I know I'm a stickler for detail, particularly when it comes to reporting my favorite brand, Lotus . Should it upset and annoy me when I see blatant mistakes, errors or miss truths published in my favorite magazines, or should I just accept that this is the level that the modern world journalism has reached and make no comment ?
I refer to this week's copy of Autocar, the article by Mr.Cropley, " Lotus resumes Esprit testing". In the article, and in the caption he refers to Lotus "own-design V8 engine", when all keen Lotus followers and enthusiasts know that the V8 engine in question is not in fact Lotus designed, or manufactured, but a bought in design from a German engine developer.
So my question is, why bother to pretend that this is something else, and mislead the loyal readership, it's no disgrace, ( McLaren have gone down a similar route ) unless of course you owned a world renowned design consultancy ?
TegTypeR
I dislike inaccuracy but am well aware I am perfectly capable of making great cock ups, so people in glass houses and all that.
I think part of the problem is the amount of information we are bombarded by on a daily basis and things like where Lotus' new engine originates from is quite low down on the list of priorities for most people.
History is littered with documented inaccuracies (we could start the bible debate!) and I am sure it will continue for quite a while to come yet. However, this is the good thing about forums like this is that the well informed can at least get their word out and educate us.
It's all about the twisties........
Ravon
The problem for me is, I'm passionate about Lotus, so I follow it's development closely, I know little about much else, but if I spot the obvious with regard to Lotus, how much rubbish am I reading about other marques that i know little of ?
With regard to making things, yes I'm actually a UK manufacturer and 90 plus percent exporter, I do make mistakes, and they cost me personally !
Bookworm65
Quote from somewhere stuck in my mind.
"A man who never made a mistake - never made anything"
Lesia44
From the lack of response to this post it's I'd guess fair to say that the journalists can just make it up as they see fit, because the readership don't really care, which for me is very sad .
Have you never made a mistake? They get most things right and the Earth is not going to plunge into the heart of the Sun over the few things they get wrong.
You know, I do believe that is a 'pec'...
Ravon
Unfortunately Maxycat, it appears, if you read the blogs and posts on the subject that it was in fact an existing engine, so the basic architecture wasn't even specified by Lotus.
From the lack of response to this post it's I'd guess fair to say that the journalists can just make it up as they see fit, because the readership don't really care, which for me is very sad .
Maxycat
All car manufacturers use outside designers but then as part of the contract "own" the design.
The car companies set their suppliers targets but do not "design" many of the components. For example all European Ford car diesel engines are really Peugeot/Citroen engines even if made by Ford. The air and fuel systems for engines are usually designed by and made by big car components suppliers like Bosch and Siemens who design the system to meet the car companies needs.
I expect Mr Cropley's statement about Lotus's "own design V8" meant that the engine is not an existing production engine but one designed specifically for Lotus at Lotus's request under contract.
bomb
I know what you mean. I have the same reaction to a description of 'Land Rover's new 8-speed gearbox' or whoever, when in fact it's the same 8-speed ZF transmission that BMW fit and vice versa.
Honda CR-V ES 2.2 i-DTEC/Citroen DS3 1.6 VTi DStyle Plus