Radical changes are taking place at Lotus. Auto Express has learned that a raft of new models will debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, including a new Esprit (pictured), two new front-engined GT cars and a new roadster. The models will appear in the form of concepts at the French event.
The news comes as the company served all of its European dealerships with notice. The shock move means all of their contracts to sell Lotus cars will come to an end in July 2012, as part of plans to completely overhaul the dealer network.The Norfolk-based company has confirmed that current dealers will be able to apply for new contracts under new terms.
More will be revealed at Paris, where the firm's five-year plan to dramatically increase profitability through its new range of more upmarket models, which will challenge Porsche and Ferrari more closely, will be outlined.
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I hope this "five-year plan" doesn't result in the death of Lotus. They've been making great cars that are popular and sell because of Colin Chapman's ideals - to add speed, add lightness - and through innovation - the Tesla is built on the chassis of their 15-year-old design! There are plenty of cars to compete with Ferrari (the new McLaren, Porsche, Noble, etc...). I hope they know what they're doing.
That good to know. It would been good to 007 back in a Lotus again but the next James Bond movie is been cancelled & like before to be revived. So think of other movies for Lotus to be a star.
The new Esprit looks stunning.
gherkins123 don't worry about Lotus chassis, the Lotus 7 seems to still handle well, so the Elise should still be okay.