Tuesday 9th December 2014

New Vehicle Dev Chief Engineer at Lotus

Matt Becker is off after 26 years in Norfolk, replaced by another Lotus stalwart

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More significant staff news for Lotus. There is nothing further on the company restructure, but it has now been confirmed that Matt Becker will be leaving his role as Chief Engineer of Vehicle Test and Development after more than a quarter of a century.

Becker has set a high standard to be continued

Becker's is a name inextricably linked with Lotus in recent years. Lord knows he's featured on PH enough, with Danny's Elise getting the seal of approval, an interview in Harris's Exige video and talking Dan around the Bond Esprit.

But worry not for the future of Lotus. Becker is being replaced by Dave Marler, who has been with Lotus for 17 years. Furthermore, Lotus has reassigned Gavan Kershaw 'additional responsibilities for dynamic attributes and evaluation'. Kershaw is currently Technical Manager for Lotus Motorsport and has also developed road cars including the original Exige and S2 Elise. Between them they have a huge amount of experience with Lotus cars and Lotus Engineering's wider OEM projects.

Of Dave Marler's appointment, Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales said: "His experience means that he is perfectly placed to lead Lotus Cars in ensuring that the process of objective development of Lotus cars is to time, to budget and to specification - and at the same time... making the Lotus driving experience is made even better." A tough ask then, but Marler sounds like the right person for the job and of course has Kershaw in support too.

Becker's future is unconfirmed at present. There are rumours of him joining Aston Martin but nothing official as yet. Once there's anything further to update we'l of course let you know. Don't forget in 2015 we've got the Elise Cup and Exige auto coming from Lotus as well. Plenty more Hethel news to follow!

[mrdemon]

" Exige auto"

woo hoo

just drop a nice engine into a Evora and bring one up for sale at £55k with 380BHp under the 220 Co2 limit at 1250kg.

I do wonder what all the guys in Lotus are doing behind their desks, making up SD Elise's with new paint jobs !!!
or now Exige V6 ltd ed paint jobs it seems.

[Frimley111R]

Oh god, its you again.

[kambites]

mrdemon said:

just drop a nice engine into a Evora and bring one up for sale at £55k with 380BHp under the 220 Co2 limit at 1250kg.

"Just"?

I'd love to see a 1250kg Evora, but it ain't going to happen without a six figure price tag.

[SrMoreno]

Every Lotus thread on PH said:

Lotus' strategy is all wrong. What they should be doing is selling lightweight sports cars for less money than a three-year-old Boxster. Also, they should weigh less than the average driver and have a V8. Of course, I still wouldn't buy one then, because the neighbours wouldn't recognise the badge.

That should save everyone some time.

[JamStar]

I was going to ask what car he's sitting in in the picture but worked out it's a Lotus Elan...

...if anyone's interested. No just me. Ok.

Nice...

Edited by JamStar on Tuesday 9th December 14:56

[HeMightBeBanned]

JamStar said:

I was going to ask what car he's sitting in in the picture but worked out it's a Lotus Elan...

Try again. It's an Esprit.

[61GT]

JamStar said:

I was going to ask what car he's sitting in in the picture but worked out it's a Lotus Elan...

...if anyone's interested. No just me. Ok.

Nice...

Edited by JamStar on Tuesday 9th December 14:56

Lotus Élan?

[mrdemon]

kambites said:

"Just"?

I'd love to see a 1250kg Evora, but it ain't going to happen without a six figure price tag.

what's the weight of Audi's new MK3 TT again ?

I'll tell you 1230Kg

If Lotus cannot make a sub 1300kg Evora it's a bad show.

Even my Boxster is only 1275Kg

Not hard to make a light car esp a Lotus.

[SrMoreno]

mrdemon said:

what's the weight of Audi's new MK3 TT again ?

I'll tell you 1230Kg

If Lotus cannot make a sub 1300kg Evora it's a bad show.

Even my Boxster is only 1275Kg

Not hard to make a light car esp a Lotus.

TT is 1300kg according to Autocar, and a new Boxster is 1340kg. The Evora looks relatively light at 1383kg, considering it's a 2+2.

[wevster]

SrMoreno said:

mrdemon said:

what's the weight of Audi's new MK3 TT again ?

I'll tell you 1230Kg

If Lotus cannot make a sub 1300kg Evora it's a bad show.

Even my Boxster is only 1275Kg

Not hard to make a light car esp a Lotus.

TT is 1300kg according to Autocar, and a new Boxster is 1340kg. The Evora looks relatively light at 1383kg, considering it's a 2+2.

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good trolling session...

[John145]

Massive restructuring at Lotus which will affect the brand terminally and all people are talking about is why the car isn't a fat kid lighter than a Porsche... Amazing.

[kambites]

mrdemon said:

what's the weight of Audi's new MK3 TT again ?

And what was the development budget of Audi's new mk3 TT?

The Evora is obscenely heavy (as is the Exige V6) and I make no claims to understand why, but I very much doubt it's because didn't try to make it as light as was viable with their budget. The Evora's weight isn't going to come down significantly without a big price hike.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 9th December 15:21

[British Beef]

Stripped out Evora GT4 inc. roll cage = sub 1250kg.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Not that hard to find this info.....

[kambites]

British Beef said:

Stripped out Evora GT4 inc. roll cage = sub 1250kg.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Not that hard to find this info.....

Well yes but it's not a production car.

[Ex Boy Racer]

Well, someone should say; Good luck. Matt. I was taken round the Lotus track by him many years ago in an early Elise. Heck of a driver and heck of a nice bloke.

Probably too nice to tell us why he really is leaving.

[The Wookie]

That makes for a grim read.

[Frimley111R]

John145 said:

Massive restructuring at Lotus which will affect the brand terminally...

Perhaps not everyone is as incredibly negative as you but as you are please tell us why Lotus is going to be 'terminally affected'. I'd love to know why you think you know better than JMG.

[Europa1]

wevster said:

SrMoreno said:

mrdemon said:

what's the weight of Audi's new MK3 TT again ?

I'll tell you 1230Kg

If Lotus cannot make a sub 1300kg Evora it's a bad show.

Even my Boxster is only 1275Kg

Not hard to make a light car esp a Lotus.

TT is 1300kg according to Autocar, and a new Boxster is 1340kg. The Evora looks relatively light at 1383kg, considering it's a 2+2.

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good trolling session...

Indeed. "Commenting on the news, VAG product enthusiast and part-time troll Mr Demon said..."

[anonymous-user]

mrdemon said:

TT

A well considered tribute to a chap's 26 year career at Lotus. Nice one!

[CTE]

Yes the restructuring is sad for all and I guess Matt`s reasons for leaving are sound. However there other very capable people still there so I do not think the product will loose that driver focused edge they have.

My missus works there and there have been many tears shed by and for those who have gone, some of whom have been long standing at the company.

The staff had a meeting today where they were presented with a glimpse of the plan for the next 5 years, and hopefully if it works out and they are successful, then maybe Matt and others will find themselves back at Lotus, and if not, good luck to them wherever they may be.