Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[To F1 and Beyond: Lotus reportedly considering Le Mans, GT and Indy teams]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/to-f1-and-beyond-lotus-reportedly-considering-le-mans-gt-and-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/to-f1-and-beyond-lotus-reportedly-considering-le-mans-gt-and-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/to-f1-and-beyond-lotus-reportedly-considering-le-mans-gt-and-i/#commentsFiled under: ,


Lotus Evora Type 124 racer - Click above for high-res image gallery

Arguably more than any other automaker in the world, Lotus is ripe for a return to racing. Its products are uniquely track focused. Its history is rife with motorsport heritage. And its new chief executive comes to the company after stints at Red Bull and Ferrari, two outfits deeply involved in top-tier racing.

Unfortunately, as Dany Bahar points out, the formative Lotus F1 Racing team set to join the grand prix circus next season has little to do with the sportscar manufacturer and engineering concern which he now heads. Instead, the name is being furnished by parent company Proton to a consortium of investors in its native Malaysia. Bahar wants a slice of the action, and Proton would be wise to give it to him. But the executive who earned his reputation as a branding guru has more plans to get Lotus back into racing beyond the F1 team.

Speaking to a group of Lotus employees, Bahar reportedly disclosed that the company is looking at getting into a variety of racing series, including Indy, Le Mans and GT racing. That's some ambition for a company that hasn't seriously competed in decades, but if any team can pull it off, it's Bahar and Lotus.


Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer


[Source: Autocar]

To F1 and Beyond: Lotus reportedly considering Le Mans, GT and Indy teams originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dany baharDanyBaharlotuslotus almslotus f1lotus f1 racing teamlotus gtlotus indylotus indycarlotus le manslotus lmslotus racingLotusAlmsLotusF1LotusF1RacingTeamLotusGtLotusIndyLotusIndycarLotusLeMansLotusLmsLotusRacingprotonTue, 20 Oct 2009 18:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Malaysian-backed Lotus F1 Racing gears up for 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/malaysian-backed-lotus-f1-racing-gears-up-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/malaysian-backed-lotus-f1-racing-gears-up-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/malaysian-backed-lotus-f1-racing-gears-up-for-2010/#commentsFiled under: ,


Lotus F1 Racing wind-tunnel model - Click above for high-res gallery

It's been fifteen years since Lotus last competed in Formula One, but that dry spell is about to come to an end as the British engineering firm and sportscar maker is set to join the grid once again for next season as one of four new teams in the series. Preparations appear to be going full-steam ahead, and Lotus F1 Racing (as the team will officially be known) has released a pair of images depicting a full-scale wind-tunnel model of the car they'll be running next year.

Like the other new entries - and possibly a handful of veteran teams - the Lotus F1 car will be running under Cosworth power, taking advantage of the low-cost engine package commissioned by the FIA. Having worked with nearly every team on the grid, Mike Gascoyne serves as technical director for the new outfit, with Air Asia owner Tony Fernandes temporarily serving as team principal. The team is being fielded by a consortium of Malaysian investors including the aforementioned airline, the government, Lotus owner and local automaker Proton, the Sepang circuit and the national motorsport and automobile associations.

There's been talk as well of Malaysia's former A1GP team folding into Lotus F1 Racing now that it has withdrawn from the series itself, while speculation continues regarding who'll drive for the team. Toyota's Jarno Trulli is tipped to be one leading candidate, while Malaysian driver Fairuz Fauzy - who has won races in A1GP, GP2 and World Series by Renault over the past couple of years - could prove a compelling choice for the team's Malaysian owners and sponsors, which could as well include national oil consortium and former Sauber sponsor Petronas. Follow the jump for the full press release from Lotus, and check out the images in the gallery below.


