Future of the Evora in the USA

[Ccd]

What have they done wrong so far?  Let’s see.  No North American plan, either short term or long term, that has been shared with customers or potential customers.  There is apparently a new car to be release in 2021, but no one knows what it will be exactly.  And then there is the stuff all over the place.  Building a SUV, maybe, maybe not.  Building a hypercar, again maybe, maybe not.  

This is taking secrecy to extreme levels and requiring customers to trust in the future of Lotus with little to no information.  Personally, that is a bridge too far for me.  It’s great that Lotus has an owner with deep pockets, but people still want to know what their plans for the company are, at least in the short term.

[NedaSay]

Errr... No plan that you know about.  Short term, you are getting the Evora GT ; long term, more investment does mean less lead time between European launch and US launch...  And all future cars are going to sit on a global platform. Popham was in Detroit at the dealer meet, the dealer network knows and is in need of bolstering and it will be bolstered we know that much. Including an innovative way to engage with prospective customers... So I'm guessing increased number of dealers, pop up shop and online purchase made possible thanks to the use of Volvo superstructure, that is my guess.

It is funny how much people need to know where a company is going I haven't seen Ferrari and Lamborghini screaming where they were going.  Unless you are part of the inner sanctum and able to buy a special car they tell zilch. Why do you require Lotus to act differently?

[Loquacious Lew]

11 hours ago, NedaSay said:

It is funny how much people need to know where a company is going I haven't seen Ferrari and Lamborghini screaming where they were going.  Unless you are part of the inner sanctum and able to buy a special car they tell zilch. Why do you require Lotus to act differently?

Ferrari and Lamborghini don't need to prove anything to anybody to sell their cars.  They have  market  support systems in place, generally good resale values and will sell every car they build.  Lotus can't claim these things, most importantly as regards support and market visibility.  Both Lamborghini and Ferrari (Lambo especially) have benefited by their associations with larger parents,  but their renaissances are now well established and they are reaping the benefits of customer acceptance, desirable and recognizable products and prestige brand names.  Comparing them and their evolving strategies or how they go to market  at this point isn't fair to them or Lotus.

It's true that we don't need to know minute details of Lotus' long term product plans or the specs of future cars. What we as owners would like to know is that every late model production Lotus car will get the immediate support that such a purchase deserves.  When Lotus releases the news of  support developments here that at bare minimum measure up to what exists in Great Britain, I'll be content to wait in the wings for the new exciting products while I enjoy the one I just bought.

A bit cynical? Perhaps. But I have faith the brand can be  reestablished and optimized for growth if that is what is wanted but how about  implementing the backbone of the strategy while we await  new model announcements? Lotus need to start building the foundations now, and if they are already working on that, to let us in on it.  I really  hope there is more to the picture  than what new car is coming in 2020.  In other words, .some assurances that existing owners and product will be well supported and that we will be more than an asterisk in the future.  

 We have a good product here.  We need the resources to develop a smart management plan for it that can be a foundation for all future developments. I know I sound like a broken record but  I really think that's "job one" and the most important good news they can release to me. 

[Ccd]

NedaSay:

Let’s look at Lotus’ US website.  It list the Evora 400 as the only model available, except it’s not offered in 2019.  Lotus will be offering the Evora GT which is not listed.  Let’s check “New” because surely Lotus would advertise the new model as its the only one being offered.  Nope, not there.  The only reason I know about the GT is because I’m at this forum.  Now name another carmaker that does this.  Any questions now about my comments...???

[CharlieBrown]

19 hours ago, scotty435 said:

Wow so much for supporting the new owners and there vested interest in keeping a iconic brand as going concern, please tell me what they have done wrong so far? 

What have they not done.

13 hours ago, NedaSay said:

Errr... No plan that you know about.  Short term, you are getting the Evora GT ; long term, more investment does mean less lead time between European launch and US launch...  And all future cars are going to sit on a global platform. Popham was in Detroit at the dealer meet, the dealer network knows and is in need of bolstering and it will be bolstered we know that much. Including an innovative way to engage with prospective customers... So I'm guessing increased number of dealers, pop up shop and online purchase made possible thanks to the use of Volvo superstructure, that is my guess.

It is funny how much people need to know where a company is going I haven't seen Ferrari and Lamborghini screaming where they were going.  Unless you are part of the inner sanctum and able to buy a special car they tell zilch. Why do you require Lotus to act differently?

LOl!! Lotus is NO Ferrari or Lamborghini.

