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10-04-2012, 06:19 PM
Filed under: Concept Cars (http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/), Coupe (http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/), Performance (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/), Lotus (http://www.autoblog.com/category/lotus/), Earnings/Financials (http://www.autoblog.com/category/earnings-financials/), Rumormill (http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/), Luxury (http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/lotus-esprit-frt34.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lotus-esprit-concept/#photo-3422286/)
Two years ago, we were gobsmacked when humble Lotus (http://www.autoblog.com/lotus/) shocked the automotive world by wheeling out no fewer than five new models (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/30/lotus-shocks-paris-motor-show-with-five-concept-debuts/) - admittedly in various stages of development - at the 2010 Paris Motor Show (http://www.autoblog.com/paris-motor-show/). The ambitious onslaught of new sheetmetal came at the behest of then-CEO Danny Bahar (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bahar/) who aimed to broaden the British marque's appeal by dramatically expanding its portfolio. Bahar was later thrown out by new Malaysian owners DRB-Hicom in a management shakeup that seems to still be, well, shaking out. Bahar was deposed over accusations of financial wrongdoing (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/lotus-fires-ceo-dany-bahar-amidst-controversy/) and the controversial executive has fired back with a $10.6M lawsuit (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/former-ceo-bahar-files-10-6m-suit-against-lotus/).
Against this chaotic background, a cornerstone of Lotus' revival plans hinged on the rebirth of its Esprit (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/esprit/) supercar (shown in 2010 concept form above). According to new reports, however, the Esprit has been cancelled, a victim of the company's uncertain finances and direction. Depending on which rumor you choose to believe, the two-seat coupe was slated to receive a house-built V8 (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/13/lotus-to-go-in-house-upmarket-with-new-v8-for-upcoming-esprit/) and possibly turbocharging (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/lotus-to-turbocharge-new-esprit-into-uks-fastest-supercar/) or hybrid power. That may all be moot now, however, as DRB-Hicom is reported to have scrapped Bahar's plans wholesale (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/new-lotus-owners-ditch-ambitious-five-year-plan/), a development that apparently includes killing off the mid-engined Esprit, too.Lotus Esprit cancelled? (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/lotus-esprit-cancelled/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/lotus-esprit-cancelled/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20342115/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/lotus-esprit-cancelled/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/lotus-esprit-cancelled/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/lotus-esprit-frt34.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lotus-esprit-concept/#photo-3422286/)
Two years ago, we were gobsmacked when humble Lotus (http://www.autoblog.com/lotus/) shocked the automotive world by wheeling out no fewer than five new models (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/30/lotus-shocks-paris-motor-show-with-five-concept-debuts/) - admittedly in various stages of development - at the 2010 Paris Motor Show (http://www.autoblog.com/paris-motor-show/). The ambitious onslaught of new sheetmetal came at the behest of then-CEO Danny Bahar (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bahar/) who aimed to broaden the British marque's appeal by dramatically expanding its portfolio. Bahar was later thrown out by new Malaysian owners DRB-Hicom in a management shakeup that seems to still be, well, shaking out. Bahar was deposed over accusations of financial wrongdoing (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/lotus-fires-ceo-dany-bahar-amidst-controversy/) and the controversial executive has fired back with a $10.6M lawsuit (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/former-ceo-bahar-files-10-6m-suit-against-lotus/).
Against this chaotic background, a cornerstone of Lotus' revival plans hinged on the rebirth of its Esprit (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/esprit/) supercar (shown in 2010 concept form above). According to new reports, however, the Esprit has been cancelled, a victim of the company's uncertain finances and direction. Depending on which rumor you choose to believe, the two-seat coupe was slated to receive a house-built V8 (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/13/lotus-to-go-in-house-upmarket-with-new-v8-for-upcoming-esprit/) and possibly turbocharging (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/lotus-to-turbocharge-new-esprit-into-uks-fastest-supercar/) or hybrid power. That may all be moot now, however, as DRB-Hicom is reported to have scrapped Bahar's plans wholesale (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/new-lotus-owners-ditch-ambitious-five-year-plan/), a development that apparently includes killing off the mid-engined Esprit, too.Lotus Esprit cancelled? (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/lotus-esprit-cancelled/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/lotus-esprit-cancelled/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20342115/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/lotus-esprit-cancelled/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/lotus-esprit-cancelled/)