Gallery: 2010 Lotus-Cosworth wind-tunnel model


[Source: Lotus F1 Team]

Continue reading Malaysian-backed Lotus F1 Racing gears up for 2010

Malaysian-backed Lotus F1 Racing gears up for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosworthf1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnelotuslotus f1lotus f1 racingLotusF1LotusF1RacingmalaysiaprotonFri, 16 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Lotus CEO says automaker will again take on Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/lotus-ceo-says-automaker-will-again-take-on-ferrari-lamborghini/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/lotus-ceo-says-automaker-will-again-take-on-ferrari-lamborghini/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/lotus-ceo-says-automaker-will-again-take-on-ferrari-lamborghini/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer - click above image for high-res gallery

When most people think of Lotus, a few different thoughts tend to enter their head. One is of little teeny Toyota-powered Elise/Exige track toys buzzing around a racetrack. Another is of an underwater submarine piloted by none other than James Bond (albeit Roger Moore). And then -- maybe -- some of you might think of the racing success Lotus used to enjoy, back in the day, a long time ago. Well, according to Autocar, Lotus' new CEO Dany Bahar is seeking to change all that.

"Lotus was mentioned in the same sentence as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati in the 1970s-1990s," said Bahar. "Then, it got closed into a corner. We believe it's the right time to bring Lotus back to where it was." Not only that, but Proton Group (they own Lotus) managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir (must make for one hell of a business card) says that the new Evora, Lotus's first new car since 1995, is "a turning point."

Bahar is making returning Lotus to a place of prestige a top priority for the Malaysian-owned company. The ex-Ferrari exec claims to have have a business plan to return Lotus to the same plane of existence as Ferrari within five years. Of course, to accomplish this, the Camry-powered Evora just ain't going to cut it. Which more or less guarantees the return of the Esprit, which very well might have a Lexus V10 perched out behind the driver. All of which gets our octane lovin' hearts all aflutter. Also, let's not forget about racing - serious racing. We'll keep you posted.


Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer


[Source: Autocar | New Straights Times]

Lotus CEO says automaker will again take on Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dany BaharDanyBaharEspritEvoraLotusLotus EspritLotus EvoraLotusEspritLotusEvoraProtonWed, 07 Oct 2009 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Lotus back in F1, BMW Sauber gets new ownership]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/16/lotus-back-in-f1-bmw-sauber-gets-new-ownership/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/16/lotus-back-in-f1-bmw-sauber-gets-new-ownership/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/16/lotus-back-in-f1-bmw-sauber-gets-new-ownership/#comments
Lotus F1 racer - Click above for high-res image gallery

Two major announcements came hot on the heels of one another on Tuesday that seem set to shake up the always turbulent Formula 1 series even further in 2010. First, Team Lotus will indeed be back on the starting grid next year to contest the constructors championship with a duo of drivers. Backing the effort is Malaysian automaker Proton, which owns Lotus, and the team will be headquartered at a purpose-built facility at Malaysia's Sepang International circuit.

While it's not surprising that Lotus has rejoined F1 after weeks of rumormill gossip, many assumed the team would take the reigns of the Sauber team from BMW, but that's not the case. Lotus has received the 13th and final spot on the grid, taking the place of BMW. Interestingly, just hours after the announcement from Proton, F1 organizers announced that BMW had agreed to sell its F1 team to Swiss-based Qadbak Investments Ltd.

At this time, there is no guarantee that Sauber will be on the starting grid in 2010, but the FIA has granted the ex-BMW team the 14th place for 2010, meaning that it will have the first opportunity to fill any unforseen vacancies. Barring that, the FIA is pressing for a change to the rulebooks that would allow a 14th team to race in the championship.


Gallery: Lotus F1 cars


[Source: BBC]

Lotus back in F1, BMW Sauber gets new ownership originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 f12010 formula 12010 formula one2010F12010Formula12010FormulaOnebmwbmw formula 1bmw formula oneBmwFormula1BmwFormulaOneformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnelotuslotus f1lotus formula 1lotus formula oneLotusF1LotusFormula1LotusFormulaOneprotonsauberteam lotusTeamLotusWed, 16 Sep 2009 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Proton could take the reins from BMW Sauber, return Lotus to F1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/07/report-proton-could-take-the-reigns-from-bmw-sauber-return-lot/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/07/report-proton-could-take-the-reigns-from-bmw-sauber-return-lot/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/07/report-proton-could-take-the-reigns-from-bmw-sauber-return-lot/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Lotus Type 72 - Click above for high-res image gallery

When BMW announced several weeks ago that it would be withdrawing from Formula One at the end of the 2009 season, the automaker left open the fate of the operations it bought from Peter Sauber. Since then, reports have indicated that the automaker has been evaluating possible buyers for the team.

