This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-11440488
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Lotus unveils five new sportscars | Lotus unveils five new sportscars |
| (4 days later) | |
| By Jorn Madslien Business reporter, BBC News, Paris motor show | |
| UK-based Lotus has unveiled five new sportscars - the Elite, Elise, Elan, Esprit and Eterne - in Paris. | UK-based Lotus has unveiled five new sportscars - the Elite, Elise, Elan, Esprit and Eterne - in Paris. |
| The cars, which will hit the road over a five-year period, mark a new start for the carmaker, Lotus says. | The cars, which will hit the road over a five-year period, mark a new start for the carmaker, Lotus says. |
| "This is not just about the cars, it's about the complete remake of the brand," boss Dany Bahar told BBC News. | "This is not just about the cars, it's about the complete remake of the brand," boss Dany Bahar told BBC News. |
| There are also Lotus plans to build a tiny city car with an electric motor and a petrol engine that extends its range as a technical demonstrator. | There are also Lotus plans to build a tiny city car with an electric motor and a petrol engine that extends its range as a technical demonstrator. |
| New models | New models |
| The cars include a four door car, the Eterne. | The cars include a four door car, the Eterne. |
| "This is probably the car that no one had expected Lotus to ever make," Mr Bahar said, predicting it to become a popular chauffeur-driven car in some markets. | "This is probably the car that no one had expected Lotus to ever make," Mr Bahar said, predicting it to become a popular chauffeur-driven car in some markets. |
| Lotus, which is owned by the Malaysian carmaker Proton, has also made a four-seater sportscar for the "gentleman driver", with a 600 horse power V8 engine, named Elite. | Lotus, which is owned by the Malaysian carmaker Proton, has also made a four-seater sportscar for the "gentleman driver", with a 600 horse power V8 engine, named Elite. |
| The ancient Esprit two-seater supercar has been updated with a 620 horse-power V8 engine as an attempt to challenge carmakers such as Porsche and Ferrari. | The ancient Esprit two-seater supercar has been updated with a 620 horse-power V8 engine as an attempt to challenge carmakers such as Porsche and Ferrari. |
| Their new Elan is positioned above the relaunched Elise, which completes the Lotus line-up to "keep our current customers happy", says Mr Bahar. | Their new Elan is positioned above the relaunched Elise, which completes the Lotus line-up to "keep our current customers happy", says Mr Bahar. |
| The five new models come in addition to the recently launched Evora sportscar. | The five new models come in addition to the recently launched Evora sportscar. |
| Fewer dealers | Fewer dealers |
| The new product line-up enables Lotus to target much wealthier customers who will be spending up to £135,000 on a car, compared with prices in the region of £30,000 at the moment. | The new product line-up enables Lotus to target much wealthier customers who will be spending up to £135,000 on a car, compared with prices in the region of £30,000 at the moment. |
| Mr Bahar, who joined Lotus about a year ago, expects sales to more than double from about 3,000 to between 6,000 and 8,000 cars per year. | Mr Bahar, who joined Lotus about a year ago, expects sales to more than double from about 3,000 to between 6,000 and 8,000 cars per year. |
| And, as the cars are more expensive, the turnover could triple from £200m currently. | And, as the cars are more expensive, the turnover could triple from £200m currently. |
| Wealthy customers tend to expect more from their dealers than the current network of dealerships will be able to deliver, chief commercial officer Andreas Prillmann told BBC News. | Wealthy customers tend to expect more from their dealers than the current network of dealerships will be able to deliver, chief commercial officer Andreas Prillmann told BBC News. |
| The network will therefore undergo dramatic restructuring, with the number of dealerships worldwide being reduced from about 160 to 135. | The network will therefore undergo dramatic restructuring, with the number of dealerships worldwide being reduced from about 160 to 135. |
| "For a premium brand, we have far too many dealers," Mr Prillmann said. | "For a premium brand, we have far too many dealers," Mr Prillmann said. |
| In the UK, out of its existing network of 23 dealerships only three will remain, although a handful a new ones might be taken on. In Japan, the number of Lotus dealerships will be cut from 27 to just six. | In the UK, out of its existing network of 23 dealerships only three will remain, although a handful a new ones might be taken on. In Japan, the number of Lotus dealerships will be cut from 27 to just six. |
| However, in some countries where they do not have much of a presence at the moment they will create new dealerships. | However, in some countries where they do not have much of a presence at the moment they will create new dealerships. |