swajames

I'm sorry, but that's simply an asinine observation. Lotus' cars may not be for you, but neither that nor low sales numbers make them "crap". Maybe you are just not in their target market, and that target market is clearly not a big one to begin with.

For what they are built to do, they are among the best in the business. Lotus' low sales are, in my opinion, more due to customer concerns about their longevity as a manufacturer as it's been obvious to all that Lotus has been running on a shoestring for years. With a better funded owner, we may well see the brand start to recover.

S2000toIS350

They specifically said Evora was going after Boxster/Cayman (not a tiny market) and the car is so over optimized for weight, it just doesn't instill confidence that is can hold up to normal use.

Yes, the Toyota supplied drive trains are fine but the rest of the car, I don't think you put put that next to a Porsche and say yup, just as durable.

The little Lotuses have very little market (former S2000 owners wanting a track toy), no argument there.

I actually like Lotus, but have no faith in them as a car company.

My cousin bought a 70s Europa that was delivered while he was serving in Vietnam. I would take the keys and sit in it after school and dream about being on the road in the car. The one time I got a ride in it I saw what a POS it was. I believe the frame cracked within 6 months of use. They are for sure a better product today but they need some serious management and resourcing to become a real car brand.

swajames

All fair points, and it seems we agree on most. I just don't agree the cars are crap...

I'll concede however that they have "character"

mmarshall

Yeah.....I'm not saying that they are crap, either. They are great for those who like driving (and can fit into) that type of car.......which rules me out. 50K Go-Karts are just not my cup of tea.

mmarshall

Anyhow, back to the original question, anybody have any forecasts or predictions to what Volvo ownership might do?

I'll play it safe and state the obvious LOL........that we're likely to see more safety features, both built into the frames, and of the electronic-nanny type, though Volvo itself is at the whim of its Chinese overseers.

S2000toIS350

Yes, Lotus tuned Volvos, and those will be terrific

I would say Lotus will provide something better than the PoleStar editions (mostly looks and some handling upgrades) to something more M Division in terms of a complete package

Sulu

If Lotus wants to be something more than just a small automotive engineering company, if it wants to continue to be a producer of niche sports cars (that, hopefully, can use its own engines and suspension systems), Volvo (and Geely) will have to invest money into it. It can then design and build some good cars to sell at a profit that can be turned around and put back into its cars.

As it is right now, the sale of its cars with Toyota engines may only be enough to keep it where it is now, which is not enough to keep it going for the long run.

Aron9000

Better they keep using Toyota engines that are reliable, rather than put that stupid rube-goldberg Volvo "super-turbo" 4 cylinder in their cars. I can't imagine the packaging, weight, and heat nightmares associated with putting that Volvo engine mid-ship in a small sports car.

S2000toIS350

Companies that don't build engines like Pagani and Lotus buy from others

Companies that build engines typically use their own or do joint development partnerships (ex. MB and Nissan)

i would thus expect to see future Lotus cars with Volvo power

Sulu

I see your point but my point is that Lotus is an automotive engineering company with history consulting on suspensions, and designing and building engines. It seems strange to me that its cars do not use its own engines. Can you imagine Porsche or Ferrari not using engines of their own design?

Volvo is in that position because of its silly policy of using only 4-cylinder engines, even in its large cars and SUVs, which are too heavy to use a normally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine. It boxed itself in.

S2000toIS350

These niche players have limited funds and have to make tough allocation choices

look at Aston Martin

when they were part of Ford, they had access to a V8 and the 2 V6 es made into a V12

when they were bought out of Ford they were under resourced and their engine development went MIA

i believe the DB11 contains an MB AMG powerplant

Aron9000

Actually the new twin turbo V12 in the DB11 is an Aston Martin design. I think they reused the block and cylinder heads from the previous V12, but its their own design.

Now the V8 that's going into the new Vantage(maybe a 2018 or 2019 model) is sourced from AMG-Benz.

S2000toIS350

Thanks Aron