According to Autocar, one of the possible suitors is Malaysian automaker Proton and the British sportscar maker it owns, Lotus. Team Lotus was a staple of F1 from 1958 until 1994 - winning seven Constructors Championships in that span. During its heyday in the Sixties, Seventies and early Eighties, Team Lotus was one of the greatest innovators in the sport. Unfortunately, after founder Colin Chapman's death, the team eventually withered.

The new Lotus effort would likely be sponsored by long-time Sauber backer Petronas and the team could be led by former Renault and Toyota technical director Mike Gascoyne. So far, there has been no official comment from anyone reported to be involved.


Gallery: Lotus F1 cars


[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Proton could take the reins from BMW Sauber, return Lotus to F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw f1bmw f1 exitbmw f1 teambmw f1 withdrawalbmw sauberbmw-sauberBmwF1BmwF1ExitBmwF1TeamBmwF1WithdrawalBmwSauberformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnelotuslotus f1LotusF1protonproton lotusProtonLotusMon, 07 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Detroit Electric signs deal with Proton, plans two new electric cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/report-detroit-electric-signs-deal-with-proton-plans-two-new-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/report-detroit-electric-signs-deal-with-proton-plans-two-new-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/report-detroit-electric-signs-deal-with-proton-plans-two-new-e/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Last September, the revived Detroit Electric brand announced in Malaysia that it planned to produce a new line of electric vehicles by the end of 2009. At the time, nothing was official, but the electric cars on display were based on the guts of Proton Savvy and Persona sedans, leading us to wonder if there was a deal between Detroit Electric and the Malaysian automaker. Apparently, there is.

The two companies have announced that they will jointly create two electric vehicles under the Detroit Electric brand called the e46 and e63 (with apparent apologies to Mercedes-Benz), both based on existing Proton models. Various countries in Europe and Asia will get first crack at the EVs beginning in February of 2010. U.S. sales are expected to begin three to six months later.

The least expensive model is said to have a range of about 110 miles and will reportedly cost around $23,000. A higher-spec model will boast a 200 mile range and sell for around $30K. The upstart automaker has ambitions of selling 40,000 units in its first year and 270,000 by 2012.

[Source: Financial Times, Paul Tan]

REPORT: Detroit Electric signs deal with Proton, plans two new electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobloggreendetroit electricdetroit electric carsdetroit electric e46detroit electric e63DetroitElectricDetroitElectricCarsDetroitElectricE46DetroitElectricE63electric carElectricCarmalaysiamalaysianprotonTue, 31 Mar 2009 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Proton to pick up Subaru's mantle in the WRC?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/proton-to-pick-up-subarus-mantle-in-the-wrc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/proton-to-pick-up-subarus-mantle-in-the-wrc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/proton-to-pick-up-subarus-mantle-in-the-wrc/#commentsFiled under:


Click above to view more of the Proton Satria Neo S2000 rally car

Before Subaru entered the World Rally Championship in the Nineties, it was little more than an obscure Asian automaker. Though its rallying efforts helped to put it on the map, Subaru has decided to ditch the WRC this season. But another little-known Asian automaker may be ready to pick up what Subaru is throwing away. That company is Malaysian automaker Proton. And it's not as ridiculous as you may think.

The state-owned enterprise has a strong customer base in Asia, and is the largest automaker in the Muslim world. Proton also owns Lotus, which brings the parent company a considerably performance engineering knowledge base to tap into. Subaru's former partner Prodrive is looking for a new client. And to cap things off, now unemployed former champion Petter Solberg (who used to drive for Subaru), is now rumored to be signing on to Proton's rally team. Together with motorsport garage MEM, Proton has been busy preparing an S2000-spec rally car based on its Satria Neo hatchback for the lower-level Intercontinental Rally Championship, and if plans to switch the WRC to a modified "S2000+" formula come through, it could pave the way for Proton to mount an assault on the WRC by 2010, as the brand is eager to expand outside its regional market and establish itself in Europe.

