The state of the British car industry is always a political and emotional minefield able to ignite passionate debates on PH. And there's nothing wrong with that. It shows we care. And last week I enjoyed driving two completely different new cars. Both very British, both carrying emotive badges and both, in their own ways, undeniably sports cars.
On Tuesday I was in Norfolk to drive the new Lotus Elise S Cup, then on Wednesday I was leaving Crewe behind the wheel of the Bentley Continental GT3-R. Yes, the kerb weight of the Lotus fits into that Bentley a little over two times and, yes, the cost of the Lotus fits into the asking price of the Bentley around five times. Contrasts abound. But none more shocking than in the atmosphere at the respective factories.
Lotus still builds great cars, needs folk to buy 'em
Each car sparked lively debate, PHers chipping in interesting observations on the position of each brand and where they're at right now. If you are a Lotus or Bentley fan, each of them is worth a glance.
From my own visits, I'll say this. At Hethel there's an atmosphere of stiff upper lip, heads down through the bad times and anticipating the good. Everybody I spoke to had confidence in the product, but nobody was bouncing off the ceiling with enthusiasm either. It's incredibly easy to ridicule Dany Bahahahaha (see, I did it just there) and his audacious plans and schemes. Many blame him for the difficult situation that Lotus now sits in. Sales are well below targets, the range is ageing fast and there's the feeling among many that a new model is impossible for the brand. In boss Jean-Marc Gales there does at least seem to be a man with a plan though.
The next day was a total contrast.
In Crewe the VW group link to Bentley is unbelievably strong. And energising too. It's all hustle and bustle. Waiting in reception I saw staff from Audi and Porsche signing in and out. The car park is awash with group products. The place is alive.
Both brands fly the flag with real pride
While Lotus lost £71.1m in 2014 sales still rose. Bentley saw sales leap nine per cent in 2014. That's over 11,000 new Bentleys at a minimum of £100K per car. Add the fact Crewe is, in VW speak, a "centre of excellence" for the W12 motor and interior trim, and you get this feeling that the very British brand is making waves in its new bigger, German-owned pond.
The Bentayga SUV
, loathsome as some may find it, will probably be a massive success. A massive British success, with a huge W12 motor at the front. And I think there'll be something else a bit more PH arriving soon after as well, judging only by the talents, connections and enthusiasms of the people they're hiring.
The fact that Bentley is "owned by ze Germans" doesn't really take away from the success at all. Like Lotus, they're a bunch of skilled and enthusiastic people making niche cars that don't fit in with the jelly moulded products sold in their millions around the world. Unlike Lotus, they're not saddled with crippling losses and a recent history of bad decisions.
But they do both build sporting cars that beat the world, with the Union Jack stuck on the side. And that's no bad thing.