RE: Government Decision On Lotus Money Due Soon
Discussion
Regardless of who owns it, Lotus has always been a British based company with a worldwide reputation for quality engineering and being at the cutting edge of technical design/intellectual property for both the products made and the tooling required to make them. The government may not deem this worthy of any patriotic sentiment but it cannot ignore the economical and employment benefits gained from keeping the company here. I suspect sports cars are not seen by ministers as a worthy cause for funding with public money but they would do well to bear in mind how much consultancy work Lotus does for other manufacturers which indirectly has a positive impact on the industry in general.
I would much rather the government supported a charity, sorry businees, that is close to our hearts ie Lotus.
Given the choice between Lotus and all these civil servant perks, swindles and our rediculous contributions to the EU and Portugal (shortly) I think everyone would agree (apart from the councilors / politicians) the Lotus is far more deserving of OUR money.
However, I cant help feeling that with Lotus splashing their money on motor racing (currently twice as many cars in F1 with a Lotus badge / name than the likes of Ferrari and Mclaren!!!), it looks like a rich kid driving to the local benefits office in his new Aston Martin, asking for a hand out!!
Given the choice between Lotus and all these civil servant perks, swindles and our rediculous contributions to the EU and Portugal (shortly) I think everyone would agree (apart from the councilors / politicians) the Lotus is far more deserving of OUR money.
However, I cant help feeling that with Lotus splashing their money on motor racing (currently twice as many cars in F1 with a Lotus badge / name than the likes of Ferrari and Mclaren!!!), it looks like a rich kid driving to the local benefits office in his new Aston Martin, asking for a hand out!!
SirRalph said:
Regardless of who owns it, Lotus has always been a British based company with a worldwide reputation for quality engineering
Don't you think that's rather a strong comment to make? On the road car side, Chapman-era Lotus IMHO had a worldwide reputation for "that'll do" engineering. Suspension arms packed-out on piles of washers to make up for poorly-sited pickup points, suspension geometries which wouldn't work at all without the rubber bushes getting out of the way, fragile engines, fragile interiors, questionable electrics.They have done some clever things, but their engineering consultancy only really took off after Chapman, and motor racing, were well and truly over.
The problem is how Lotus intends to spend their money. Their new business model makes no sense at all, they would not be able to build a credible story to justify investment base upon the product range they have announced. I have just gone through a similar funding exercise, albeit for a lesser amount. They are not a walkover, you have to have a high probability of success and be able to prove it.
Personally I would offer to give the money to Radical to produce an Elise class sports car (or Lotus if they revise their business plan).
Personally I would offer to give the money to Radical to produce an Elise class sports car (or Lotus if they revise their business plan).
if lotus was in Wales, or up north they would have money thrown at it left right and centre. just been through a grant selection for r&d and I was the only company in the region to be awarded one. there is heavy politically motivated disrcimination for businesses. with labouring propping unemployment up in northern/welsh areas through mass public sector employment, the Tories are trying to encourage private sector growth to replace the public sector jobs they are rightly axing.
What this means is that funding and assistance is being focused here and money is literally being thrown at anyone with a business plan, in the rest of the country particularly the south it is extremely difficult to get financial assistance without a solid business plan and a track record of success, as great as it is to see lotus ambition they don't seem to gave either.
Solution....... lotus become welsh
What this means is that funding and assistance is being focused here and money is literally being thrown at anyone with a business plan, in the rest of the country particularly the south it is extremely difficult to get financial assistance without a solid business plan and a track record of success, as great as it is to see lotus ambition they don't seem to gave either.
Solution....... lotus become welsh
if lotus was in Wales, or up north they would have money thrown at it left right and centre. just been through a grant selection for r&d and I was the only company in the region to be awarded one. there is heavy politically motivated disrcimination for businesses. with labouring propping unemployment up in northern/welsh areas through mass public sector employment, the Tories are trying to encourage private sector growth to replace the public sector jobs they are rightly axing.
What this means is that funding and assistance is being focused here and money is literally being thrown at anyone with a business plan, in the rest of the country particularly the south it is extremely difficult to get financial assistance without a solid business plan and a track record of success, as great as it is to see lotus ambition they don't seem to gave either.
Solution....... lotus become welsh
What this means is that funding and assistance is being focused here and money is literally being thrown at anyone with a business plan, in the rest of the country particularly the south it is extremely difficult to get financial assistance without a solid business plan and a track record of success, as great as it is to see lotus ambition they don't seem to gave either.
Solution....... lotus become welsh
skwdenyer said:
Don't you think that's rather a strong comment to make? On the road car side, Chapman-era Lotus IMHO had a worldwide reputation for "that'll do" engineering. Suspension arms packed-out on piles of washers to make up for poorly-sited pickup points, suspension geometries which wouldn't work at all without the rubber bushes getting out of the way, fragile engines, fragile interiors, questionable electrics.
They have done some clever things, but their engineering consultancy only really took off after Chapman, and motor racing, were well and truly over.
OK, I'll rephrase it if you like. Lotus is currently a British based company with a worldwide reputation for quality engineering. I doubt whether anything that happened in the 1960s has any bearing on the point of the original article although, ironically, had government funding been available to them back then, some of the cost related "that'll do" issues you mention may have been avoidable.They have done some clever things, but their engineering consultancy only really took off after Chapman, and motor racing, were well and truly over.
SirRalph said:
OK, I'll rephrase it if you like. Lotus is currently a British based company with a worldwide reputation for quality engineering. I doubt whether anything that happened in the 1960s has any bearing on the point of the original article although, ironically, had government funding been available to them back then, some of the cost related "that'll do" issues you mention may have been avoidable.
Cynics might suggest that, the first time Government funding was available, Chapman couldn't wait to syphon it off for his own pocket... He didn't allow any of it to reach the cars...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff