Lotus to build an MPV...

[G.T]

Stop the presses, keep telephone lines open and cancel all leave - Lotus is building an MPV! That's not a misprint, and it's not a mistake. One of Britain's most famous sports car brands has turned its hand to making people carriers.

This official design sketch has been revealed by the supercar firm to preview its new Geneva Motor Show APX star. With sharp lines and a practical five-door shape, the people mover is sure to send shockwaves though the industry.

However, before you write letters of complaint - or get out your cheque book - the show car won't be wearing Lotus badges. It has been produced by the firm's design and engineering teams on its hi-tech platform known as Versatile Vehicle Architecture or VVH. A spokesman told us: "We're using VVH in our new mid-engined supercar, but first we wanted to show the industry how versatile it could be." The Porsche 911 rival he is referring to will be the all-new Esprit, which we showed testing in prototype form in Issue 824. The APX also has a new 300bhp supercharged 3.0-litre V6. Performance is key to this family lugger's appeal, and with a 190bhp per tonne power-to-weight ratio, it is a real driver's car.

Although Lotus will display the people carrier at Geneva during the press days, it will have disappeared by the time the public is admitted. That's because bosses want to advertise their design and engineering expertise to big car firms which might want to commission Lotus to develop new models for them. Meanwhile, the next-generation Esprit is due to go on sale early in 2008, and will be revealed late next year.
Chris Thorp

Article and pictures from www.autoexpress.co.uk


Wow, I never thought Lotus would be making an MPV. I have high hopes the car will be good to drive.

 

[F1GTR]

It's gonna handle!

 

[Jondot]

That rear reminds me of an avantime

 

[Sting]

Design actually looks quite nice......

heck if Lambo can go from tractors to supercars, Lotus might just pull off the MPV. lol

 

[ExigeEvan]

It's just a show car 'phew'

It would be very cool though if they took a normal everyday MPV and gave it the lotus touch. Kind of an extreme Zafira VXR.

 

[Sting]

It's just a show car 'phew'

It would be very cool though if they took a normal everyday MPV and gave it the lotus touch. Kind of an extreme Zafira VXR.

From the Lotus Carlton to the Lotus Zafira... but then the Zafira VXR from what I hear is no slug!

 

[Diego440]

what's next, Lamborghini building SUVs?

No, wait

 

[Danny]

Porsche, Lambo and Ferrari (even if it was a one-off) have all gone the way of practicality. It's good that Lotus is joining them.


Now, let's see a Koenigsegg SUV!

 

[Omnis]

Good luck trying to drive in reverse. Visibility looks poor.

Concept drawings 4tw.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

i think its gonna be more proton than lotus

 

[VIPFREAK]

Who the hell did they hire to come up with this crap?? geez...

 

[eliseracer]

It ain't crap, whatsoever.

It's a business move more than anything, they're showing what they can do, and how versatile the VVA can be. Here it is, but it doesn't even work, it's show only.

Don't forget Lotus Engineering is a huge business, and this is just an ad to what they can do. Lotus has had a hand in many cars before, with minor or major roles, the Ford GT, Tommy Kaira, Cobalt time-attack car (that one controversial one from a few months back), the Opel Speedster line etc.

I'd stay longer to chat about this, but I gotta jet, snowboarding tonight, 27th day of the season.

 

[xcsti]

Who the hell did they hire to come up with this crap?? geez...

Why would you mind as long as it isn't sold as a lotus. They work on alot of different cars, though most of them are sporty. Its kind of the same only this time they may be going more in depth to show their prowess.

 

[Pebb]

Think what happens when the Sport versions come out.

 

[Dave A]

Everyone calm down, theres not going to be any Lotus SUV's arriving in dealerships near you. They're doing this purely to showcase what they can do with their new VVH platform, they're offering other comapnies the chance to use Lotus to develop new model's for them based on this VVH platform, and this is a demonstration of just how versatile the VVH platform is.

 

[Ev0]

I really hope someone builds something interesting on this platform. Very good idea from Lotus, hopefully it will make them a nice profit so they can make even better sports cars.

 

[Layzie]

At least now I can take those hard corners while dropping my kids off to school.

 

[under18carbon]

That looks pretty nice!

 

[ExigeEvan]

Don't forget Lotus Engineering is a huge business, and this is just an ad to what they can do. Lotus has had a hand in many cars before, with minor or major roles, the Ford GT, Tommy Kaira, Cobalt time-attack car (that one controversial one from a few months back), the Opel Speedster line etc.

There was more than a hand in opel Speedster. It was even made in Hethel.

But yeah, Lotus engineering is a seperate part of Lotus that does do alot of outside work. And they have been raving about teh versatility of the VVH for quite a while now.

 

[Magic069]

<sigh> its out of control. This disappoints me.

 

[Dave A]

Why does it dissapoint you? It's a great move to market VVH.

 

[eliseracer]

There was more than a hand in opel Speedster. It was even made in Hethel.

But yeah, Lotus engineering is a seperate part of Lotus that does do alot of outside work. And they have been raving about teh versatility of the VVH for quite a while now.

Indeed it does. Parallel production lines and everything. In fact, I don't know what GM did other than slap their name and motor on it.

The first post's design looks a lot like Stephen Crijins's work, which is good to know because he's an amazing designer and also good to know he's still at Lotus. I'm still expecting big things for the Esprit and the 2+2 GT.

 

[niky]

Not to mention their work on various Protons, the Isuzu/Honda Trooper/Passport, various GM suspensions... If Lotus is selling their platform for model development, I'd expect a lot of Korean and Chinese companies to bite...

 

[Amemiya]

Don't do it Lotus.

 

[red70mach1]

what's next, Lamborghini building SUVs?

No, wait

For Lamborghini built 4x4s. Remember the LM002?

 

[eliseracer]

Don't do it Lotus.

Why not?

Read the damn thread people.

 

[Wolfe]

Why not?

Read the damn thread people.

Reading? No one does that these days....

That said, it's definitely a great marketing idea for VVH.

 

[Danny]

For Lamborghini built 4x4s. Remember the LM002?

That's what the No, wait part was for.

 

[Dave A]

Why not?

Read the damn thread people.

I agree, too many people read the thread title but not even the first post, it's unbelievable. They only show themselves up when they post a stupid comment.

 

[Texas Tire Burn]

looks like they are getting serious about attracting new buyers.