Lotus would become a performance-car company to rival Porsche or Ferrari, with the iconic brand's Chinese owners considering a massive revival plan.
Lotus is 51 per cent owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely, which also owns Volvo, and company chairman Li Shufu is reportedly working on a mammoth $US1.9b ($2.57b) rejuvenation program that would elevate the small-fry sports car brand to the performance-car big leagues.
Bloomberg is reporting the plan involves adding staff and facilities in the UK, as well as increasing Geely's ownership stake in Lotus. And the Chinese company has form in this area, having invested heavily in Volvo to return the faltering Swedish brand to showroom success.
The plan also involves expanding the Lotus plant in Hethel (UK), and hiring 200 new engineers, before opening a second factory in the UK, as well as a new deign and innovation centre.
While Geely wouldn't comment on the reports, a spokesperson did say: "Geely is fully committed to restoring Lotus into being a leading global luxury brand.”
Lotus has shifted just 32 cars in Australia so far this year, up from 30 to this time last year. That's less than Lamborghini (78) and Ferrari (135), and a mile behind Porsche (2528), though the latter has a far bigger (and far more SUV-friendly) model range.
Is it time for a Lotus comeback? Tell us in the comments below.
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold.
But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul.
And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.
When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House.
But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others.
More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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