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26th
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A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about how journalists, such as myself, are baffled by Lotus' strategy.
But, since Proton sold the brand to DRB-Hicom (another sign of the Lotus change in ownership), everything is really going haywire - and the bad news just keeps rolling on in.
We had to ask ourselves how Lotus could invest massive amounts in Formula 1, IndyCar, endurance and GT when it sells so little of its standard models to the general public (and, in turn, must make relatively little profit).
So now, there's the Lotus Formula 1 team, originally Renault, though Lotus doesn't give the team a red cent. What the...?
There are more alarm bells: current rumours are circulating in the US that Lotus is looking to break off, at any cost, its contract with IndyCar to supply the race with V6 turbo engines. This Lotus-badged, John Judd-built engine has become the laughing stock of the track since it ran its first race.
Shaky and weak, all teams once onboard with Lotus, save one, have cut their ties. It looks like the IndyCar series might become an exclusive Chevrolet-Honda battleground next season.
And now there's news this morning from the online edition of US auto magazine, Car & Driver, that Lotus has pulled out of the Paris Auto Show next September.
After the company fired Dany Bahar, its cantankerous CEO, Lotus halted all new car development. No money, no cars, no Auto Show.
It's really unfortunate to see a prestigious auto brand such as Lotus take such a turn for the worse. Poor Colin Chapman, who founded the brand in 1952 - he must be spinning in his grave...
But, since Proton sold the brand to DRB-Hicom (another sign of the Lotus change in ownership), everything is really going haywire - and the bad news just keeps rolling on in.
We had to ask ourselves how Lotus could invest massive amounts in Formula 1, IndyCar, endurance and GT when it sells so little of its standard models to the general public (and, in turn, must make relatively little profit).
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| Warning! This Lotus is not a Lotus! (Photo: Renault F1 Team) |
So now, there's the Lotus Formula 1 team, originally Renault, though Lotus doesn't give the team a red cent. What the...?
There are more alarm bells: current rumours are circulating in the US that Lotus is looking to break off, at any cost, its contract with IndyCar to supply the race with V6 turbo engines. This Lotus-badged, John Judd-built engine has become the laughing stock of the track since it ran its first race.
Shaky and weak, all teams once onboard with Lotus, save one, have cut their ties. It looks like the IndyCar series might become an exclusive Chevrolet-Honda battleground next season.
And now there's news this morning from the online edition of US auto magazine, Car & Driver, that Lotus has pulled out of the Paris Auto Show next September.
After the company fired Dany Bahar, its cantankerous CEO, Lotus halted all new car development. No money, no cars, no Auto Show.
It's really unfortunate to see a prestigious auto brand such as Lotus take such a turn for the worse. Poor Colin Chapman, who founded the brand in 1952 - he must be spinning in his grave...