One of the more famous quotes in automotive history came from Lotus founder Colin Chapman, who is said to have uttered, “Simplify and add lightness.” (Note: There’s debate over Chapman’s exact words, so I took what the Lotus website says.) It has been the Lotus driving philosophy to construct lightweight vehicles that deliver a pure driving experience without the complexity of something like, oh, my Volkswagen Phaeton. Luxury marques have long offered programs for well-off customers to craft their own one-offs, and Lotus has decided it wants in with Lotus Chapman Bespoke.
However, DialMforMiata wonders if Lotus Chapman Bespoke will mean a heavier Lotus:
I’m betting that under Lotus’ “Chapman Bespoke” program the two things you won’t be able to do are:
1. Simplify
2. Add lightness
I think Andy Individual is onto something here:
“Lotus Chapman Bespoke”
What a perfect way to brand “Add Lightness to the Wallet”.
Yesterday, Lewin wrote a story about how Ford would have to build something like 995,000 EVs per year if it were to meet EPA rules. Toecutter voiced frustration at the fact that there are no truly inexpensive long-range EVs:
Automakers are dragging their feet by not offering quality, smaller, more efficient electric vehicles that get long range on small battery packs at low price points. They want everyone in oversized trucks and SUVs/CUVs that are designed to nickel and dime them every step of the way before filling up landfills once thy can’t be repaired at end of life, and have entirely ignored the bottom of the market.
The cheapest BYD Seagull is $9,500, and the long-range version that is touted as having 250 miles range on the Chinse driving cycle costs $11,400(probably gets 150 miles range on U.S. highways, but still…). The U.S. automakers could build EVs at least as good at a similar price point, but they chose not to.
If the automakers screw up, that’s on them. Let the Chinese bring their cars in, if the U.S. automakers won’t make affordable EVs for the masses that are currently driving 15-year-old clunker ICEs. No EPA mandates needed.
Today, Thomas wrote about the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, which has a funny name and a funky design. I totally agree with Citrus here:
BMW still can’t shake the clumsy surfacing.
Going to be real, for all the complaining about Chris Bangle back in the day – and even today, in spite of him being out of the industry for 15 years – Adrian van Hooydonk was the real villain this entire time.
That’s right, Adrian Clarke! Bangle isn’t that bad of a man! Finally, we arrive at Thomas’ article that points out that old British cars are still a heck of a deal out there. I like Rusty S Trusty’s line of thinking here. Sure, it may not be a perfect EV, but it could be a fun one to build:
I think old European roadsters like this are the perfect things to electrify. Most of them aren’t so precious that retaining originality is of any concern; They’re not expensive and pretty simple, mechanically; and they wouldn’t need a huge whopping battery pack or a ton of power to be better than original in a lot of ways. Old Fiats, MG’s, Alfas, etc. I kinda wish I had the resources and know how to do one myself.
Aaron saw the hilarity in that:
Plus, the irony of making a car notorious for electrical gremlins into an EV. You’d have to make custom Lucas badging for the major EV components.
Have a great evening, everyone.
Keep rubbing it in Mercedes. You fancy pants Phaeton driver person!
Ladies and gentlemen we at Geely proudly bring to you the all electric 2025 Lotus Lardass!
All Lotus models must start with ‘E’. Could call it the Lotus Elephant.
I know but “Lotus Lardass” has a nice sounding literation 🙂
The COTDs are good but I honestly think that your “complicate and add heaviness” is better.
“…something like, oh, my Volkswagen Phaeton”
Thats always much more effective than any byline 🙂
I mean, isn’t “Volkswagen Phaeton” the perfect segue for nearly every topic?
Yeah, plus you can add your own Lucas smoke!
Since Ferrari EVs are going to make lots of noise, English EVs should definitely make smoke, as well as mystery puddles.
Facebook recently reminded me that over a decade ago, I griped about Lotii being too heavy, and it was just a matter of time until they had to offer a model called the Eclair. I feel like that’s even more relevant now.
I’m gonna say it. We have some of the best commentors on the web. Some of us are knowledgeable, while others offer thoughtful insight. And some of us just find jokes and run with them. It is a refreshing change from places like Reddit. I deleted that malarkey.
Some of us are none of those things, mere ne’er-do-wells that lurk, waiting for that perfect moment when we might seize on the rich meats rent from finer comments cleft and hewn like some ersatz parasitic parasocial pick-your-part, pulleys and belts, belts and pulleys, drinking the nourishing slurry of Non-Service Item transmission fluid flushed anyway, by sump or by straw that milkshake WILL be ours, damn you, slumgullions united as a front only as an affront to good taste and civil society, waiting, waiting for that clutch to slip before – whipcrack! – a helical cut feast for the gutters and troughs of the darkest alleys of Autopia.
Holy heck, Hemingway is an Autopian.
It brought a tear to my eye
Huh, huh. You said crack.
We come to Autopian for the cars, but we stay for the poetry and prose.
Brilliant. Can the COTD be on a COTD post?
This is good Autopian.
slumgullion is my word of the day.