Edited March 30, 2019 by CharlieBrown

[CharlieBrown]

1 hour ago, Loquacious Lew said:

Ferrari and Lamborghini don't need to prove anything to anybody to sell their cars.  They have  market  support systems in place, generally good resale values and will sell every car they build.  Lotus can't claim these things, most importantly as regards support and market visibility.  Both Lamborghini and Ferrari (Lambo especially) have benefited by their associations with larger parents,  but their renaissances are now well established and they are reaping the benefits of customer acceptance, desirable and recognizable products and prestige brand names.  Comparing them and their evolving strategies or how they go to market  at this point isn't fair to them or Lotus.

It's true that we don't need to know minute details of Lotus' long term product plans or the specs of future cars. What we as owners would like to know is that every late model production Lotus car will get the immediate support that such a purchase deserves.  When Lotus releases the news of  support developments here that at bare minimum measure up to what exists in Great Britain, I'll be content to wait in the wings for the new exciting products while I enjoy the one I just bought.

A bit cynical? Perhaps. But I have faith the brand can be  reestablished and optimized for growth if that is what is wanted but how about  implementing the backbone of the strategy while we await  new model announcements? Lotus need to start building the foundations now, and if they are already working on that, to let us in on it.  I really  hope there is more to the picture  than what new car is coming in 2020.  In other words, .some assurances that existing owners and product will be well supported and that we will be more than an asterisk in the future.  

 We have a good product here.  We need the resources to develop a smart management plan for it that can be a foundation for all future developments. I know I sound like a broken record but  I really think that's "job one" and the most important good news they can release to me. 

100% correct and then Lotus wonder why they can't sell more than 150 cars per year in the US. Customers move to different brands, Audi, MB (AMG), Porsche and some save more to get a used Lamborghini or a Ferrari. In the mean time in the US, Lotus improves the Evora by 10 hp, then 30hp (Not available in the US) and expect potential customers to go crazy for the "new" cars? HAHAHAHA

Edited March 30, 2019 by CharlieBrown

[CharlieBrown]

32 minutes ago, Ccd said:

NedaSay:

Let’s look at Lotus’ US website.  It list the Evora 400 as the only model available, except it’s not offered in 2019.  Lotus will be offering the Evora GT which is not listed.  Let’s check “New” because surely Lotus would advertise the new model as its the only one being offered.  Nope, not there.  The only reason I know about the GT is because I’m at this forum.  Now name another carmaker that does this.  Any questions now about my comments...???

It will take the new owners 4 years to get a new car based on the Evora platform....LOl!!! All frosting and NO cake from Lotus.

[100th_Idiot]

🤔 The icing is the best bit

[CharlieBrown]

6 hours ago, Ccd said:

NedaSay:

Let’s look at Lotus’ US website.  It list the Evora 400 as the only model available, except it’s not offered in 2019.  Lotus will be offering the Evora GT which is not listed.  Let’s check “New” because surely Lotus would advertise the new model as its the only one being offered.  Nope, not there.  The only reason I know about the GT is because I’m at this forum.  Now name another carmaker that does this.  Any questions now about my comments...???

and the US dealers want us to stop talking about the Evora GT. I was contacted by a dealer and told to please remove all my Lotus Evora GT comments here and at the Lotustalk forum. According to him, "they" are mad that the name is out there already. 

[Ccd]

That makes NO sense.  No MY2019 Evora and no mention of the GT???   Wouldn’t anyone think that perhaps Lotus had left the US market again????  The GT is currently the only sign that Lotus IS committed to the US market, at least in the short term.

[au-yt]

12 hours ago, CharlieBrown said:

What have they not done.

LOl!! Lotus is NO Ferrari or Lamborghini.

To me that is a good thing, I for one like the beautiqueness of Lotus.

I'm not into the FERRARI red shouty everything or the LAMBO gold chain brigade which is prevalent here.

Don,t get me wrong I love Italian Car design and its sad to see the demise of the coach building and design firms bar Zagatto, 

The one thing LOTUS has is the uniqueness and rarity and great community amoungst its owners, I fear the commercialisation of the brand with dilute it.

 

[Bibs]

12 hours ago, CharlieBrown said:

According to him, "they" are mad that the name is out there already.

Lotus have been selling Evora GT's for some time now, it's hardly a secret.

[CharlieBrown]

I know but I believe he was referring to Lotus USA.

[Ccd]

It’s the same car probably with only the changes needed to make it US compliant.  No reason to be so secretive about the US version of an existing car.  This happens all the time

[scotty435]

7 hours ago, CharlieBrown said:

I know but I believe he was referring to Lotus USA.