Gallery: Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 Rally Car


[Source: Autosport | images via paultan.org]

Proton to pick up Subaru's mantle in the WRC? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>protonproton petter solbergproton prodriveproton s2000proton satria neoproton satria neo s2000proton solbergproton wrcProtonPetterSolbergProtonProdriveProtonS2000ProtonSatriaNeoProtonSatriaNeoS2000ProtonSolbergProtonWrcTue, 20 Jan 2009 11:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Protection for Proton by Malaysian government ends]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/20/protection-for-proton-by-malaysian-government-ends/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/20/protection-for-proton-by-malaysian-government-ends/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/20/protection-for-proton-by-malaysian-government-ends/#commentsFiled under:

The Malaysian government has decided to end its protection of Malaysia's Proton Motors. In addition to the import duties and taxes levied against foreign carmakers, Proton was also the recipient of tax breaks and "other government incentives."

The decision could be seen as a blow to Proton, but Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is confident that the carmaker can and is turning itself around. Even though it has lost half of its market share while it was being protected by the government, Badawi said recently "No question of a bailing out. Proton is doing well today... they have a good program, they have secured exports to India, China, Indonesia and the Middle East."

For it's part, Proton's efforts to link up with a foreign car company didn't end well last year. For the moment, it has proposed that the government take an official stake in the company.

[Source: InsideLine]

Protection for Proton by Malaysian government ends originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 May 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dutiesimport dutiesImportDutiesmalaysiaprotectionprotonsubsidiestaxesTue, 20 May 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Melbourne '08 Preview: Proton R3 Satria hints at future hatch hotness]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/18/melbourne-08-preview-proton-r3-satria-hints-at-future-hatch-ho/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/18/melbourne-08-preview-proton-r3-satria-hints-at-future-hatch-ho/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/18/melbourne-08-preview-proton-r3-satria-hints-at-future-hatch-ho/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above for high-res gallery of the Proton R3 Satria

Malaysian automaker Proton will offer up a teaser of its next-generation hot hatchback when it shows the R3 Satria, a performance variant of the Satria Neo, at the Melbourne Motor Show next week. R3 is Satria's in-house performace wing -- headed by a former Lotus engineer -- and the nomenclature stands for "Race, Rally, and Research." The previous R3 Satria was a single-class racer based on the last-gen Satria, but this R3 Satria appears to be positioned as the spiritual successor to the original Satria GTi road car.

2000 - 2004 Proton Satria GTIThe GTi (right) was Lotus-tuned and made over 130 horsepower, and while Proton's not ready to talk specs yet, the new R3 Satria should likewise have a definitive edge over its standard counterpart when it arrives in the marketplace. It certainly seems to have the hot-hatch looks requirements down (see above), with its aggressive front air dam, skirting, roof spoiler, stripe package, center-exit exhaust, and wheel/tire package. Spiffy.

Gallery: 2008 Proton R3 Satria


[Source: zerotohundred.com]

Continue reading Melbourne '08 Preview: Proton R3 Satria hints at future hatch hotness

Melbourne '08 Preview: Proton R3 Satria hints at future hatch hotness originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>protonproton satriaProtonSatriar3 satriaR3Satriasatria gtiSatriaGtiMon, 18 Feb 2008 12:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Malaysian automaker interested in buying Lotus?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/31/another-malaysian-automaker-interested-in-buying-lotus/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/31/another-malaysian-automaker-interested-in-buying-lotus/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/31/another-malaysian-automaker-interested-in-buying-lotus/#commentsFiled under: ,



According to a report by Reuters, a Malaysian company has approached Proton Holdings and asked if the automaker would be willing to part with its controlling stake in Lotus. The unnamed company is interested in purchasing the 63.75-percent of shares of the British automaker and automotive consultancy firm that Proton purchased back in 1996.

