Autoblog

Caterham to expand beyond sports cars; city cars, CUVs possible

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Crossover, Renault, UK, Luxury

Caterham may be looking to expand its product scope beyond its current offerings. After the company announced an alliance with Renault yesterday, Caterham Chairman Tony Fernandes was quoted as saying the partnership is "the start of a line of products from Caterham." Fernandes went on to say the purist sports car manufacturer could move to begin producing crossovers and city cars in the same way that Porsche has evolved its position in the market. Don't start crying at the thought of a five-door Caterham just yet, though. The would-be product explosion may also include the addition of a new supercar.

CEO Graham Macdonald has said he envisions the brand as being capped with a halo project, complete with a carbon fiber chassis and KERS system on board. Of course, none of this translates directly into a new model on the road. As of right now, Renault and Caterham have only agreed to produce one vehicle under their budding partnership.

Caterham to expand beyond sports cars; city cars, CUVs possible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caterham lineup set to expand under Team Lotus ownership

Noah Joseph — Tue, 10 May 2011 18:32:00 EST

Caterham Seven Team Lotus Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

It was only a few months ago that we reported on Caterham's plans to expand its lineup. But a lot has happened since then, particularly for an automaker whose core product range is anchored in a design that goes back nearly six decades.

Since the launch of the SP/300.R, Caterham was acquired by Tony Fernandes - the same Malaysian entrepreneur behind Team Lotus F1. The new ownership is intent to keep the same management in place, but the cash injection is expected to lead to a further broadening of the company's lineup.

Just what that will entail remains to be seen, but Autocar reports that whatever comes next down the pipeline will (arguably unlike some of Lotus' own new products) remain faithful to Colin Chapman's less-is-more philosophy.

The report also indicates a two-way door between Caterham and Team Lotus, the latter's F1 cars set to feature the former's branding while F1-derived technologies are set to trickle down to Caterham's products. A Caterham Seven with regenerative braking and adaptive aerodynamics? Too soon to say, but the sky's the proverbial limit.

Caterham lineup set to expand under Team Lotus ownership originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fernandes to rebrand AirAsia GP2 team as Caterham, F1 team to follow?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 05 May 2011 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Lotus

Caterham Seven Team Lotus Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

With the ink still drying on the contract between Team Lotus and Caterham Cars, rumors are already afoot as to what Tony Fernandes, the proud new owner of both, will do to bridge the divide.

Fernandes is still in the middle of a naming rights battle with Group Lotus. The courts were due to issue their ruling, but Fernandes went ahead with the Caterham deal while the authorities deliberate. The speculation is that Fernandes would rename Team Lotus as Caterham, but only if the court rules that his claim to the Lotus name is invalid.

For the moment, Fernandes plans on renaming his GP2 team - which currently bears the name of his flight operator AirAsia - as Caterham GP2, assuming the series organizers will allow it so close to the season start. Stay tuned for the next installment of How the Formula 1 World Turns...

Fernandes to rebrand AirAsia GP2 team as Caterham, F1 team to follow? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Lotus buys Caterham, celebrates with special Seven [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Lotus, Earnings/Financials, UK, Specialty

Caterham Seven Team Lotus Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've been waiting a while for official confirmation, and it's finally here: Team Lotus has acquired British sportscar manufacturer Caterham. Both outfits lay claim to Lotus founder Colin Chapman's legacy without any actual support from Lotus Cars itself (with which it is currently embroiled in a naming rights legal dispute) and are now joined under the common ownership of Air Asia chairman Tony Fernandes.

The Malaysian businessman and his partners bought out Caterham's previous owner, Corven Ventures, but have elected to keep Caterham's current managing director Ansar Ali at the helm. The new cash injection ought to help Caterham springboard off the SP/300R to further expand its lineup, while cementing the iconic Seven as a veritable staple of sportscar design.

To celebrate the tie-in, Caterham is preparing to launch a special run of Team Lotus Sevens, of which only 50 examples will be made - 25 for the UK and 25 for overseas. The special package can be added to any variant in the Seven range, bearing the same classic green-and-yellow livery as the team's Formula One racers and a special plaque in the cabin, along with a commemorative book and an invitation to tour the team's factory in England.

Click on to view the special edition in our high-res image gallery below, and follow the jump for a video announcement and press releases on both the acquisition and the special edition.

Gallery: Caterham Seven Team Lotus Special Edition

[Source: Team Lotus]

Continue reading Team Lotus buys Caterham, celebrates with special Seven [w/video]

Team Lotus buys Caterham, celebrates with special Seven [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Branson loses F1 bet, will cross-dress as Air Asia stewardess

Noah Joseph — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus, Celebrities, Humor

You don't get much higher stakes than Formula One. And while some teams have their own airplanes, there are a couple this season that have their own airlines: Richard Branson's Virgin, and Tony Fernandes' Lotus Racing and Air Asia.

