RE: Why Lotus won't be building an SUV - yet
Discussion
hufggfg said:
Though I have to say I’m a little concerned on the engine front. Not really bothered about the number of cylinders, or the swept capacity, but turbos with broad flat torque curves designed for SUVs just couldn’t be further from what I want in a Lotus.
Lotus do have a little past experience of using turbochargers. hufggfg said:
This mostly sounds absolutely great for lotus (assuming they actually do keep the Lotus DNA, rather than just give it lip service).
Though I have to say I’m a little concerned on the engine front. Not really bothered about the number of cylinders, or the swept capacity, but turbos with broad flat torque curves designed for SUVs just couldn’t be further from what I want in a Lotus.
True - but I imagine Lotus will map/tune them differently. If anyone can get a car to drive right - it's Lotus. Though I have to say I’m a little concerned on the engine front. Not really bothered about the number of cylinders, or the swept capacity, but turbos with broad flat torque curves designed for SUVs just couldn’t be further from what I want in a Lotus.
lotuslover69 said:
st4 said:
Seems a shame to lose the Toyota engines. They helped removed the marques reputiation for unreliability. I wish them well, I'd personal, funds allowing, would love a second car and an Evora would be amazing.
Well the current range of engines geely has at its disposal are3 cylinder and 4 cylinder engines currently fitted in volvos. Not an unreliable engine but certainly not an exciting one neither.
I have been told from a friend at Volvo in Sweden that Lotus have had that particular engine up to 400 bhp reliably.
Not a bad place to be.
Seems like the same story I’ve been reading about Lotus forever.
If I’m typical (and I know I’m certainly not), but I’ve never ventured towards a Lotus. Love cars, particularly small ones, but never felt the pull towards Lotus. I’ve driven one, on a track, but never thought ‘wow’. Guess I’m not alone either, otherwise we’d be talking about Lotus in a completely different vein.
If I’m typical (and I know I’m certainly not), but I’ve never ventured towards a Lotus. Love cars, particularly small ones, but never felt the pull towards Lotus. I’ve driven one, on a track, but never thought ‘wow’. Guess I’m not alone either, otherwise we’d be talking about Lotus in a completely different vein.
Jellinek said:
...one would hope there is a strong on-boarding program to imbue newbies with the CABC philosophies, most importantly the designers. Otherwise you simply end up with a Lotus badged JLR or LEVC engineered vehicle.
For Chapman, lightweight was a function of his innovative approach....
That's Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, ACBC not CABC for to whom such things matter.For Chapman, lightweight was a function of his innovative approach....
Composite Guru said:
I have a Volvo V40 with the Euro 6 2.0l turbo petrol in it.
I have been told from a friend at Volvo in Sweden that Lotus have had that particular engine up to 400 bhp reliably.
Not a bad place to be.
One of the first things geely did was cancel all production on large capacity engines that volvo used to produce, their current lineup is all 3 and 4 cylinder engines.I have been told from a friend at Volvo in Sweden that Lotus have had that particular engine up to 400 bhp reliably.
Not a bad place to be.
Whilst it is possible they revive the larger engines for lotus i think it unlikely as they see the future in EV drive trains and low capacity engines.
Oh st4 ... can you not shut the F up about PCP, "whites goods" (sic) Porsches etc etc ?
We all know you love your boringly reliable Lexus GS and hate almost every German car built.
I think its time you left for pastures new instead of infecting nearly every thread on PH with your twaddle.
We all know you love your boringly reliable Lexus GS and hate almost every German car built.
I think its time you left for pastures new instead of infecting nearly every thread on PH with your twaddle.
No Lotus SUV is the correct decision I think. I mean, you need mass in an SUV or it's not really an SUV, and mass goes against what Lotus stand for.
And dynamically, they run rings round the opposition, but the pricing . . .
You would have to really want one to buy one over a Porsche.
I think they have to go cheaper, or go more expensive limited number type cars, or . . . go fully electric.
If you are thinking about a new platform, with all the mass positioned in the middle of the wheelbase, then it could be time for them to make the jump.
Would give them almost a unique space in an otherwise fairly crowded market. Geely will have the resources via Polestar to provide battery and emotors off the shelf, leaving Lotus to focus on chassis/body/interior.
Could open up a new market for them.
And dynamically, they run rings round the opposition, but the pricing . . .
You would have to really want one to buy one over a Porsche.
I think they have to go cheaper, or go more expensive limited number type cars, or . . . go fully electric.
If you are thinking about a new platform, with all the mass positioned in the middle of the wheelbase, then it could be time for them to make the jump.
Would give them almost a unique space in an otherwise fairly crowded market. Geely will have the resources via Polestar to provide battery and emotors off the shelf, leaving Lotus to focus on chassis/body/interior.
