Currently reading: Bob Lutz linked to Lotus
GM stalwart linked to a Lotus advisory role as part of the firm's new five-year recovery plan

Bob Lutz has been linked to an advisory role at Lotus as the firm aims to reinvent itself under a new five-year business plan.

The recently retired General Motors stalwart is believed to have had formal talks with Lotus, although an offer for his services has yet to be tabled, industry sources have told Auto News Europe.

Read more on Lotus's new five-year plan

Lotus will reveal plans to turn itself from niche sports car maker to a producer of Aston Martin-rivaling GT and luxury sports cars at the Paris motor show in September. The plan has been hatched by Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, who joined the firm from Ferrari last autumn.

Former BMW executive Tom Purves has also been linked with an advisory role at Lotus and told Auto News that he “would be happy” to be involved with the firm.

"The goal is to make a contribution to projects of the future - improving the quality, the product offerings and the operations of the company,” he said, although no formal deal has been agreed.

“It's exciting, and there is no question it is a great brand and has a good future.”

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disco.stu 3 July 2010

Re: Bob Lutz linked to Lotus

russ13b wrote:
Ferrari frequently hide a bad car behind it's badge. Before you start arguing, how many ferraris actually handle properly?? 4 or 5? Not good enough. And they're all fat, with build quality much lower than people seem to think.

Obviously you have driven several Ferraris then??? Or maybe it's just that i don't understand your definition of 'handling properly'?

Like most manufacturers that have been around for 60+ years, Ferrari have had their share of dogs, but many many more of them have been utterly brilliant.

Straight Six Man 3 July 2010

Re: Bob Lutz linked to Lotus

Dan McNeil v2 wrote:
russ13b wrote:
These people are going to kill Lotus, even now it's obvious that they don't know what one is.
GM have a reverse Midas touch.

Really? Look at GM's range now. Buicks that are actually desirable (two based on the Opel Insignia - there's an Insignia-alike and something bigger, plus there's a rebadged new Astra). Cadillac are producing a capable crossover in the form of the SRX, and a storming sports saloon in the form of the CTS, plus a reasonable luxobarge in the form of the soon-to-be-replaced STS. The Corvette is better than ever, and is quicker round the Ring than most other things, including 911 Turbos, Nissan Skylines, etc. Chevrolet have the new Camaro (wonderful), the new Cruze (seemingly a half-decent cheap family car, based on the same platform as the new Astra), the Volt/Ampera, the Holden Commodore-based Caprice (think VXR8 without the bodykit, and with some smaller engines available as well - sadly, it's only on sale to the public in the Middle East).

Then think of what GM Europe are up to, along with Holden, producing some highly capable cars.

Much of this is thanks to Bob Lutz. Don't knock him.

Dan McNeil v2 3 July 2010

Re: Bob Lutz linked to Lotus

russ13b wrote:
These people are going to kill Lotus, even now it's obvious that they don't know what one is.
GM have a reverse Midas touch.