Notice anything new on Straightline today? Over there on the right? Under the ad box? Yep, it's the first of many incredibly thought provoking, excruciatingly relevant Straightline polls, in which we let you weigh in on The Automotive Industry.
Today we ask you to cast a vote on the future of Lotus and Tesla and their leaders, Dany Bahar and Elon Musk. Do you have more faith in Bahar, who must guide a company known for building myriad permutations of one streetable track car to a future of great prosperity and 5 discrete vehicle models? Or do you side with the always self-assured Musk and his plan to revolutionize the market with the Model S EV?
Vote now. Or... else.
clarkma5 says:
07:16 PM, 03/ 9/11
I want to say neither...
But these days? It's looking more like Musk than Bahar. Bahar's an idiot.
lostboyz says:
03:55 AM, 03/10/11
I just don't see tesla being successful. Musk has dumped millions into the company, they have partnerships with large OEMs, they went public, but still don't have a car on the road. (not counting the lotus with a battery pack and off the shelf motor)
stovt001 says:
10:42 AM, 03/10/11
Neither has very good prospects, but Musk has made Tesla a recognized name in a well-defined niche, while Bahar has completely abandoned everything Lotus has ever been known for and has made it a nearly-unknown player in an already overcrowded, well developed segment. Considering that, I give Musk the edge. RIP Lotus.
windsor5 says:
02:05 PM, 03/10/11
Musk. If you take away the cost of their recent purchases and expansion the core of their business the roadster is turning a profit. The model s as soon as it goes into production is priced right considering the amenities involved it matches the price of competing petrol cars like the bmw 5 series. Now lotus is trying to move away from its core. They are trying to do what porsche did by building suv s and sedans except lotus is not synonymous with luxury people bought the new porsches because thy were priced right and their image was performance family luxury movers. Lotus is about minimalism which is great for a road and track car but not much else. How bahar takes that into the next segment of cars he plans on selling remains to be seen.