Quite a logical step I guess. :-/

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90955
Weren't the Lotus 7 and Caterham 7 serious rivals years ago?

I thought that Caterham bought the tooling and production rights to the Lotus 7 after it went out of production. Could be wrong though. :-/

bobdent wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 12:50:

Quite a logical step I guess. :-/ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90955 Weren't the Lotus 7 and Caterham 7 serious rivals years ago?

Not really ... Lotus made the 7 (Under Colin Chapman) from 1957 - 1972... then sold the business to Caterham, so this could be seen as the 7 going home ... except that "Team Lotus Enterprises" has little connection with the "original" Lotus AFAIK, and are involved in a court case over the use of the name.... Lotus now being part of the Proton Group

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Seven

http://www.teamlotus.co.uk/home

http://carandvannews.co.uk/2011/04/27/caterham-bought-by-lotus-f1-team/

Quote:

Weren't the Lotus 7 and Caterham 7 serious rivals years ago?

Nope. That was Westfield and Caterham. ;)

Caterham cars were a Lotus dealer who later bought the rights to the Series 3 Lotus 7 from Lotus Cars Ltd, sold it as the Caterham 7 and then got litigious with anyone who built anything similar, Westfield in particular. ;D

Not sure who "Team Lotus Enterprises" are. There are so many Lotuses (what is the plural of Lotus?) they'll start suing each other soon, I'm sure.  ;D

I hope they don't go down the route that Lotus have gone recently - driving all their cars lardy and up market with leather, air con, carpet, etc. and trying to be the next Aston Martin.

Both have a great minimalist sports car and it would be nice to see that continue.

kevin

Oh, they already have. ;D

http://sniffpetrol.com/2010/09/29/lotus-and-lotus-fight-over-lotus/

Kevin Wood wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 13:09:

Oh, they already have. ;D http://sniffpetrol.com/2010/09/29/lotus-and-lotus-fight-over-lotus/

;D ;D ;D Excellent!

I knew there was a lot of wrangling going on over the Lotus name but that sums up just how truly ridiculous it was. ::)

Yup, bit of good reading about it here:

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/04/fernandes-to-use-formula-1-to-promote-a-sports-car-for-everybody/

Team Lotus are basically going to wait until the Group Lotus court case is over before announcing anything else.

Kevin Wood wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 13:05:

I hope they don't go down the route that Lotus have gone recently - driving all their cars lardy and up market with leather, air con, carpet, etc. and trying to be the next Aston Martin.

I think Lotus are trying to be the next Lamborghini - certainly with the prices the new cars are going to be put out at!

Still.. something like the Donkevoort D8 GT also fits the bill of what you're describing there - http://www.donkervoort.info/gallery/Donkervoort-D8-GT-Coup%E9

aaronjb wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 14:17:

Still.. something like the Donkevoort D8 GT also fits the bill of what you're describing there - http://www.donkervoort.info/gallery/Donkervoort-D8-GT-Coup%E9

Yeah, I suppose so.. If looks aren't an issue. If you half-close your eyes it doesn't half look like a dog crouching down to take a dump. ;D

.. and Donk's prices are hardly minimalist even if the product is!

Kevin

Kevin Wood wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 14:21:

aaronjb wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 14:17: Still.. something like the Donkevoort D8 GT also fits the bill of what you're describing there - http://www.donkervoort.info/gallery/Donkervoort-D8-GT-Coup%E9 Yeah, I suppose so.. If looks aren't an issue. If you half-close your eyes it doesn't half look like a dog crouching down to take a dump. ;D

;D ;D ;D It is .. quite the ugly stepchild, isn't it..


Quote:

.. and Donk's prices are hardly minimalist even if the product is!

Pricing in line with Lotus, I guess.. ;D then again, TVR were never 'cheap' either - must be something about plastic car manufacturers (Reliant excluded ;))

I just managed to get this far reading about this before I nearly turned into a jibbering wreck....


Quote:

‘Lotus is not going to let Lotus trade off the Lotus name that Lotus has built up,’ said Lotus spokesman Alan Lotus. ‘Lotus had an agreement with Lotus but Lotus has not honoured the terms of the Lotus agreement,’ Lotus continued. ‘For that reason Lotus shall no longer be permitting Lotus to use the Lotus-registered Lotus name of Lotus.’

Psychoca wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 16:23:

I just managed to get this far reading about this before I nearly turned into a jibbering wreck.... Quote: ‘Lotus is not going to let Lotus trade off the Lotus name that Lotus has built up,’ said Lotus spokesman Alan Lotus. ‘Lotus had an agreement with Lotus but Lotus has not honoured the terms of the Lotus agreement,’ Lotus continued. ‘For that reason Lotus shall no longer be permitting Lotus to use the Lotus-registered Lotus name of Lotus.’

:-?

bobdent wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 12:50:

Quite a logical step I guess. :-/ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90955 Weren't the Lotus 7 and Caterham 7 serious rivals years ago?

No years ago lotus took caterham to court over the name lotus 7s stopped being made by lotus in the late 60s early 70s and caterham started making them in the mid 80s and selling them as lotus 7