It's certainly not coincidental that this offer came in a few weeks after Proton and Volkswagen ended talks about a possible alliance, causing Proton's stock to drop by some 18-percent. Although the financial windfall gained by Proton may be beneficial in the short-term, the Malaysian automaker is dependent on Lotus' technological innovations for future products. We doubt anything will come of it, but we're curious as to what company made the offer and how it would benefit from the purchase.

[Source: Reuters, InsideLine]

Another Malaysian automaker interested in buying Lotus? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lotusmalaysian companyMalaysianCompanyprotonsalevolkswagenvwMon, 31 Dec 2007 14:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkswagen to Proton: I'm just not that into you!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/volkswagen-to-proton-im-just-not-that-into-you/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/volkswagen-to-proton-im-just-not-that-into-you/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/volkswagen-to-proton-im-just-not-that-into-you/#commentsFiled under: ,

After several months of discussions with the Malaysian government about working with Proton, Volkswagen has decided to call it quits. The Malaysian government is the largest shareholder in the local company that also owns Lotus. Lotus has been doing fairly well of late thanks to their continuing engineering work for many of the worlds automakers, and the ongoing success of the Elise lineup. Proton however has been struggling and was seeking a more well heeled partner to work with. For the foreseeable future Volkswagen appears to be out the picture.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen to Proton: I'm just not that into you!

Volkswagen to Proton: I'm just not that into you! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>no-volkswagen-protonprotonThu, 22 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkswagen/Proton on-again, off-again deal back on again?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/08/volkswagen-proton-on-again-off-again-deal-back-on-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/08/volkswagen-proton-on-again-off-again-deal-back-on-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/08/volkswagen-proton-on-again-off-again-deal-back-on-again/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Late last year reports first surfaced that Volkswagen was interested in taking a controlling interest in Malaysian car maker Proton. But by March the talks had apparently broken down. Now for the first time Volkswagen has actually made a statement about Proton.

Volkswagen is picking up the pace in talks with the Malaysian government who happens to be Proton's controlling shareholder. VW officials will meet with government officials in the coming weeks about how to proceed. The result could be either a takeover or just a partnership.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen/Proton on-again, off-again deal back on again?

Volkswagen/Proton on-again, off-again deal back on again? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Sep 2007 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyoutmalaysiaprotonSat, 08 Sep 2007 07:53:00 EST<![CDATA[UPDATE: No Chinese-built Lotus on the horizon]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/16/update-no-chinese-built-lotus-on-the-horizon/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/16/update-no-chinese-built-lotus-on-the-horizon/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/16/update-no-chinese-built-lotus-on-the-horizon/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Contrary to a report that surfaced Monday, Lotus has no intention of partnering with the Malaysian state-owned automaker, Proton, to build cars in China. This announcement debunks what Jinhua Neoplan has asserted throughout a number of articles in the Chinese press - including the state-supported China Daily.

The e-mail, which was apparently sent to Lotus staff, makes it clear that no vehicles will be produced in China, nor are there any plans to do so within the next five years. The email goes on to say that such reports "could affect staff morale or performance" and that, "in the future please treat such press comments with the scepticism (sic) they deserve."

Moving on...

[Source: Inside Line]

UPDATE: No Chinese-built Lotus on the horizon originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina dailyChinaDailychineseeuropajinhua neoplanJinhuaNeoplanlotusprotonThu, 16 Aug 2007 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Proton partner to build Lotus Europa in China]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/13/proton-partner-to-build-lotus-europa-in-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/13/proton-partner-to-build-lotus-europa-in-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/13/proton-partner-to-build-lotus-europa-in-china/#commentsFiled under: ,



The guys over at China Car Times are super-stoked over news that Proton has inked a deal that will see the Lotus Europa built in China.

According to a China Daily report, Proton is working with its Chinese partner, Jinhua Neoplan Vehicle Co., to produce for Proton the Europa and a four-door sedan based on Proton's Gen-2.

