RE: Renault and Caterham join forces

[A Scotsman]

dbanes said:

We love our RenaultSport 197 (Clio), it's a blast to drive but it is starting to fall apart at just 5 years old, let's hope one of the parties in this knows how to build quick long lasting cars.

Really? I have a 182 and it's as solid as its ever been.

[woof]

ayseven said:

I sincerely doubt Caterham as we know it, will have much to do with it, except for the badge. That's Tony's way. How many of Caterham's 7 staff have anything to do with the F1 team? I am guessing 0.

Correct - nothing to do with Caterham Dartford.
And yes there's no tie in with Caterham Cars and F1 - apart from the odd PR opportunity

From MikeGascoyne: All the design for the joint venture from the Caterham side will be done from our base in Norfolk.

[Kong]

As mentioned in the article, seems strange they didn't do a deal with Lotus instead. I'm sure Caterham have some fine engineers but Lotus have much more experience bringing this exact sort of car to market. Plus a rebodied Evora would have been an ideal candidate for this car. Cuts out a lot of R&D, would keep Hethel in business building the tubs and Dieppe in business putting the bits together - everyone's a winner.

Maybe there was a conflict with Nissan and Toyota powered Lotus? Or concern about the future of Lotus.

I hope it all works out. I'd like to see something a bit more affordable than the Evora but with better styling than that new Alfa thing - this could be that car.

[450Nick]

Raven Flyer said:

It takes a rare skill to come up with something as ugly as that A110-50.

Really?? I think its absolutely beautiful - I'd have one in a heartbeat if it were available and I could afford it.. Mine with a Judd V8 please

[Twincam16]

Kong said:

As mentioned in the article, seems strange they didn't do a deal with Lotus instead. I'm sure Caterham have some fine engineers but Lotus have much more experience bringing this exact sort of car to market. Plus a rebodied Evora would have been an ideal candidate for this car. Cuts out a lot of R&D, would keep Hethel in business building the tubs and Dieppe in business putting the bits together - everyone's a winner.

Maybe there was a conflict with Nissan and Toyota powered Lotus? Or concern about the future of Lotus.

I hope it all works out. I'd like to see something a bit more affordable than the Evora but with better styling than that new Alfa thing - this could be that car.

I suspect that if Lotus does get involved, it'll be with the Infiniti Emerg-E, given that it was basically a twin to the Evora 414E.

[Repent]

[Kong]

Twincam16 said:

Kong said:

As mentioned in the article, seems strange they didn't do a deal with Lotus instead. I'm sure Caterham have some fine engineers but Lotus have much more experience bringing this exact sort of car to market. Plus a rebodied Evora would have been an ideal candidate for this car. Cuts out a lot of R&D, would keep Hethel in business building the tubs and Dieppe in business putting the bits together - everyone's a winner.

Maybe there was a conflict with Nissan and Toyota powered Lotus? Or concern about the future of Lotus.

I hope it all works out. I'd like to see something a bit more affordable than the Evora but with better styling than that new Alfa thing - this could be that car.

I suspect that if Lotus does get involved, it'll be with the Infiniti Emerg-E, given that it was basically a twin to the Evora 414E.

In which case it would be even more strange to use one niche contractor for the Infiniti and another for the Renault given they are owned by the same people and these are broadly similar cars. Haven't they learnt anything from VAG about platform sharing and profitability?

[ant leigh]

BertBert said:

I can't get very excited about something that's 3-4 years away though.
Bert

3-4 years gives me time to save up some pennies.
Looking forward to see what they come up with.

[StottyZr]

Are they going to brand it as a Renault? From the concept I would be led to believe so. Thats probably not the best idea.

[kambites]

StottyZr said:

Are they going to brand it as a Renault? From the concept I would be led to believe so. Thats probably not the best idea.

I thought the play was to use Alpine as a badge in its own right?

[rubystone]

David87 said:

So, just to clarify, the Caterham version will be built in France? As much as I like the idea if the car, I prefer my Caterhams to be built in, err, Caterham. If it's the latter, where do I sign?

.

? To my knowledge, nothing other than perhaps one of Andy Noble's cheese toasties has ever been constructed in Caterham. The "factory" is in Dartford on a dreary industrial estate and will shortly shift to Leafield.

[XTR2Turbo]

Kong said:

As mentioned in the article, seems strange they didn't do a deal with Lotus instead. I'm sure Caterham have some fine engineers but Lotus have much more experience bringing this exact sort of car to market. Plus a rebodied Evora would have been an ideal candidate for this car. Cuts out a lot of R&D, would keep Hethel in business building the tubs and Dieppe in business putting the bits together - everyone's a winner.

Maybe there was a conflict with Nissan and Toyota powered Lotus? Or concern about the future of Lotus.

I hope it all works out. I'd like to see something a bit more affordable than the Evora but with better styling than that new Alfa thing - this could be that car.

I understood Caterham now have a team of about 50 engineers working under Tony Shute who moved from Lotus last year. Tony was the man that brought the original Elise project to life.

Caterham seem to be investing heavily to bring a more dailly useable Caterham to fruition. I suspect much of the design engineering will be Caterham but the production / assembly in France. Don't forget the body for the Elise is made in France already and shipped to Norfolk so assuming the same people will make the body for thi s....

[Hedgerley]

I can't really see what Caterham gets out of this. Will there be a Caterham branded version? Certainly Renault will benefit from the funding TF is providing but to be quite frank anything that involves the French Government as well should be given a wide berth. In fact, although Lotus were in the early running for the re-launch of Alpine as a brand, I think there will actually be a sigh of relief in Hethel!

And I wonder of the Government will fall foul of EU competition/subsidy rules, following their bail out of Peugot and now this funding boost for Renault.

As for the Infiniti Emerg-e, despite a lot of very positive reviews (it looked great but sounded weird going up the hill at Goodwood) Nissan have said they won't be building it, a decision I hope they will reverse once Lotus gets its act together.

[otolith]

Hedgerley said:

And I wonder of the Government will fall foul of EU competition/subsidy rules, following their bail out of Peugot and now this funding boost for Renault.

Offical French Response said:

Ah don' wanna talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food-trough wiper! Ah fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries! Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!

[PascalBuyens]

dbanes said:

We love our RenaultSport 197 (Clio), it's a blast to drive but it is starting to fall apart at just 5 years old, let's hope one of the parties in this knows how to build quick long lasting cars.

It takes them the full 5 years now before they fall apart? :-)

[Mr Whippy]

Wow, that is a very pretty car!

Gone right to the top of my list of favourite supercars on looks!

Dave

[rubystone]

Hedgerley said:

I can't really see what Caterham gets out of this.

access to (some of) the French government funding perhaps? Access to a manufacturing facility? Jobs for Mike's boys? What really surprise me is that Fernandez didn't try to do something with a Malaysian outfit.

[jnoiles]

Kong said:

As mentioned in the article, seems strange they didn't do a deal with Lotus instead.

Given their recent history, would you do business with Lotus?

[Pesty]

Wow. I was going to get excited but then remembered these things hardly ever look like the concept.

[otolith]

jnoiles said:

Given their recent history, would you do business with Lotus?

Besides, would the departed and unlamented Bahar have wanted something as non-premium-lifestyle-luxury-lifestyle-premium as a Renault badge anywhere near a (roadgoing) Lotus?