webfoot

Mike Johnstone leaving after only a year at Lotus. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-corporate/lotus-commercial-chief-leaves-after-year

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-manufacturing/lotus-reviews-future-sports-car-design-studio-hethel Oh dear.... start of the inevitable decline of Hethel? Discuss.

Full article behind a paywall but gives some info. By my calc approx 4,400 Electres and 2,600 Emiras. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-finance/lotus-posts-£594m-loss-2023-ahead-ev-sales-growth and https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/lotus-breaks-sales-record-posts-594m-loss/48391 and the investor Relations release with full breakdown of car sales https://ir.group-lotus.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lotus-technology-reports-unaudited-fourth-quarter-and-full-year

Well now the map has gone. The replacement page doesn't currently seem to be working very well (a "work in progress" ?). Oakmere are back on as a Showroom and a Service Centre, with the Northwich address. https://www.lotuscars.com/en-GB/lotus-centres/search

I was just going by this report... https://www.topgear.com/car-news/suvs/youll-still-be-seeing-volvo-estates-and-saloons-police-cars-uk

..... well you can't buy a Volvo estate in the UK anymore (unless you are the Police). SUVs only.

The Fisker Ocean does have solar panels. Some details in this video @ 3:25 Doesn't really seem worth it (in this country).

I also noticed this. Might be a "mistake" since you can still book an Emira test drive through Lotus Prestbury. Suspect that the main map might be on "Electre filter" setting.

Not sure that the FB post can be accurate. There are still people waiting for V6 FE cars and currently you can still order one. As mentioned might just be they are making a batch of i4s.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/lotus-tech-secures-870-mln-ahead-deal-completion-with-l-catterton-spac-2023-11-28/

exeterjeep pointed me to this link which includes the Lotus numbers https://www.am-online.com/data/manufacturer-insight

Yes it is now locked. Sorry, it was openly available when I posted the link.

Lotus spac update https://www.ft.com/content/d4614bb0-08fc-4e78-8f35-b3cc9c8b3056

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/used-ev-values-could-collapse-due-fleet-dumping

Lotus Cars pulled their launch video off YouTube. Couldn't take the competition?😀

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/lotus-says-its-type-133-four-door-saloon-finished

To quote Lotus Cars. "We are on a transformative journey from an iconic British sports car company to a global luxury lifestyle brand" Isn't that British Star Wars actor John Boyega (with Florence Pugh). I watched the video on YouTube earlier today, but it appears to have been removed now. Wonder why?

Detailed interior review and the tech bits (not just audio)

An interesting POV on car logos. Fits (mostly) with the recent changes to the Lotus logo.

A little bit of coverage of the Norwegian Test Drive event, including footage of one on the public highway. No details or review as embargo still holds.

Very sad news.... https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/obituary-designer-peter-horbury-dies-aged-72

The new Renault Austral E-Tech Hybrid has a trim levels called...... "iconic esprit Alpine" and "techno esprit Alpine". https://www.renault.co.uk/hybrid-cars/austral/prices-offers.html?gradeCode=ENS_MDL2P1SERIELIM3 I always wondered why car companies are allowed to use Lotus names as trim levels. In the past I think Mercedes used Elan and Vauxhall used Elite.