Jinhua Neoplan has until now manufactured buses, but in its new partnership will build as many as 150,000 cars for both the Chinese market and for export. Inside Line even goes so far as to predict future Chinese-built Lotus vehicles being sold in the U.S.

[Sources: China Daily, China Car Times, Inside Line]

Proton partner to build Lotus Europa in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>china lotusChinaLotuseuropa chinaEuropaChinalotusprotonproton lotusProtonLotusMon, 13 Aug 2007 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Lotus going Dutch? Spyker mulls acquisition]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/15/lotus-going-dutch-spyker-mulls-acquisition/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/15/lotus-going-dutch-spyker-mulls-acquisition/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/15/lotus-going-dutch-spyker-mulls-acquisition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Poor Lotus is the orphan child of the automotive industry. The small British sportscar maker has bounced around owners so often, it would make your head spin trying to connect the dots. After company founder Colin Chapman tragically died in 1982, the company has been bought and sold by General Motors, erstwhile Bugatti entrepreneur Romano Artioli, and currently by Malaysian state-owned automaker Proton. Like GM and Bugatti before it, Proton has failed to capitalize on the Lotus name and is reportedly looking to offload it to an interested third party.

Next up to the plate is Spyker, the independent Dutch exotic carmaker that seems to always be looking for a way to up its prestige. Apparently purchasing a Formula One team - from Midland steel, who had failed to make a go of it - was not enough for Spyker. Having stated its interest in acquiring another prestigious mark, Spyker is now reportedly looking to buy Lotus.

The partnership would be utilized in bringing the upcoming D12 "super sport utility vehicle" to market, as well as future Spyker models, and part of production would shift to England as a result. That part makes enough sense, as Lotus has a long history of engineering consulting for a wide range of automakers. But what makes Spyker think it's got more fortune (in terms of cash and good luck) than General Motors, the Italian mafia (allegedly) and the Malaysian state government is beyond us.

Thanks for the tip, Sjoerd!

[Source: AutoWeek.nl]

Lotus going Dutch? Spyker mulls acquisition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquirebuylotusprotonpurchasespykerThu, 15 Mar 2007 11:26:00 EST<![CDATA[VW & Proton deal on shaky ground]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/vw-and-proton-deal-on-shaky-ground/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/vw-and-proton-deal-on-shaky-ground/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/vw-and-proton-deal-on-shaky-ground/#commentsFiled under: ,

Looks like the talks between Proton and Volkswagen aren't going as well as they could... again. Both companies have said that talks are continuing, but The Edge business newspaper is reporting that no agreement appears likely in the near future. They reported that VW has been "less keen" about the deal lately. The first round of deal breaking news came in December but things appeared to be back on track since then. Seems like there have been a lot of delays in the negotiations, fueling rumors of some discord, even though VW has already signed their letter of intent to purchase 51% of the company.

The deal itself involves the manufacturing part of Proton, which is Malayasian owned. VW is looking for additional production capacity for its Passat sedan to help with Japanese exports. Malayasian built Passats would avoid the Japanese tariffs because of a free trade agreement between these two countries. And even better news for Volkswagen is the fact that Malaysia is also working on free trade deals with Australia and the U.S. So they could also increase manufacturing there in the future for export to those markets as well.

Other companies are still showing interest in Proton, including three Malaysian firms. Some industry insiders even say GM is going to throw its hat into the ring. Another automaker that had been involved in the bidding was PSA Peugeot Citroën, but it has announced that it's no longer interested.

[Source: Motor Authority]

VW & Proton deal on shaky ground originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapanMalaysiaPassatprotontariffsVWMon, 05 Mar 2007 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter the rumormill: VW won bid to control Proton]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/27/enter-the-rumormill-vw-won-bid-to-control-proton/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/27/enter-the-rumormill-vw-won-bid-to-control-proton/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/27/enter-the-rumormill-vw-won-bid-to-control-proton/#commentsFiled under: ,



Motor Authority came across an article in XFN-Asia that says VW won the bidding contest for controlling stake of Malaysia's Proton. Although the report is light on details, it seems that a source who was privy to the deal confirmed that Volkswagen will be purchasing the required 51-percent of Proton's manufacturing arm and that an official statement will be released on February 8th.

