs would almost certainly be created.
Lotus spokesman Alastair Florance said: "Yes it is true that we are looking at a GT-style car. At this stage it is just a concept car and we have not decided whether it will go into production.
"It is likely to be more touring and less track based. It is in the very early stages of evaluation. We are looking at the market and whether it fits into our long term ambitions."
The car is likely to be wider than the Elise, giving it a more roomy and comfortable interior for longer journeys. It would also have greater luggage space at the rear, adding to the versatility of the vehicle.
The company has yet to decide which engine will power the car, but it is likely to be sourced from Toyota as the two companies have a good working relationship.
Lotus is placing great emphasis on how lightweight the car would be, with a glass fibre body designed to keep weight to a minimum. The model is likely to feature a sporty new chassis, using the same bonded aluminium structure as the Elise.
A GT model would face fierce competition, not least from the Noble M12, a lightweight GT car which is produced by the Leicestershire-based Noble car company.
Lotus is aiming to make the GT a world car – available in markets around the world, including the US, Japan and Mexico where the Elise is now on sale.
The first US-modified Elise was delivered to its new owner just four weeks ago and the company is hoping to sell more than 2000 cars a year in the US.
Plans for the GT are in addition to the development work which is under way at Lotus on a successor to the Esprit, which ended production earlier this year.
Design teams at Lotus are in the early stages of design on a family of mid-engined super cars, which would sell for close to £50,000.
Interesting!!
m
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