RE: Lotus Evora 400: even lighter, even dearer

RE: Lotus Evora 400: even lighter, even dearer

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Discussion

Tuna

19,930 posts

283 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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bobo said:
jmg should really hang his head in shame imo....

totally overrated and basically an accountant. nothing more....
Sorry, I think you're very wide of the mark here.

Before JMG, there was talk from people not willing to buy their cars because it wasn't clear that Lotus would actually be around in a month's time. Bahar had utterly destroyed confidence in the company, they'd had to shut down production for three months and the Evora as a platform was almost still born.

Now we have a car that actually justifies a 'grown up' price tag. The most powerful and fastest production Lotus. Higher quality interiors, better quality control across the board, better reliability and a real workmanlike approach to improving all of the Lotus offerings (maybe it's me, but we seem to actually be having fewer 'special editions' than usual, and more real updates to the cars they sell).

On top of that Lotus appears to have a focus, and seems to be rediscovering an identity. Less of the silly marketing slogans and a stronger confidence in letting the cars speak for themselves - these are potent drivers' cars.

For sure, it's a shame the new Esprit that the original Evora was meant to lead to has not materialised, but given the fierce competition in that part of the market at the moment that's probably a very good thing. We've got the usual stuff that pops up in every discussion - the Elise should cost the same as an MX-5, Toyota should buy them, why don't they do X, Y or Z, but we all know that most of that is impossible, unnecessary or just a bad case of nostalgia. What they have done is moved from a position where the Evora was disastrously positioned in the market, to a point where (outside of the Porsche obsessed UK press) it's seen as an exciting option for people who really do want something special.

It's also true Lotus has next to no budget and huge constraints on how they can evolve. On the other hand, they've at last got to a point where we're talking about their future, and journalists are getting excited about their current range. JMG has achieved a lot to get them there and I hope he can continue to steer the company for years to come. What I don't want to see is another CEO, another new five year plan, another random change in direction, another buy out, another crisis just to satisfy the armchair critics.

jayemm89

4,002 posts

129 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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otolith said:
How did they do in the other 19 years?
Almost certainly quite badly too. The Elise, despite being a great sales success, is not a very profitable car for Lotus. At all.

Lotus have had a very, very hard time as a company but they do endure. I think it's a testament to them though that their current range, in my opinion, offers more diversity than Aston Martin's did for quite some time.

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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They've been poorly managed for a long time, and current management appear to be turning it round. I'm not sure what more people want from Gales - Bahar style lunacy?

CABC

5,529 posts

100 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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Reality is that not everyone on ph is a powerfully built director with business experience. It's so easy isnt it?
Takes a long time to build a business with a strong balance sheet that can properly fund development. Once you're there it's easy to squander that balance sheet for years without anyone noticing. Given their resources how on earth did Pan Am, GM and many more behemoths screw up?
Anyway, jmg looks solid to me. He needs to build a track record over a couple more years then people will hopefully invest in him and the team.

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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CABC said:
Reality is that not everyone on ph is a powerfully built director with business experience. It's so easy isnt it?
Takes a long time to build a business with a strong balance sheet that can properly fund development. Once you're there it's easy to squander that balance sheet for years without anyone noticing. Given their resources how on earth did Pan Am, GM and many more behemoths screw up?
Anyway, jmg looks solid to me. He needs to build a track record over a couple more years then people will hopefully invest in him and the team.
On the bit that I've bolded - that's exactly what the chat was around here when he was hired. That is, if he can prove there is a brand and company worth investing in, the owners are going to do it. I think JMG is succeeding and if it can continue for another 12-24 months, (I hope!) there will be more money coming and Lotus then has the chance to make a step change.

Today, Lotus have the best range in their history. JMG has absolutely driven that, by maximising what are amazing cars, done on a shoestring. cool

I feel lucky to have a 911 GT3 and I love it, but if I have to sell it one day, the one thing that makes me relaxed about that is that there will be a Lotus I can buy, such as an Evora, another Elise or an Exige. (Or an early Boxster biggrin ).

Celebrate variety: wouldn't the world be fking boring if the only sports cars in the world were made by one marque.



Edited by braddo on Monday 22 August 20:36

jayemm89

4,002 posts

129 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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braddo said:
Celebrate variety: wouldn't the world be fking boring if the only sports cars in the world were made by one marque.
One of the reasons I went Lotus was the relentless sea of grey at AM dealerships. When someone brave orders one in a striking colour, they're stunning, but it is far too rare.