Live or Exist?

The great author Oscar Wilde once wrote, “To live is the rarest thing in the world.  Most people exist, that is all.” It is true, people who truly live are the exception to the rule most go about their daily activities leading up to the point where the mortgage is paid the grand children have left school and you put up with the sh*t your company chucks at you just to make sure you get your pension at the age of 65. 

I'm currently reading "Colin Chapman: Inside the Innovator", it's a truly fascinating read but I did not expect anything less, Colin Chapman was one of the most influential and inspirational characters ever to existed. He had charisma and an arrogant charm that you need to succeed coupled with the fact he was a true innovator. This reminds me, I must add him to the "spotlight" list on this blog. 

Lotus Cars is legendary but that has been built upon past glories, I just wonder what Colin Chapman would think of the company if he were alive today?  Personally I could not say if the company would be in a healthier state, who knows, it's too difficult to say, however what I do think Mr. Chapman would do if he walked into the gates at Hethel tomorrow and that would be to put a spark back into this great company. He would cover the company in a blanket of confidence and a belief that a small car company in the turnip fields of Norfolk can take on the world? Although Danny Bahar's disastrous tenure at the helm of Lotus was more about the look than the substance, he did bring that arrogant belief to the company of taking on the world and other small sports car manufacturers with the likes of the rebirth of the gorgeous Espirit, see the video below.

Danny Bahar just crossed the line on too many occasions. You see when you have a company with a lot of history and a highly dedicated and skilled workforce who are very passionate you need to tread carefully and not make enemies with the people you work with, you cannot rule the world in that fashion.

The new Espirit is now cancelled and all that seems to come out of Hethel at the moment is new editions of the same old product. Do we want another Lotus Exige? Maybe? but what is clear is that Lotus Cars should not be a company that exists, it is a company that excites, innovates, and engineers this is the Colin Chapman way, its a company that should live!

Lotus Exige 360 Cup

New Espirit (Cancelled)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpwEz7R5_1I