Newsgroup: it.discussioni.auto.mod
Titolo: Ultime sulla Lotus

DRB-HICOM Bhd, the ultimate owner of Proton Holdings Bhd, has hired two 
top-notch forensic teams to conduct a due diligence on Lotus Group 
International Ltd.
Separate teams from Ernst & Young (EY) and a unit from the influential 
Rothschild Group have been given the mandate to evaluate Lotus and its 
management team.
Based on their findings, a decision will be made on whether to pump in more 
money into Lotus or to sell the British carmaker.
 
Si stima che i risultati saranno resi noti nella seconda meta' di maggio... 
vedremo...
-- 
Kamox
[31; 280]
www.ringers.it
 

> vedremo...
 
Da Pistonheads:
"Rumours really started to swirl around last week, when the Lotus F1 team 
ended a title sponsorship deal with Group Lotus, prompting suggestions that 
the F1 team's owner, Genii Capital, might be interested in buying out the 
Norfolk sports car maker. For its part Group Lotus says that the 
relationship with Lotus F1 is now as 'brand partners' and the mutual benefit 
derived carries no financial cost to either party.
But that's not all. According to an article by Autocar's Steve Cropley, 
DRB-Hicom, the new owners of Lotus parent company Proton, aren't convinced 
of the value of the Brit sports car maker and so could be looking to offload 
or dissolve the brand.
Were it to be offloaded, one of the leading suitors could well be China 
Youngman - a company that's already tried to bid for Saab, and that has been 
Lotus's importer in China for more than half a decade.
But how true is all this? As Autocar points out, Lotus has failed to deny 
the rumours of its problems, the 60-day period where Malaysian law demanded 
that Lotus's flow of cash was interrupted as Proton changed ownership is 
well and truly over, and Lotus CEO Dany Bahar is 'on leave' this week. The 
official line from Hethel would be that they are awaiting news themselves, 
hence the lack of any comment."
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> But how true is all this?
 
Da EveningNews24:
Genii Capital - the Luxembourg investment vehicle whose F1 team was 
sponsored by Group Lotus - last night confirmed to the EDP it is running the 
rule over the company's books with a view to buying the Hethel-based firm.
But the admission comes amid mounting speculation that the car manufacturer's 
new owner DRB-Hicom is looking for a quick sale of the loss-making firm to a 
Chinese buyer.
(...) in what is being seen as an alarming move, Proton's acting chief 
executive Sri Syed Zainal is already believed to be in China courting two 
interested parties, raising the prospect of a nightmare 'MG Rover' scenario 
for the British Government of Lotus assets and production simply being 
shipped to the Far East following a deal.
Prime minister David Cameron raised the Lotus question during his visit to 
Malaysia this week, and while the outcome of the talks is not yet clear, it 
is thought that the publicity surrounding DRB-Hicom's actions has caused 
severe embarrassment within Malaysian government circles, which could yet 
help turn the tide in favour of a deal to save Norfolk jobs.
Genii owner Gerard Lopez is believed to have met DRB-Hicom executives to put 
the case for buying Group Lotus.
Confirming their interest in Lotus, a Genii spokesman said: "We do not see 
any reason why we would move production away from Norfolk. The historic link 
is to Norfolk and we would not be looking to move anything away from there."
Genii is so far the only company to publicly state its interest. Meanwhile 
there has been no signs of any public enthusiasm from Caterham Cars, or its 
owner Tony Fernandes, the millionaire Malaysian businessman and QPR Football 
Club owner, to buy Group Lotus.
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> ma insomma cacciano li sordi, o no? :-)
 
Intervista a Bahar, si dovra' attendere la fine della due diligence 
(meta'/fine maggio) per una risposta certa:
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/282088/exclusive_dany_bahar_interview.html
 
Mi fa piacere che abbiano oltre 1.000 ordini.


 Mi fa piacere che abbiano oltre 1.000 ordini.
 
