Lotus to build an MPV!

vanMould · February 9th, 2006, 09:12 AM

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_47/car_portal_pic_23856.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutoExpress

Lotus to build an MPV!

Stop the presses, keep telephone lines open and cancel all leave - Lotus is building an MPV! That's not a misprint, and it's not a mistake. One of Britain's most famous sports car brands has turned its hand to making people carriers.

This official design sketch has been revealed by the supercar firm to preview its new Geneva Motor Show APX star. With sharp lines and a practical five-door shape, the people mover is sure to send shockwaves though the industry.

However, before you write letters of complaint - or get out your cheque book - the show car won't be wearing Lotus badges. It has been produced by the firm's design and engineering teams on its hi-tech platform known as Versatile Vehicle Architecture or VVH. A spokesman told us: "We're using VVH in our new mid-engined supercar,

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but first we wanted to show the industry how versatile it could be." The Porsche 911 rival he is referring to will be the all-new Esprit, which we showed testing in prototype form in Issue 824. The APX also has a new 300bhp supercharged 3.0-litre V6. Performance is key to this family lugger's appeal, and with a 190bhp per tonne power-to-weight ratio, it is a real driver's car.

Although Lotus will display the people carrier at Geneva during the press days, it will have disappeared by the time the public is admitted. That's because bosses want to advertise their design and engineering expertise to big car firms which might want to commission Lotus to develop new models for them. Meanwhile, the next-generation Esprit is due to go on sale early in 2008, and will be revealed late next year.
Chris Thorp

fbc · February 9th, 2006, 09:18 AM

Oh. Dear. God. No. images/smilies/cry.gif

(I know it's just to display their engineering skills, but...)

SL65 · February 9th, 2006, 09:20 AM

What a shame. Such a specialised brand has just 'sold out' and gone in the direction of market-expansion just like all the other car manufacturers images/smilies/sad.gif

Oh well, lets get over it. Its a happening thing these days. Wonder if it can take down the mighty R-Class!

TechZ · February 9th, 2006, 09:28 AM

Could it be their owners (Malaysian company) influence?

andyhui01 · February 9th, 2006, 10:02 AM

I think it might be... Proton have been wanting to build a fast MPV for years... but then they just couldn't find the right design

astroboymoto · February 9th, 2006, 12:27 PM

err wtf?? did any of you actually read that?? images/smilies/wacko.gif

it's a proof of concept designed to get more motor industry interest in Lotus Engineering... and it works, that new Jaguar Xk has a lotus designed tub chassis.

images/smilies/bangin.gif

I don't see any selling out images/smilies/mad.gif

fbc · February 9th, 2006, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroboymoto

err wtf?? did any of you actually read that?? images/smilies/wacko.gif

Some of us did images/smilies/wink.gif

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroboymoto

it's a proof of concept designed to get more motor industry interest in Lotus Engineering... and it works, that new Jaguar Xk has a lotus designed tub chassis.

images/smilies/bangin.gif

I don't see any selling out images/smilies/mad.gif

I know, and I still don't like it whatsoever images/smilies/no.gif

. The Lotus badge has no place on an MPV, proof-of-concept or not.

hajj · February 9th, 2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbc

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroboymoto

I don't see any selling out images/smilies/mad.gif

I know, and I still don't like it whatsoever images/smilies/no.gif

. The Lotus badge has no place on an MPV, proof-of-concept or not.

That's why they are not putting a Lotus badge on that thing.
I hope this going to make it to the market. At least someone tries to fight the ugly american made R-class images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

teeb · February 9th, 2006, 03:50 PM

"A spokesman told us: "We're using VVH in our new mid-engined supercar, but first we wanted to show the industry how versatile it could be."

It's not an MPV, it's a hatchback.

They're not gonna build it, they're just showing how their VVT [Versatile Vehicle Architecture] can be used for any type of car, from a track car [Elise] to an exec [Europa] to a supercar [Esprit], and the hatchback above. Probably even a 4x4 if you wanted.

Nothing to panic about - remember, it's a sketch from Lotus Engineering, not the main Lotus group themselves.

Besides, if it was competing against the Focus I'd have that over the Focus.

February 9th, 2006, 09:18 AM	#2
fbc Mantastic! Joined: Jan 8th, 2005 Last Online: 09:14 PM Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 33 Posts: 10,641 Car: 2006 MY07 Astra SRi Turbo Rep Power: 82	Oh. Dear. God. No. (I know it's just to display their engineering skills, but...) __________________ www.sniffpetrol.com

February 9th, 2006, 09:20 AM	#3
SL65 Ambitious but rubbish! Joined: Jul 12th, 2004 Last Online: 08:31 AM Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 18 Posts: 9,196 Car: 1998 Subaru Legacy 2.5L Rep Power: 41	What a shame. Such a specialised brand has just 'sold out' and gone in the direction of market-expansion just like all the other car manufacturers Oh well, lets get over it. Its a happening thing these days. Wonder if it can take down the mighty R-Class!

February 9th, 2006, 09:28 AM	#4
TechZ Captain Internet Joined: Dec 19th, 2004 Last Online: 06:59 PM Location: Bahrain Age: 24 Posts: 2,426 Car: Audi TT '08 Rep Power: 164	Could it be their owners (Malaysian company) influence? __________________ techzonline.net

February 9th, 2006, 10:02 AM	#5
andyhui01 Joined: Jun 4th, 2004 Last Online: 11:45 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 20 Posts: 8,515 Car: 00' Subaru Forester GT LFS Status: Rep Power: 28	I think it might be... Proton have been wanting to build a fast MPV for years... but then they just couldn't find the right design __________________

February 9th, 2006, 12:27 PM	#6
astroboymoto Joined: Jan 11th, 2005 Last Online: December 1st, 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 360 Rep Power: 0	err wtf?? did any of you actually read that?? it's a proof of concept designed to get more motor industry interest in Lotus Engineering... and it works, that new Jaguar Xk has a lotus designed tub chassis. I don't see any selling out

February 9th, 2006, 03:50 PM	#9
teeb Joined: Sep 23rd, 2005 Last Online: 08:47 PM Location: Glasgow, Scotland. Bah. Age: 21 Posts: 2,372 Rep Power: 54	"A spokesman told us: "We're using VVH in our new mid-engined supercar, but first we wanted to show the industry how versatile it could be." It's not an MPV, it's a hatchback. They're not gonna build it, they're just showing how their VVT [Versatile Vehicle Architecture] can be used for any type of car, from a track car [Elise] to an exec [Europa] to a supercar [Esprit], and the hatchback above. Probably even a 4x4 if you wanted. Nothing to panic about - remember, it's a sketch from Lotus Engineering, not the main Lotus group themselves. Besides, if it was competing against the Focus I'd have that over the Focus. __________________ ...I'm meant to put something here?

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