Tuesday 30th August 2011

McLaren F1 Designer Joins Group Lotus

Gordon Murray adds more weight to 'advisory council'

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This would look good on anyone's CV...

Gordon Murray has joined the Lotus Advisory Council, alongside fellow automotive 'alumni' Bob Lutz, Tom Purves, Burkhard Göschel and Frank Tuch.

The purpose of the Lotus Advisory Council is to give advice and guidance on strategic issues such as product strategy, technology, quality, brand, marketing and distribution, says Lotus in a statement out today. They also suggest the appointment fulfils a long-held ambition for Murray, who moved to England hoping to work for Lotus but ended up starting his career with Brabham following a chance meeting with their chief designer.

Regarded as a bit of an innovator and/or the genius of his age in Formula 1, Murray has also been responsible for a small but significant number of road cars. The McLaren F1, the M-B SLR McLaren, and the Light Car Company Rocket all leapt off his drawing board, while his wikipedia entry also includes the title of Director of Advanced Concepts at Caparo.

...this wouldn't look too bad, either

Since the F1, Murray has turned his hand to the T.25 Petrol and T.27 Electric Ultra Compact City Car project, which some PHers might regard as a considerable waste of the great man's talents...

As far as we know, the Lotus Advisory Council meets a couple of times a year, and no money exchanges hands, although its other members have been heard proselytising on the benefits of the Lotus Evora loan car that comes with the gig. When history retells this intriguing era in the Lotus story, it will be fascinating to look back at how individual members were able to make their skills and experience count.

"Gordon has never been afraid to trail blaze, take risks and do things differently, these are attribute that we are very familiar with and very proud of at Lotus, says chief exec Dany Bahar. "With his incredible and unique motorsport and design experience he will complement the existing council line up perfectly. We're very much looking forward to working with him."

Murray's 'creds' are unimpeachable

For his part, Murray says this: "For years I've been a huge admirer of Lotus, I have great respect for the legacy that Colin Chapman created and I think what Dany and the team are doing is a really good thing for the brand. He's taking the strength from Chapman's principals and taking the business to the next level whilst still keeping the general ethos - not an easy task! I'm really looking forward to contributing to Group Lotus during this exciting time."

[Pistachio]

2 Seat Electric city car anyone with Lotus badge ????

[LuS1fer]

They'll soon be going bust with all this celeb endorsement.

Murray knows very little
"I have great respect for the legacy that Colin Chapman created"

That was Subaru, you idiot!

[Honk]

well....."shizzle my pizzle"....iirc this is the Lotus patois.

[groomi]

Not really joining Group Lotus is he. Just sitting in a meeting room a couple of times a year.

Any need for the Daily Wail-esque headline?

[Munich]

LuS1fer said:

They'll soon be going bust with all this celeb endorsement.

Murray knows very little
"I have great respect for the legacy that Colin Chapman created"

That was Subaru, you idiot!

[maffski]

Gordons T.25/7, the Lotus Omnivore generator unit and a Proton production line... that could work.

Although more likely it's a free expenses jolly to a hotel a couple of times a year

[Munich]

Pistachio said:

2 Seat Electric city car anyone with Lotus badge ????

as opposed to a Telsa badge.

[Insight]

Nice move, they certainly seem to be getting quite a few people behind the brand. This Gordon Murray is certainly more usual than this fella Mr Swizz Beatz : http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/autocarconfidential...

[G0ldfysh]

LuS1fer said:

They'll soon be going bust with all this celeb endorsement.

Murray knows very little
"I have great respect for the legacy that Colin Chapman created"

That was Subaru, you idiot!

[Pommygranite]

Would that be the same Gordon Murray, designer of the F1? I think that Gordon Murray, designer of the F1, was a columnist in EVO where he, Gordon Murray, designer of the F1, wrote a few interesting things but made it clear that he, Gordon Murray, designer of the F1, was not only forward thinking but had previously designedthe F1. If you didn't know that Gordon Murray was the designer of the F1 perhaps try and get a past issue of EVO as occasionally he refers to it.

Gordon Murray, designer of the F1. Tm.

[The Pits]

Gordon Murray adds weight for the first time ever!

This is really good news. Hopefully he can help steer Lotus back to the true path.

[Slinky]

I can just see a design board meeting with Gordon and Swizzle stick sat around the table...

Swizzle : We need rimz man
Gordon : F**k off
Swizzle : How 'bout a phat grill?
Gordon : F**k off
Swizzle : We should make the interior look like a sneaker!
Gordon : F**k off
Swizzle : erm...

[900T-R]

Pommygranite said:

Would that be the same Gordon Murray, designer of the F1? I think that Gordon Murray, designer of the F1, was a columnist in EVO where he, Gordon Murray, designer of the F1, wrote a few interesting things but made it clear that he, Gordon Murray, designer of the F1, was not only forward thinking but had previously designedthe F1. If you didn't know that Gordon Murray was the designer of the F1 perhaps try and get a past issue of EVO as occasionally he refers to it.

Gordon Murray, designer of the F1. Tm.

Well to be honest, if I were the designer of the F1 I'd have it signposted in big fat neon letters on the roof of my house with a huge red arrow pointing at the F1 in my glass-walled garage.

Not to mention an actual F1 car that won 15 out of 16 races in a season...

[cathalm]

Great news for Lotus, between Gordon and Bob Lutz they should be getting some good input.

Long been a fan of Gordon Murray, what is more Gordon's hero was Colin Chapoman and he actually understands Chapmans philosophy properly, unlike those on PH who once heard "add lightness" and believe that was the be all and end all of Chapmans thinking.

[LuS1fer]

cathalm said:

Great news for Lotus, between Gordon and Bob Lutz they should be getting some good input.

Bob Lutz, Murray and Lotus = ultra-lightweight hyper-powerful C6 Z06 surely?

[Snoggledog]

Sorry for peeing on the fire but have any of the projects Gordon Murray has been involved with actually turned a significant profit?

[tridave]

Snoggledog said:

Sorry for peeing on the fire but have any of the projects Gordon Murray has been involved with actually turned a significant profit?

Nope that why's he's perfect for Lotus

[Richard A]

The Crack Fox said:

Slinky said:

I can just see a design board meeting with Gordon and Swizzle stick sat around the table...

Swizzle : We need rimz man
Gordon : F**k off
Swizzle : How 'bout a phat grill?
Gordon : F**k off
Swizzle : We should make the interior look like a sneaker!
Gordon : F**k off
Swizzle : erm...

I don't think they'll ever meet, in reality, both appointments are symbolic only, they'll not be doing anything more than adding their name to the Lotus movement in reality.

Yes, it's more likely to be...

Gordon : We should build a simple, lightweight, understated small sports car
Dany : F**k off

[andyps]

Having been completely put off the thought of any future Lotus after seeing the announcement about Swizz Beatz this announcement may actually, slightly, change my mind.

Lotus seemed to be going away from one of the original core elements of lightness, maybe GM will be able to put them back on course. Let's see how long he stays in post.

[Oilchange]

Awesome news, flash new range of supercars to be built with the input from one of automotive industries most inovative and brilliant minds.

GORDON'S ALIVE!!!!!