Could Esprit be built alongside Boxster?
Lotus says it will submit its application for a cash injection to the UK government in January, and has confirmed it will move production of the charismatic British brand's
promised new models
overseas if taxpayer funds aren't forthcoming.
According to the Financial Times yesterday, Lotus chief exec Dany Bahar has already spoken to Magna-Steyr in Austria and Valmet in Finland (which builds the Porsche Boxster), with a view to securing production facilities.
The threat has been out there for a while, causing consternation in the ranks of existing Lotus enthusiasts, although we still don't know if this is political gamesmanship as Mr Bahar puts the finishing touches to his demand for UK taxpayer support.
A government grant will keep it in the UK
No figures have been released officially, the Lotus boss saying only that the application will land on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' doormat in the New Year. However earlier reports have suggested the price of Lotus's loyalty to the UK will be £40m. Either way, the government's response should be clear by April.
If they (we!) cough up the cash, it will be earmarked for a new factory development at Hethel, which could also herald the creation of 1,000 extra jobs.
The bold plan is to increase sales from a little over 2,000 units to 6-8,000 units by 2015, a scheme that has been given a 60 percent chance of success by one of the 'galaxy of star's recruited to the Lotus banner in recent months - namely 'legendary' US industry executive Bob Lutz. Or to put it another way (one might possibly infer), a 40 percent chance of failure.
Lotus has said previously that its five model expansion plan will cost somewhere in the region of £800m.
Meanwhile, in yet another move to 'up the ante', Dany Bahar told Autocar yesterday that he's considering commissioning an in-house Lotus V8 as an alternative to the Toyota unit originally envisaged for the new Esprit.
Apparently potential punters aren't overly impressed by the Japanese option, but he won't make a decision until January when the funding plans are known.