Lotus to build new Renault Alpine????

[BIG_MVS]

What's the crack here Dell Boy?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-c ... new-alpine

Probably the victim of accountants and out sourcing and passing off risk etc.

That will be good for Lotus as they are going to need every bit of work they can get now that they have given Dany Boohah the boot. I think Lotus get the car panels for some of their cars from France anyway just goes to show how confusing the global market can be these days.
Well suited too considering the fit and panel gaps on both products so they will be singing from the same hymn book

I can't see this happening for Alpine. Maybe Nissan buyers might see a rebadged Evora as an appealing prospect but you find me a frenchman who'll buy a rebodied Lotus with an Alpine badge on and I'll be highly surprised. It's sort off insulting too - don't remember too many Lotuses (Loti?) out performing their Alpine opposition over the years

Find this odd myself, renaultsport (alpine) and nissan gtr devision hardley need lotus input really!! The only reason this could happen is if renault are on the save and do not wish to pump money into a new chasis!! And they could probably end up doing a deal with supplying lotus with engines maybe.

[stephendell]

If you read the article the author is simply saying he thinks it's a good idea. Sounds like just his opinion and not based on only leak or fact that he makes reference too. Who knows though!

[Alpineandy]

If you read the article the author is simply saying he thinks it's a good idea. Sounds like just his opinion

While they have a big unit in Dieppe that are under employed at the moment, they will not be outsourcing.
I still doubt this version of the Alpine will be built at all, but if it does, it'll be in the Renault Sport unit unless they're too busy (as was the case with the Clio V6 - Mk 1). They will outsource certain parts of the build if it's financially viable (like the Spider chassis manufacturing).

Probably the victim of accountants and out sourcing and passing off risk etc.

[Alpineandy]

Employment laws in France are quite onorous.
RS Dieppe can't be making cars, or if they are, they're not selling many.
It wouldn't make any sense at all to get Lotus to make them but lay off workers in dieppe.

[mettersl]

Sorry to break the romance here, but its about project feasibility.
Isn't this more about avoided design and tooling costs than where its made (although one might lead to another).
Lotus has a chassis that handles well and a manufacturing process that enables small volume runs without major tooling costs. A little like Alpine was in the past.
A re-engined and restyled Evora would be a low development costs car, vital if they will only sell a few thousand a year. They need to make a profit and such a vehicle stands a chance of making money.
After all the Espace Mk1 was a Matra really but later developed into a profitable product line made by Renault itself.
At thins point Renault must want a new Apine not for its profits directly but to add some excitement to a brand that is a bit dull now, this is OK, but means a low cost development. They wont be selling in MX-5 or even 300ZX numbers with the first model. Later cars could well come in house.
Lets hope they get something out, regardless of its pedigree, and to be honest the most alpines were new bodies on std Renault running gear anyway and some people frowned on the GTA when introduced as it wasn't pure Alpine.

[Alpineandy]

Are you under the impression that dieppe don't do limited number car manufacture?
No romance, pure finance. Renault are selling so few cars at the moment that they may have to close down a few plants (not just one or two!).
Out-sourcing a car that could easily be manufactured inhouse would be suicide with the french unions, especially if Dieppe closes.

If I told you how many renault cars they'd sold in europe (not just UK) in the first six months of 2012 you'd think I'd made the figure up.
It's such a small number you'd expect it to be sales in one EU country only (maybe 2 smaller countries). I was told in confidence by someone that shouldn't have told me.

I was told in confidence by someone that shouldn't have told me.

Did you lissen very carefully ? did they say it only once ?

[mettersl]

Hi Andy,
I did say it was development costs not location, I know dieppe made low volume cars( hey I own one), but it still needs designing first. On low volume it's development costs not manufacturing costs that counts to profit. If Renault are not selling anything now that just adds to the reasons, they won't have any money to spend on design or development.
Let's see what happens,we are all shooting from the hip without real info for now..unless someone has a inside track?


Lee

According to last months CAR magazine this car will never be produced and is a concept only.....

[Alpineandy]

I was told in confidence by someone that shouldn't have told me.

Did you lissen very carefully ? did they say it only once ?

I've been searching the internet to see if the numbers are now publicly available but all I can find is that they're losing money because of very low sales in EU and other articles about them increasing sales in M.E., E-Europe and Asia. We are really talking tiny EU car sales numbers (made slightly better by other products like trucks etc).