RE: Lotus shows platform potential
Wednesday 1st February 2006
Lotus Engineering's APX conceptLotus Engineering has issued a design concept that it said exemplifies the versatility of its VVA (Versatile Vehicle Architecture). The APX, said Lotus, "demonstrates the possibilities that this innovative technology brings to OEMs worldwide who are looking to produce exciting products using innovative architecture."
Lotus shows platform potential
VVA provides basic building blocks
Lotus Engineering's APX concept
It forms the core of Lotus' push to sell VVA as a platform for other vehicle makers to build on, while being able to make cars that appear very different from each other.
The APX itself sports a 3-litre, 300bhp V6, and will be on show at the Lotus stand at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
However, the Hethel company was at pains to point out that APX "is not a concept indicating a strategic direction of Lotus Cars; it is however a brilliant demonstration of VVA, the skills of the team from Lotus Engineering and what is regarded as the future of niche vehicle manufacture."
Discussion
Not a bad styling exercise, but you have to wonder if Lotus have a customer in mind to be able to spend the time and effort in producing something like this to show at Geneva. VVA sounds like quite a technical gamble to me (much like the Elise was), but it looks like it's coming together. Lets hope we see VVA cars on the roads in a couple of years' time.
Wish they'd hurry up and produce some new models though
Wish they'd hurry up and produce some new models though
Tuna said:
Not a bad styling exercise, but you have to wonder if Lotus have a customer in mind to be able to spend the time and effort in producing something like this to show at Geneva. VVA sounds like quite a technical gamble to me (much like the Elise was), but it looks like it's coming together. Lets hope we see VVA cars on the roads in a couple of years' time.
Wish they'd hurry up and produce some new models though
Wouldn't the 'customer' in mind be proton? The parent company has shown no shame (and why would you) at advertising that lotus tunes its suspension etc, and I believe will really benefit from the new platform design. I've had a brief read on it and a glimpse at a technical layout and it sounds superb. It could save car companies heaps, which one would hopefully translate onto less cost cutting in interiors, equipment and so on. Just hope the dynamics it can yeild are sorted.
Ali.
Interesting concept, and the VVA could rake in a lot of revenue for Lotus if other companies liked the platform.
Also, I think a return to their old full line-up looks possible: The Elise as the small sports car, the Europa S as the more luxurious sports car (and no doubt the basis for the new Esprit as well), and with VVA no doubt 2+2 and 4-seater front-engined platform could see the return of the Eclat/Excel and Elite.
In fact, I know the picture is of a 5-door estate, but imagine it lower, more wedgy and with three doors - new Elite proposal???
Also, I think a return to their old full line-up looks possible: The Elise as the small sports car, the Europa S as the more luxurious sports car (and no doubt the basis for the new Esprit as well), and with VVA no doubt 2+2 and 4-seater front-engined platform could see the return of the Eclat/Excel and Elite.
In fact, I know the picture is of a 5-door estate, but imagine it lower, more wedgy and with three doors - new Elite proposal???
Are low cost manufacturers really going to be interested in this though? Why would a mass producer want/need a bonded ally floorplan from which to build a shopping car or rep mobile? This kind of approach has only ever been seen to be successful for low volume niche cars, like the Elise, DB9, AMV8 et al. I just can't see Proton or Vauxhall being interested in using thise for cooking models, and if they may consider it for their own niche models why promote the thing with a 5 door hatch concept?
hendry said:
Are low cost manufacturers really going to be interested in this though? Why would a mass producer want/need a bonded ally floorplan from which to build a shopping car or rep mobile? This kind of approach has only ever been seen to be successful for low volume niche cars, like the Elise, DB9, AMV8 et al. I just can't see Proton or Vauxhall being interested in using thise for cooking models, and if they may consider it for their own niche models why promote the thing with a 5 door hatch concept?
I think it is just done to showcase the versatility of VVA, in the same way that Aston's V/H (Vertical/Horizontal) platform is used on all their cars including the four-door Rapide. I don't think they're intending the estate as a production model for anyone in particular, they just want to show what Lotus can do.
In fact, in the early '80s, Ferrari showcased a car called the Pinin, which was a four-door saloon based on the 400 platform. Never went into production of course, and the only Ferrari saloons remain the Lancia Thema 8.32 and the one-off 456 estate, but it gave people ideas.
I think Lotus might offer VVA as a way of other companies to build niche products quickly and easily rather than going to the expense of tooling up their factories to build up sought-after concept cars.
Some might say that Lotus are diluting their own values by doing this, but IMO they're providing a service to the design world - I mean, how many concept cars end up disappearing into the ether because the company lacks the capital to productionise them? In offering VVA, Lotus are following Colin Chapman's example of offering the Cosworth DFV to other F1 manufacturers - it just goes to make the genre more diverse.
I'm looking forward to seeing what real-life concepts VVA throws up...
RobM77 said:
Obviously we now know what lotus designers were doing, while letting the apprentice design the Europa.
Apparently the Europa designer was briefed to design a Proton sports car, thus the weird Jap looks.
Except that Proton is Malaysian, and doesn't even market it's cars in Japan. It's quite a common rumor every time that a new Lotus comes out that it is going to be sold as a Proton too, has it ever happened?
Personally, I think the Europa is a rather disappointing car, but we don't have an asian market to blame, we have the design direction decisions made at Hethel (which may involve Proton politics, but looking at their other great designs and edgy cars that come out I doubt it).
rossh said:
Obviously we now know what lotus designers were doing, while letting the apprentice design the Europa.
Except that Proton is Malaysian, and doesn't even market it's cars in Japan. It's quite a common rumor every time that a new Lotus comes out that it is going to be sold as a Proton too, has it ever happened?
Sorry, 'far eastern' looks
A friend of a friend knows one of the designers at Lotus and that's what he said apparently.This should reduce manufacturing costs a great deal, as the basic parts for any vehicle platform a standardised. Whilst steel is cheaper and easier to work with, pressed steel platforms involves some pretty heavy industry and high transportation costs. Extruding aluminium uses much less energy and the component parts are much lighter and could even be "flat packed" for transport before platform is assembled, so thus reducing costs further.
I think what we have here is an exciting way forward for car design, which lends itself to a more environmentaly friendly approach. Cars will get lighter, driving dynamics improved and smaller, cleaner engines can be used. Lighter cars also provide a more suitable basis for alternative powertrains, as demonstrated with the Venturi Fetish. Look at other manufacters and many are going or have gone down the lightweight route; VW Eco Racer, Audi A2, Smart etc.
This HAS TO BE be the future.
I think what we have here is an exciting way forward for car design, which lends itself to a more environmentaly friendly approach. Cars will get lighter, driving dynamics improved and smaller, cleaner engines can be used. Lighter cars also provide a more suitable basis for alternative powertrains, as demonstrated with the Venturi Fetish. Look at other manufacters and many are going or have gone down the lightweight route; VW Eco Racer, Audi A2, Smart etc.
This HAS TO BE be the future.
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