C'è un ENORME "publiredazionale" (vogliamo chiamarlo marchetta?) di una 
20ina di pagine su EVO di aprile su Lotus oggi.... speriamo che i soldi 
arrivino perchè potenzialmente stanno facendo cose egregie e sarebbe un vero 
peccato perdere tutto.
 
 
-- 
www.DrPianale.it
 - Egoresponsabile
Viaggiare, Guidare, Pensare

> sarebbe un vero peccato perdere tutto.
 
Da: Jalopnik.com
 
Parent company DRB-HICOM Berhad has suspended controversial Lotus CEO Dany 
Bahar due to undisclosed "conduct" following an operational review of the 
British sportscar maker.
"As a result of a number of media inquiries, Group Lotus plc ("Lotus") can 
today confirm that, following an operational review, chief executive Dany 
Bahar has been temporarily suspended from his role to facilitate an 
investigation into a complaint about his conduct made by Lotus' penultimate 
parent company, DRB-HICOM Berhad," reads the official statement.
DRB-HICOM Berhad purchased Lotus' parent company, Proton, earlier this year.
"The penultimate holding company would like to stress it is business as 
usual at Lotus," the statement continues. "We fully support the company and 
will continue to support Lotus in its business endeavours and development."
Four representatives of DRB-HICOM Berhad will run the company in Bahar's 
absence.
Bahar, who's management of Lotus has been much maligned by enthusiasts and 
industry watchers, including us, joined the company in 2009, leading it to 
its polarizing five-fat-model expansion plan and more PR gaffs than you can 
shake a briefcase full of cocaine at.
-- 
Kamox
[32; 280]
www.ringers.it
 
"Let your driving be skilled, or quickly be killed" 

 to support Lotus in its business endeavours and development."
 
Dichiarazione ufficiale di Proton/DRB-Hicom:
PROTON today reiterated that its holding company DRB-HICOM Berhad 
(DRB-HICOM) is not selling Lotus, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PROTON, 
despite recent media reports based purely on speculation and rumours.
Executive Chairman of PROTON Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Khamil Jamil said: "We 
acknowledge that Lotus can provide value to PROTON.
"Lotus is an iconic brand with global presence and positioning, coupled with 
unsurpassed engineering expertise and a talented workforce."
Earlier this month, Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Khamil visited Lotus facilities at 
Hethel in Norfolk. In conjunction with the visit, Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Khamil 
also had constructive meetings with South Norfolk MP Mr. Richard Bacon and 
British Business Secretary, Dr Vince Cable.
Commenting on the meetings, Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Khamil said: "They were both 
very supportive of our views and developments with regard to the future 
plans for Lotus.
"Subsequent to the meetings, the British Government has agreed to consider 
reactivating the £10 million Regional Growth Fund pledge to support Lotus's 
vehicle development plans in Norfolk."
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> speculation and rumours
 
Hanno licenziato Bahar (l'AD, insomma):
 
Mr Bahar was temporarily removed from his £1.2m post a fortnight ago following a meeting with the bosses of DRB-Hicom in Malaysia, and a complaint into his conduct made by the conglomerate.
The company said in a statement tonight: “The decision was made by the board of Group Lotus plc following the results of an investigation into a complaint made against him by the company’s penultimate holding company, DRB-HICOM Berhad.”
The Company has also announced the appointment of Aslam Farikullah as the company’s chief operating officer with immediate effect.
Mr Aslam has more than 26 years experience in the automotive industry.
-- 
Kamox

Due notiziole fresche fresche...  :-)
 
 
1)
Lotus: a rischio il futuro delle 5 concept car. Arriverà solo la Esprit?
 
http://www.autoblog.it/post/56269/lotus-a-rischio-il-futuro-della-5-concept-car-arrivera-solo-la-esprit
 
