Monday 6th December 2010

Lotus Europa Revived As Proton Lekir

Malaysian maker reveals sports car concept as Lotus signs more new names

---

The Lotus Europa has (sort of) been revised by parent company Proton to create this, the Lekir concept, which the Malaysian manufacturer has revealed at the Kuala Lumpur motor show.

Now, if you were to pick a Lotus to revive, the Europa - which emerged in 2006 to distinctly lukewarm reception - wouldn't exactly be your first choice.

Curiously, however, it's not the first time the Europa's been re-used - Dodge slapped its own badges on the car for an electric concept at the 2009 Detroit motor show.

For its reincarnation as the Lekir concept, the Europa returns to the internal combustion engine, with around 220bhp from - depending on which part of Proton's literature you take as true - either a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre turbocharged four.

You could actually say it's a case of the Europa coming home, too: the car actually started life as a Proton sports car called 'Sepang' before morphing into a full-on Lotus model.

Back at Lotus HQ in Norfolk, the roll-call of big-name signings for Lotus's ambitious future product plans grows ever larger. Latest to join the Lotus reinvention party are Karl-Heinz Kalbfell (former CEO of both Rolls-Royce and Maserati) and former Ferrari general manager Guillaume Chablin.

Lotus might have brave ambitions to challenge Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche but, as PH editor Chris-R says, we wonder how long it will be before the gravy train gets too long to fit onto the Hethel station platform...

[Blangs]

looks rather nice

[kambites]

Sounds like a good idea, really.

[Crusoe]

Would like to see them giving a seven year warranty on one of those looks better than the lotus version though.

[sprinter1050]

Has Proton really got enough money to afford all these ex-Ferrari(& other) bods?

[Ex Boy Racer]

Reminds me of one of these football teams that signs up a load of past-it stars. Great for publicity, but never quite as impressive on the pitch...

[obo]

The Lotus Europa is somewhat lame. (or misundestood, whatever)

This however is a potentially excellent Proton. Great car.

[rhinochopig]

Lotus for Proton money - what's not to like.

[kenprotheroe]

The way Lotus are performing + with the expensive signings-on,

soon they will be in more debt even than Manchester United.

Edited by kenprotheroe on Monday 6th December 11:23

[leon9191]

Just me or does the side profile look like a MK2 MR2?

Looks good i Think.

[chickensoup]

Europa is a grat looking car (if you see one on the road)
Really did not deserve such poor sales, and hopefully will do well as a Proton.

Personally i can see Elise fitting better with the brand values of sporting proton than new dawn lotus

[pthelazyjourno]

Ex Boy Racer said:

Reminds me of one of these football teams that signs up a load of past-it stars. Great for publicity, but never quite as impressive on the pitch...

Well it worked for Bolton Wanderers. Lots of international stars aged 30+, led to them finishing 8th, 6th and 7th in the Premier League, along with various quarter finals, semi finals and cup finals on the way.

Not bad for a club with no money and a bunch of OAP footballers!

So it can work...

[Escort Si-130]

The wheels on the car in the first pic looks good on the car. The other pics doesnt do justice with the different wheels.

[jazzyjeff]

leon9191 said:

Just me or does the side profile look like a MK2 MR2?

Just you

JJ

[OlberJ]

Huge improvement over the last Europa!

What did the Europa weigh in at?

[GTRene]

slap a nice audi 5cill turbo in it ala audi TTRS (340hp) and you have a nice sounding and fast car.

[Bill]

rhinochopig said:

Lotus for Proton money - what's not to like.

That's a big ask, but if they do I suspect they'll sell like hotcakes.

:crossesfingersbutnotholdingbreath:

[5lab]

reminds me of this kia

[Roberty]

Paint it all one colour and put some normal alloys on it and I think it looks far nicer than the Lotus version.

I don't think the Europa was a bad car just ugly in comparison to it's siblings.

[djt100]

I'll have one in 2 years, with proton normal depretiation then should be a bargain ..

[Gizmo!]

Bonkers.

Are they doing any market research at all? Or just making a million models hoping someone will buy something, anything?