If the source is to be trusted, that means that both GM and PSA Peugeot-Citroen were ousted from the runnings, which is little surprise, as VW has had a long standing relationship with the state-owned automaker.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Enter the rumormill: VW won bid to control Proton originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jan 2007 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>protonvolkswagenvwSat, 27 Jan 2007 09:21:00 EST<![CDATA[GM may make bid for Proton]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/10/gm-may-make-bid-for-proton/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/10/gm-may-make-bid-for-proton/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/10/gm-may-make-bid-for-proton/#commentsFiled under: ,

GM has thrown its hat into the ring, along with VW and PSA Peugeot Citroen, to purchase floundering Malaysian carmaker Proton. Over the past three months, Proton has lost 250.3 million ringgit (or about $71.5 m US) due to increased competition from Malaysian-based Perodua Motors and Naza automakers.

The state-owned carmaker has met with GM officials over the past few months and it's expected that a bid for Proton could be made sometime this month. If General Motors would purchase a controlling stake in the foreign automaker, they would have control over both Proton's holdings and manufacturing capacity.

Since Volkswagen and PSA Peugeot Citroen are the preferred bidders, the chances of GM making a winning bid are up in the air. But GM's clout in the marketplace may be to the advantage of Proton, as an executive told one daily newspaper that GM may help Proton build a car for the U.S. market in five years. If that's the case, we'd like to see Proton's relationship with Lotus exploited to our benefit on these shores.

[Source: Business Week]

GM may make bid for Proton originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gmlotusprotonWed, 10 Jan 2007 13:33:00 EST<![CDATA[VW getting serious about Proton. Again.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/12/vw-getting-serious-about-proton-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/12/vw-getting-serious-about-proton-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/12/vw-getting-serious-about-proton-again/#commentsFiled under:

After many months of deal / no deal, it looks like Volkswagen is ever closer to being a part owner of Malaysian automaker Proton, which, as you know, owns Lotus.

According to the Associated Press, VW is looking at conducting a pre-Christmas audit of Proton, a move that would indicate VW is serious about investing in the Malaysian company.

The story goes on to say that from its estimated $545 million investment, VW would get access to Proton's assembly lines as well as Malaysia's free trade agreement with Japan. VW could theoretically use Proton's plants to produce cars to export to Japan tariff-free. Proton would benefit from the deal by getting a much-needed cash injection.

[Source: The Associated Press via The Detroit News]

VW getting serious about Proton. Again. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lotusprotonproton lotusProtonLotusvolkswagenvolkswagen lotusvolkswagen protonVolkswagenLotusVolkswagenProtonTue, 12 Dec 2006 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Lotus Engineering to play key role for Chinese automaker]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/20/lotus-engineering-to-play-key-role-for-chinese-automaker/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/20/lotus-engineering-to-play-key-role-for-chinese-automaker/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/20/lotus-engineering-to-play-key-role-for-chinese-automaker/#commentsFiled under: ,

Lotus Engineering has agreed to help Chinese car company Jinhua Youngman develop a range of cars under a new brand over the next five years.

The Lotus press release (in full after the jump) gives few details about the lineup, but does say the first car to be developed would be a four door saloon. Work on that vehicle is expected to begin early next year.

Lotus is owned by Malaysian company Proton Holdings, which has worked with numerous other Chinese companies, including Chery, in the past.

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus Engineering to play key role for Chinese automaker

Lotus Engineering to play key role for Chinese automaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheryjinhua yomanjinhua youngmanJinhuaYomanJinhuaYoungmanlotuslotus cherylotus chinalotus engineeringlotus jinhua youngmanlotus protonLotusCheryLotusChinaLotusEngineeringLotusJinhuaYoungmanLotusProtonprotonproton cheryproton jinhua youngmanProtonCheryProtonJinhuaYoungmanMon, 20 Nov 2006 09:04:00 EST