Dutch exotic car maker Spyker and English sports-car builder Lotus on Tuesday announced a partnership that includes three specific agreements. As elsewhere in the automotive industry, the move aims to cut down costs by sharing technology and parts. The agreements include a Parts and Platform Commonality Agreement, Parts and Accessories Supply Agreement as well as a concept Design and Engineering Agreement.
What this means is that Lotus could dictate how future Spykers will look, feel and drive, and possible share a platform with the new Lotus Esprit, according to AutoCar. Other platforms and lesser parts will also be shared, as will a supply of the parts.
Spyker has turned to Lotus over the past four years for various engineering, certification and other duties, and most recently was put in charge of “a number of engineering projects relating” to the Dutch company’s C8 Aileron sports car and D12 Peking-to-Paris SUV.
05/13, 4:18 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
this could be a good marriage here…..
05/13, 4:39 PM
posted by:
mr.meanpants
Spykers are seductive with outrageous detailing. I approve this marriage, too.
05/13, 5:21 PM
posted by:
foster1
Great but I hope We don’t just see rebading here in the near future.
05/13, 5:59 PM
posted by:
slider5634
I doubt we’ll see flat out rebadging here. It doesn’t seem like either company would do that. They’re both pretty low volume companies and I think platform sharing would be as close as it would get. No need for rebadging here.
Oh… and I also approve this marriage.
05/13, 8:31 PM
posted by:
Syrax
I don’t think spykers are all that great. they’re overpriced.
05/13, 10:00 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’d love to see a real marriage that gets either back in F1. Super Aguri’s out so there’s room.
05/14, 10:30 AM
posted by:
fan
makes sense, yep.
they sure can share technology without hurting the other ones sales…
but to those who say Lotus does NOT rebadge… ever seen a Opel Speedster or the Vauxhall VX? Yep, the look like edgy versions of the Elise… and guess what.. underneath the plastic, they ARE the same car…
but, well, i totally accept this as a proof that rebadging is NOT a bad thing per se…
05/14, 11:07 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
overpriced? durrrrrrrr thats what you pay for exclusive cars- why not say the Zonda is overpriced along with KTM
05/14, 12:17 PM
posted by:
F451
I love both these brands, as does my wife. True enthusiast automobiles.