[CharlieBrown]

17 hours ago, scotty435 said:

 

21 hours ago, Ccd said:

It’s the same car probably with only the changes needed to make it US compliant.  No reason to be so secretive about the US version of an existing car.  This happens all the time

Indeed, however, this US dealer really want us to stop saying the name Evora GT....So, I here it goes...Evora GT, Evora GT, Evora GT ...hahahaha

[Ccd]

I’ve been thinking about Lotus’ decision to bring the Evora GT to the US as the only model available here and my question is why the GT???  The Evora is not selling particularly well in the US.  Why would a much more expensive version do any better???  Absent major price cuts, the GT would be in the $150,000 range.  That is close to Porsche GT3 money, close to NSX money, and more than the MB GT S.  How many cars could Lotus expect to sell???  How would this car sustain their current dealer base???  I just don’t see how this makes any sense.

Lotus needs a car that can sell in sufficient volumes to support AND expand its current dealer base in the US.  Can’t see the GT as being that car.

[Bravo73]

Why the GT? Simple - it is the only car that they sell which is available for the US market. They obviously can’t sell Elises or Exiges over there so what other options do they have (in the short term)?

[Ccd]

I checked the Evora range and I’ve made a mistake, potentially.  I assumed the GT would be the 430, which I maintain would make no sense.  However, it could also be the 410 which would make much more sense.

Edited April 2, 2019 by Ccd

[Bravo73]

Nice edit. 😉

[Ccd]

Remember that the GT 430 was supposed to come to US shores at some later date and that has yet to happen.  In retrospect it would make sense that the 410 is now coming here given Lotus CEO’s comments that the new sports car coming in 2021 will be priced similarly to the Evora, though he did not specify which Evora.  

I and just about everyone else here spend far too much time reading the tea leaves for lack of info from Lotus

[CharlieBrown]

On 02/04/2019 at 11:37, Bravo73 said:

Why the GT? Simple - it is the only car that they sell which is available for the US market. They obviously can’t sell Elises or Exiges over there so what other options do they have (in the short term)?

But is the GT the one they say they will show at the end of 2020?....or just water down GT430?...…………….By the way, Lotus could ask for another government exemption for the Exige Cup only and sell it here in the US until the new cars are out. It would sell way more than the Evora 400. They just don't want to.

7 hours ago, Ccd said:

Remember that the GT 430 was supposed to come to US shores at some later date and that has yet to happen.  In retrospect it would make sense that the 410 is now coming here given Lotus CEO’s comments that the new sports car coming in 2021 will be priced similarly to the Evora, though he did not specify which Evora.  

I and just about everyone else here spend far too much time reading the tea leaves for lack of info from Lotus

2020 Evora GT410 or a water down GT430 for the US is a dumb idea.  As you stated, Evora 400 cars don't sell much in the US. A pricier Evora with different bumpers and some CB parts will be another failure.

[Brian Braddock]

Why would Lotus ‘just not want to’ sell cars in the US?

I’m sure you are aware of the difficulties and costs of federalising Non-American  cars. Aside from the process being made intentionally arduous as a form of protectionism and dealing with a litigious culture, lemon laws and the like, Lotus, like any other business has to weigh up the risk versus potential rewards. I can’t help but wonder how many of us would be signing off a project involving such a huge amount of time and money for such slim potential rewards. By far the most likely outcome, whatever Lotus do to the GT, is that Americans just carry on buying 911 GT3s regardless. That’s afterall exactly what’s happened in all of the other markets. Getting a version of the GT430 road legal in the US is a virtual act of charity, a token of understanding about the frustration caused by the lack of road legal Exige V6 and reward for the faithful, patient few.

[NedaSay]

6 hours ago, CharlieBrown said:

But is the GT the one they say they will show at the end of 2020?....or just water down GT430?...…………….By the way, Lotus could ask for another government exemption for the Exige Cup only and sell it here in the US until the new cars are out. It would sell way more than the Evora 400. They just don't want to.

2020 Evora GT410 or a water down GT430 for the US is a dumb idea.  As you stated, Evora 400 cars don't sell much in the US. A pricier Evora with different bumpers and some CB parts will be another failure.

No they can't ask for another exemption, they did way back in 2010 and got denied. the exemption was for the smart airbags and no car maker got an exemption on the smart airbags since 2010. Since then the regulations have gotten more stringent and the side airbags are now mandatory, the cost of reenginering the doors of the exige to fit these airbags is stratospheric for the few hundreds of car that could be sold, considering the car is at the end of its life span.  The US are getting the Evora GT4XX this year, deliveries are set  - or were set - to start end of summer or early in the fall, production has started. it doesn't have a number yet because of re-homologation at EPA level. Then in 2020 we all get a new car based on "VVA+"... 

 

Edited April 4, 2019 by NedaSay

[Ccd]

`My guess is that the GT, if it comes to the US, will do so with little fanfare from Lotus.  The main aim of this car is probably to keep its existing dealership network alive.  I don’t see a true push into the US market until the new car arrives in 2021.  IOW, the new car can’t get here fast enough.  

Edited April 4, 2019 by Ccd