Could open up a new market for them.
GranCab said:
Oh st4 ... can you not shut the F up about PCP, "whites goods" (sic) Porsches etc etc ?
We all know you love your boringly reliable Lexus GS and hate almost every German car built.
I think its time you left for pastures new instead of infecting nearly every thread on PH with your twaddle.
No. Not happening buttercup.I'm going nowhere - you need my help. We all know you love your boringly reliable Lexus GS and hate almost every German car built.
I think its time you left for pastures new instead of infecting nearly every thread on PH with your twaddle.
My point is German cars are just as much whites goods as Korean and Japanese ones. The Lotus is an infinitely more interesting car than any Porsche.
Edited by st4 on Saturday 16th March 12:21
BOR said:
No Lotus SUV is the correct decision I think. I mean, you need mass in an SUV or it's not really an SUV, and mass goes against what Lotus stand for.
And dynamically, they run rings round the opposition, but the pricing . . .
You would have to really want one to buy one over a Porsche.
I think they have to go cheaper, or go more expensive limited number type cars, or . . . go fully electric.
If you are thinking about a new platform, with all the mass positioned in the middle of the wheelbase, then it could be time for them to make the jump.
Would give them almost a unique space in an otherwise fairly crowded market. Geely will have the resources via Polestar to provide battery and emotors off the shelf, leaving Lotus to focus on chassis/body/interior.
Could open up a new market for them.
Remember the original Tesla Roadster. Not a bad idea to revisit now. And dynamically, they run rings round the opposition, but the pricing . . .
You would have to really want one to buy one over a Porsche.
I think they have to go cheaper, or go more expensive limited number type cars, or . . . go fully electric.
If you are thinking about a new platform, with all the mass positioned in the middle of the wheelbase, then it could be time for them to make the jump.
Would give them almost a unique space in an otherwise fairly crowded market. Geely will have the resources via Polestar to provide battery and emotors off the shelf, leaving Lotus to focus on chassis/body/interior.
Could open up a new market for them.
GranCab said:
Oh st4 ... can you not shut the F up about PCP, "whites goods" (sic) Porsches etc etc ?
We all know you love your boringly reliable Lexus GS and hate almost every German car built.
I think its time you left for pastures new instead of infecting nearly every thread on PH with your twaddle.
Just ignore it We all know you love your boringly reliable Lexus GS and hate almost every German car built.
I think its time you left for pastures new instead of infecting nearly every thread on PH with your twaddle.
It’s surprising people question Volvo engines, they’ve been capable of decent power and very well engineered for many years. Look at the B18, they got it right way back then
yonex said:
Just ignore it
It’s surprising people question Volvo engines, they’ve been capable of decent power and very well engineered for many years. Look at the B18, they got it right way back then
Don't google auxiliary belt failure of five cylinder diesel engines...a monumentally poor bit of design but generally I agree. I rate volvo products well. It’s surprising people question Volvo engines, they’ve been capable of decent power and very well engineered for many years. Look at the B18, they got it right way back then
Cold said:
Lotus do have a little past experience of using turbochargers.
Very true, part if it is just a personal preference, I really don't like turbo engines, particularly for light, involved, detail focused cars. I think the world of turbos has moved on a lot as well. Back in the 80s, all turbo cars were pretty damn laggy, including the Porsche and Ferrari versions. Now, sports car manufacturers have done incredible things with their turbo engines to remove almost any sniff of turbo lag, but I don't think this is within the capabilities of Lotus right now (and particularly not with a Volvo base engine).
With the Boxter/Cayman turbos clearly not exciting enthusiasts in the way the old 6-cyl engines did there's a huge opportunity for Lotus to improve practicality, and then have superior offering, but if the engines in Lotus's are just as dull, then I think it'll be a huge opportunity missed.
I have to say, I think like the Toyota engined cars BECAUSE of their comparative reliability, but DESPITE them being relatively unexciting engines.
I've loved both my Lotus's (Toyota Exige, Evora 410), but particularly in the Evora's case, it would be improved by an engine that really liked to play in the upper rev ranges, rather than the wide flat torque band and 7000 red line.
st4 said:
True - but I imagine Lotus will map/tune them differently. If anyone can get a car to drive right - it's Lotus.
Yeah, but there's only so much they can do with a base engine, they can't totally change the characteristics of it.dunnoreally said:
Or, how 'bout rather than some piddly little 3 pot, someone dusts off the old 2.4 turbo and bungs that in an Elise chassis?
Come on lads, you know you want to!
They need to have a word with Volvo to see if they have misplaced a container full of those Yamaha V8s IMO, they're thirty five KG heavier than the Toyota V6 but they're great engines. Come on lads, you know you want to!
Edited by FN2TypeR on Saturday 16th March 12:59
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