Lotus set for relaunch

Sydney-based Lotus dealer Simply Sports Cars (SSC) is expected to announce its new role as the official national importer of all Lotus vehicles this week.

The move comes after former importer Ateco relinquished the local rights to the iconic British sports car brand.

SSC is anticipated to announce the deal on Friday. The company is expected to adopt the name "SSC Lotus".

Insiders told motoring.com.au that the deal was still to be fully ‘inked’. It’s understood, however, that the Lotus re-tuck is just the first step in the company’s plans to become a small-volume brand specialist. It claims foreshadowed changes of the rules governing local motor vehicles standards could open up new avenues and brands for the operation.

One key brand on SSC’s radar is KTM, specifically, the Austrian marque’s X-Bow mid-engined sportscar.

For the time being Lotus will be the focus. Three Lotus vehicles are available in Australia at present, starting at $74,990 for the 100kW 1.6-litre Elise, which accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 6.5sec and weighs in at just 853kg. In addition to the Lotus Exige S, the there is also the Evora model which tops out at $183,990.

The impending arrival of a Lotus SUV later in the decade could see a decent volume boost for the brand. Pitched as a Porsche Macan competitor, details regarding the vehicle are still scant.

SSC is no doubt keen to turn around a sales slump that has seen local volumes for the first five months of 2016 slump to just six vehicles, down from 28 vehicles for the same period in 2015.