CEO wants to lure James Bond back
Lotus has confirmed that former Jaguar Land Rover executive Phil Popham has been appointed senior vice-president of Group Lotus and CEO of Lotus sports cars, reporting directly to chief executive Feng Qingfeng of Geely.
On the Briton’s to-do list? Increase sales. Return the British marque to motorsport. And lure James Bond back from Aston Martin. Popham steps into the breach left by Jean-Marc Gales in June.
Given the upturns in fortune for Volvo, also under the Geely umbrella, hopes are high that Lotus sports cars can begin turning a corner after a rough financial period.
Rumours concerning a Lotus SUV continue to build, with development apparently already underway, and considerations being made whether the Volvo XC40 or XC60 will loan the underpinnings.
It surely won’t be too long either before we see new versions of both the Exige and the flagship Evora.
Returning to the track and the Bond cinematic universe, though, are the big ones.
Despite boasting six Formula One World Drivers’ Championships and seven Constructors’ crowns, Lotus F1 hasn’t been seen since its 2012-15 tenure.
As for 007, the last favourite spokesperson was behind the wheel of was the Esprit Turbo, which the late Roger Moore drove for all of 30 seconds onscreen.
Wrenching the 007 licence away from Aston Martin — which boasts the most famous movie car in history — will be tricky, though, given its British rival’s standing moviedeal with EON Productions.