DRB-Hicom Declines Offer for Lotus, VW Reportedly Interested in Parent Company Proton

<a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/07/drb-hicom-declines-offer-for-lotus-vw.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769205126256808690" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inNItdB7igw/UBBVfurmUvI/AAAAAAAIWO8/Dm9yWW5OOVo/s800/2015-Lotus-Eterne-4d-1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; Border-bottom: 8px solid rgb(224, 224, 224); cursor:hand;width: 645px; height: 349px;"></a><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Last week, Reuters reported that the ever-expanding Volkswagen Group is considering to place a new bid <a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/search/label/Proton">for Proton</a>, which owns the Lotus brand, some five years after the Germans failed to form a tie up with the Malaysian carmaker as it seeks to extend its reach in the southeast Asian markets. </span> <p></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Today, DRB-Hicom, which acquired a 42.7 percent stake in Proton earlier this year, said that it had received an offer from an unnamed foreign company to buy Lotus for £1 (US$1.6 / €1.3) and take over the British company's debts that amount to more than £200 million (US$311 million / €257 million).</span> </p><a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/07/drb-hicom-declines-offer-for-lotus-vw.html#more">Read more »</a>

Asia Lotus Lotus Elan Lotus Elise Lotus Elite Proton Reports VW DRB-Hicom Declines Offer for Lotus, VW Reportedly Interested in Parent Company Proton

Last week, Reuters reported that the ever-expanding Volkswagen Group is considering to place a new bid for Proton , which owns the Lotus bra...

Read more »

Back to the Future: Kia Elan Roadster is a Lotus for the Masses

<a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/05/find-of-day-kia-elan-roadster-is-lotus.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5738470477311246754" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbXJt-mRBgk/T6MkftI0AaI/AAAAAAAHiTs/BXCk2tBfqiU/s800/Kia-Elan-Roadster-14.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; Border: 1px solid rgb(51, 51, 51); cursor:hand;width: 645px; height: 349px;"></a><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Back in the late 1980s, two automakers with very different values and historical backgrounds each set out to build a roadster model for mainstream enthusiasts. The two brands were <a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/search/label/Mazda%20MX-5%20%2F%20Miata">Mazda with its MX-5</a>, also known as Miata in North America and Eunos Roadster in Japan, and Lotus, then owned by General Motors, with the Elan M100. </span> <p></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Both two-seater models were presented in 1989, but only one managed to become a phenomenal sales success, and that was the MX-5. </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Ironically, Mazda's goal was to create a direct descendant of the original <a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/search/label/Lotus%20Elan">Lotus Elan</a> from the 1960s, with a nostalgic feel in terms of styling, lightweight philosophy and rear-wheel drive setup, adapted of course, to the times.</span> </p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gD--YKFmtxU/T6Mkqgb4wPI/AAAAAAAHiT4/ZgLPxRCaevE/s1600/Kia-Elan-Roadster-12.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5738470662880149746" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gD--YKFmtxU/T6Mkqgb4wPI/AAAAAAAHiT4/ZgLPxRCaevE/s200/Kia-Elan-Roadster-12.JPG" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; border: 1px solid rgb(51, 51, 51); width: 137px; height: 94px;"></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;">On the other hand, the British automaker purposely designed a futuristic successor that maintained the handling and nimbleness of the original Elan, but instead of RWD, opted for a FWD layout, the first and last time Lotus tried it on a production model. </span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Even though the modern Elan was praised for its handling and forward looking styling, it ultimately fell victim to its high price having to compete with the cheaper and more reliable MX-5, and the fact that it was not as entertaining on the road as a rear-wheel driven model. </span> </p><a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/05/find-of-day-kia-elan-roadster-is-lotus.html#more">Read more »</a>

Classics Kia Kia Videos Korea Lotus Elan Offbeat News Video Back to the Future: Kia Elan Roadster is a Lotus for the Masses

Back in the late 1980s, two automakers with very different values and historical backgrounds each set out to build a roadster model for main...

Read more »