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Lotus is looking for a partner with which to recreate the iconic Lotus Carlton.
Mike Kimberley, Lotus Group CEO, has said that he would “like the company to build another car in the mould of the Lotus Carlton.”
The Norfolk-based firm has a history of building highly modified performance versions of relatively mundane production cars. The 377bhp Carlton and the 1979 Talbot S...Read the full article

No guys, the Insignia is likely to be too large and expensive.  The modern day Talbot Sunbeam, the Peugeot 207 is the correct size and could be a fantastic drive if the steering and suspension were sorted and it was given more power.

Just imagine, a 207  in white with a green flash down the flanks, tasteful alloys and a subtle body kit!  Nearly for got that all important Lotus badge too.

Would this new vehicle be to go head to head with the likes of the Porsche Panamera by any chance?  Lotus seem to be using Porsche a business model at the moment (which is no bad thing), so this product would fit in with that.

In all reality, it would need to be a RWD, as I am not sure Lotus would want to make it four or front wheel drive.  Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer rear drivers out there.  May be Lotus' own spin on the VXR8, using the V6 lump?!?!?

Now if they are looking at a hot hatch style car aka Lotus Sunbeam, then why not use the Proton Gen-2.  Smart car, good looks and developed by Lotus in the first place.  With a little tweaking, decent engine and stripped interior (well lets face it that's possibly the worst part of it), then they could have a winner on their hands.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about a half hearted effort as in the Lotus Satria, I'm talking about a full blown Lotus version!

"...the Vauxhall Insignia is the Carlton’s modern equivalent ".

I'm appalled and disgusted, Autocar.

The Insignia follows the Vectra and Cavalier.

The Carlton was superceded by the awesome Omega, which criminally has not been replaced. I have a day job not involved in writing about cars, yet I know this - what excuse have you got for such ignorance?

TheOmegaMan, Well it is really the modern day equivalent, seeing as your right and Vauxhall hasn't replaced the Omega the Isignia is the modern day equivalent as it's the closest hting to a Carlton. I think it'd be incredible if they made a Lotus Cooper, even if Mini now is owned by Porsche which is German, the mini is a classic British car and Lotus is a classic British company... Could work you never know

Lotusfanboy:

the Isignia is the modern day equivalent as it's the closest hting to a Carlton.

Needs checking, but dimensionally, it's probably bigger than the Carlton...I think the last Vectra might have even edged it.

Lotusfanboy:

Mini now is owned by Porsche which is German

That would be Porsche, as in BMW?

I think that if Lotus is going to stay Vauxhall, then the only car they would look at is a souped up VXR8 or possibly the 4x4 version of the Insignia, which as Lotusfanboy writes is the closest thing to a Carlton on sale these days. The thing is, I don't see the need for it in the Vauxhall range. The VXR8 does the job of the Lotus Carlton in everything except badge.