As you may recall, the rivalry between the two tycoon-backed upstart teams escalated to such a point that Branson and Fernandes made a gentlemanly bet that was anything but: the owner of the team that fared worse in this year's championship would have to cross-dress as a female flight attendant and serve as such on the other's airline.

Well, Lotus edged out Virgin towards the bottom of the standings, so it's Sir Richard who'll be wearing Air Asia's finest skirt and blouse. Fernandes is keen on placing his rival on a long-haul Kaula Lumpur-to-London flight, tickets for which he plans to auction off for charity. Looks like the negative effect of downforce isn't the only kind of drag these guys will be dealing with in the offseason.

[Source: Autosport]

Richard Branson loses F1 bet, will cross-dress as Air Asia stewardess originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Racing to return to classic JPS black and gold livery

Noah Joseph — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus

The relationship between Lotus the automaker and Lotus the F1 racing team only seems to be getting more complicated. The name was licensed by Malaysian state automaker Proton to fellow Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes for use by his F1 team. Then Fernandes announced he didn't need Proton's permission and bought the name from a third party who claimed ownership. Proton and Lotus disputed the claim and canceled the licensing agreement, but Fernandes insisted he was within his rights. Both Lotus and Fernandes then launched their own GP2 feeder teams. Rumors then surfaced that Lotus the automaker was set to jump into F1 on its own by buying Renault's team, leaving us to wonder which team would race under the Lotus name and which would be forced to back down.

The signs seemed to point towards Fernandes losing the battle, but the latest word indicates otherwise. After racing their first season in classic Lotus green and yellow, the team has now announced it will be "returning" to the black and gold livery that Team Lotus used in its heyday under John Player Special sponsorship. Only now, of course, tobacco sponsorship is banned in F1.

Have the two Lotus outfits come up with this as a solution to differentiate one team from another? Or is Fernandes preparing to soldier on under the Lotus banner regardless of what the automaker says? We'll find out sooner or later, but as of now it appears the controversy has far from subsided.

[Source: Autosport]

Lotus Racing to return to classic JPS black and gold livery originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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F1 bosses place bet that involves cross-dressing flight attendants?

Zach Bowman — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Europe, Lotus, Celebrities, Humor

Things are heating up in Formula One. As you may recall, earlier this year, Lotus head honcho Tony Fernandes jested that he would retire and kill himself if his team was bested by Virgin. A gaggle of reporters recently pinged Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson to see how he felt about Fernandes' oath of victory or death, and Branson responded with a challenge for the Lotus guru. The boss of the losing team will have to serve as a stewardess on the winning team's respective airline.

Surprisingly enough, ESPN reports that Fernandes is apparently just fine with the notion, saying that the sexier the outfit the better. Fernandes owns Air Asia, which was quick to crank out a rendering of what Sir Branson would look like all dolled up in the airline's standard flight-attendant garb. It's an image we won't be able to shake for a good long while.

Fernandes was also quick to throw a little more fuel on the trash-talking fire, saying that he was certain that his customers would be thrilled to be served by a Knight of the Realm. Judging from that rendering, we're not sure that "thrilled" is an accurate description.

[Source: ESPN F1]

F1 bosses place bet that involves cross-dressing flight attendants? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Cars and Lotus F1 embroiled in naming rights dispute

Noah Joseph — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Lotus

Stick with us here, because this is going to get a little complicated. We have on the one hand Lotus Cars and Group Lotus. On the other we have the current Lotus F1 team. The former - producers of such sportscars as the Elise and the new Elite - is owned by Malaysian state automaker Proton. The former is also Malaysian-owned, but by businessman Tony Fernandes (pictured above, owner also of Air Asia), and uses the name Lotus under license from Proton.

Still with us? Hold on. We recently reported that the F1 team that currently runs as Lotus Racing was switching its name to Team Lotus. That name, which was used on the famous grand prix team of yore, was claimed by one David Hunt (brother of the late world champion James Hunt), who acquired many of the assets of the old team. Fernandes wanted to bridge that gap, and acquired those rights from Hunt. Thing is, Group Lotus (the automaker and engineering firm, not the F1 team) disputed Hunt's claim on the name in the first place.

As a result, Proton has now terminated its licensing agreement with Fernandes, demanding that his outfit cease using the Lotus name - in any permutation, be it Lotus Racing, Team Lotus or any derivation thereof. Fernandes, girded by his rights acquisition, isn't likely to back down, and we're smelling a messy legal battle ensuing. So keep your eyes peeled on this space, and follow the jump for official statements from both outfits.

[Source: Lotus | Image: SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading Lotus Cars and Lotus F1 embroiled in naming rights dispute

Lotus Cars and Lotus F1 embroiled in naming rights dispute originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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