 
La situazione del marchio Lotus va aggravandosi di mese in mese. Jalopnik 
riporta oggi che solo una fra le sei concept car esposte allo scorso salone 
di Parigi verrà tradotta in serie, mentre il progetto di realizzare ‘in domo’ 
un motore ed un cambio appare del tutto irrealistico. I vertici del marchio 
inglese hanno infatti licenziato ben 50 ingegneri, tutti impegnati nello 
sviluppo di quelle City Car, Elan, Elise, Elite ed Eterne che furono esposte 
in pompa magna durante la scorsa rassegna parigina. La diaspora è ovviamente 
riconducibile a questioni di natura economica, le stesse che hanno stravolto 
l’ambizioso piano di crescita immaginato dall’ex amministratore delegato 
Dany Bahar.
 
L’unica vettura sicura di trovare un posto nel futuro listino sarà dunque la 
Esprit. Quest’ultima tuttavia non sarà equipaggiata con il V8 4.8 di 
fabbricazione propria, ma verrà munita di un propulsore e di una 
trasmissione acquistate da ancora sconosciuti partner. Difficile anche 
credere che Lotus riuscirà a tenere fede all’impegno di partecipare al 
campionato IndyCar in qualità di fornitore.
 
 
2)
Volkswagen interessata a Proton: Lotus diventa tedesca?
 
http://www.autoblog.it/post/55969/volkswagen-interessata-a-proton-lotus-diventa-tedesca
 
 
Volkswagen potrebbe presto acquisire Lotus attraverso l’acquisto di una 
parte o dell’intero capitale di Proton, attuale proprietario del marchio 
inglese: è quanto riportano le ultime indiscrezioni, che attribuiscono il 
rumor a “fonti affidabili”. Ufficialmente la notizia non è stata commentata 
da nessuna delle compagnie interessate. Tuttavia il gruppo VW, sempre in 
vena di acquisti (l’ultimo in ordine di tempo è il marchio Ducati), sarebbe 
intenzionato a rafforzare la sua presenza in Asia: proprio oggi VW ha 
inaugurato un nuovo impianto costruttivo a Shanghai, presso Yizheng, nell’est 
della Cina, in partnership con SAIC Motor Corporation: una struttura capace 
di costruire 300.000 veicoli l’anno. E la malese Proton potrebbe essere 
utile in questo processo di “espansione orientale” . Col valore aggiunto di 
mettere la bandiera col logo “VW” anche alla factory di Hethel.
 
Nonostante Lotus non sia un marchio capace di grandi volumi, la sua presenza 
nel gruppo Volkswagen arricchirebbe la collezione di brand esclusivi che il 
colosso tedesco ha costruito in questi anni (leggi Lamborghini, Bugatti, 
Bentley, Porsche, Ducati). Se da una parte in VW potrebbero beneficiare del 
know-how di quei “cattivi ragazzi” di Lotus, al contempo gli inglesi 
trarrebbero vantaggio delle immense risorse finanziarie e tecnologiche del 
gruppo VW: basti solo pensare al know how sulle leghe di alluminio o all’immensa 
“banca degli organi” composta da motori e trasmissioni.
 
Volkswagen avrebbe invece finalmente il brand idoneo per commercializzare 
quelle sportive a motore centrale che, per segmento, prezzo e prestazioni, 
difficilmente si inseriscono nella gamma Audi ed in quella Porsche: la 
questione R4/baby Boxster è indicativa in questo senso. Lotus potrebbe 
inoltre contare sulle idee stilistiche di Italdesign di Giugiaro, che dal 
2010 parla tedesco. Siamo alla vigilia dell’ennesimo matrimonio di VW?
 
 
 
Kamyyyyyyy...tu giassai che se il matrimonio va a buon fine la prossima 
Elise condividerà il pianale con la Boxster....  :-P


 il pianale con la Boxster....
 
Ah per me va bene. Solo che l'Elise e' costruita in modo molto diverso dalle 
auto "normali", non ha scocca portante.
Dubito una versione futura possa essere costruita ancora cosi'.
Se io fossi un tedesco neo-proprietario farei cosi':
1) venderei alla Caterham, come si fece all'epoca della Seven, i "diritti" 
per Elise/Exige;
2) terrei la Evora e la ricarrozzerei per quanto possibile;
3) saccheggerei Lotus Engineering (inglobandone il know-how per riversarlo 
su Porsche, Lambo e Audi).
4) Inizierei a far produrre al marchio Lotus vetture con i telai Porsche 
987, ricarrozzati e aggiornati sul piano elettronica/interni/gomme, ecc... 
offrendo una vettura con pochi fronzoli, piu' leggera delle Porsche (che 
pero' continuerebbero ad avere telai piu' recenti).
Poi si vede e ci si aggiusta.


> Hanno licenziato Bahar (l'AD, insomma):
 
Da Pistonheads.com... in sostanza pochi passi, 200 milioni per iniziare, 
ciao ciao ai top managers strapagati e addio alle visioni folli di Bahar:
 
The ambitious Lotus 'five cars in five years' plan has been cut to a single 
new car for launch in 2014, likely to be the Lotus Esprit.
"The Dany Bahar plan is no longer viable. It has been closed down," a source 
close to the company confirmed to PistonHeads, referring to the now-sacked 
boss of Lotus.
The good news is that new owner DRB-Hicom is committed to Lotus, and has 
poured �100m into the company this year with another �100m due in 2013, 
according to our man on the inside.
Of all the plot twists surrounding the Hethel marque, the cancellation of 
the bulk of the Paris show cars is perhaps the least surprising. Seasoned 
Lotus watchers, of which PistonHeads has more than its fair share, greeted 
with incredulity Bahar's unveiling of concepts for five new sports cars, 
three selling for over �100,000, at the Paris motor show in 2010.
The ex-Ferrari marketing man had persuaded owners Proton to pour money into 
the ailing Lotus to create nothing less than a British version of Ferrari. 
Ambitious wasn't the word.
He'd probably be still trying if it weren't for the fact that Proton was 
sold in January to private Malaysian group DRB-Hicom, who were decidedly 
less misty eyed about the idea than previous owners the Malaysian 
government.
We heard nothing from the new owners for months, other than that the �270 
million investment, of which �207m had been drawn down, had been frozen. We 
since learned that the cash supply had been halted by the lending Malaysian 
banks "due to concerns of the leadership of the company", according to our 
source, who has a direct line of contact with new boss Aslam Farikullah.
After the comedy denials came the inevitable sacking of Bahar in June 
"following the results of an investigation into a complaint made against 
him," according to DRB.
All this could have scared off DRB, and we hear it had the opportunity to 
sell Lotus when another, unnamed maker offered �1 earlier this year. That's 
exactly what Proton did with motorbike firm MV Augusta in 2005 when it sold 
it for one euro.
But instead the firm is backing Lotus, still planning on taking it upmarket, 
but at a much more methodical pace.
"Aslam has been has been telling everyone, cars should be launched only when 
the engineers are completely and utterly happy with it," our source tells 
us. "You can't go to an engineer and say we want a car by Wednesday week."
We're told Lotus won't be sacking anyone, but they have let go of 57 
contractors. We don't know the fate of the superstar signings, for example 
ex-Ferrari designer Donato Coco. We also don't know what's going to happen 
to Lotus's wide-reaching motorsports sponsorship programme, although our man 
tells us that any sponsorship will have to "deliver for the company".
We're told quality is the new mantra, making sure every car is spot on. 
"Lotus believes the best way to improve its profile to produce great cars 
and ensure fantastic feedback," says our source.
New variants of existing models are planned in the next couple of years, 
including in 2013 the long-awaited convertible Evora.
Of course everything could be up in the air again if the rumours are true 
that VW wants to buy Proton.
But at the moment it looks like it's back to business as usual at Lotus. Not 
setting the world alight, but not being consumed in a fireball of ego and 
over-ambition either...
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